Award-winning tele drama director Thusitha de Silva who created the memorable tele drama series ‘Therani Geethaya’ which was telecast on Full Moon Poya days at 9.30 pm on ITN, has completed one year with 12 prominent actresses playing the lead Bhikkuni role in each episode.
Director Thusitha de Alwis featured top actresses including Kancana Mendis, Chathurika Peiris, Nilmini Tennekoon, Vasanthi Chathurani, Himali Sayurangi, Duleeka Marapana, Grace Ariyawimal, Gayathri Dias, Madhani Malwatte, Anuruddhika Padukkage, Piyumi Boteju, Anoma Jayasena in the role of Buddhist nuns. Thusitha said the selection of actresses was made largely depending on the script and the potential of each star.
He said a new series based on Buddhist literature will start soon.
Therani Geethaya is based on ‘Theri Gatha’ which reflects the experiences of women during the era of the Buddha more than 2550 years ago.
The Therigatha, often translated as Verses of the Elder Nuns (Pâli: thera elder (feminine) + gatha verse), is a Buddhist scripture, a collection of short poems supposedly recited by early members of the Buddhist Sangha.
In the Pali Canon of Theravada Buddhism, the Therigatha is classified as part of the Khuddaka Nikaya, the collection of short books in the Sutta Pitaka. It consists of 73 poems, organized into 16 chapters. Despite its small size, the Therigatha is a very significant document in the study of early Buddhism. The Therigatha contains a number of passages that re-affirm the view that women are the equal of men in terms of religious attainment, as well as a number of verses that seem to address issues that might be of particular interest to women in South Asian society.
Included in the Therigatha are the verses of a mother whose child has died, a wealthy heiress who abandoned her life of pleasure and even of the Buddha’s own stepmother Maha Pajapathi.
The tele series was scripted by veteran Somaweera Senanayake while the music direction was handled by seasoned campaigner Rohana Weerasinghe.
Ven. Rambukkana Siddhartha Thera penned the lyrics of the theme song sung by Visharada Nanda Malani. Kamini Rajapaksa was the Executive producer, Thisara Thulwan the cameraman while Jayantha Ranawaka was the make up artist.
“I am grateful to the whole team and all artistes who dedicated themselves to make this poya series a success. I am also indebted to People’s Bank Chairman W. Karunajeewa, Marketing Director Deepal Abeysekara and ITN Chairman Anura Siriwardana for the support given to make the venture a success,” he said. (RU)
Source: www.dailymirror.lk
