‘Katu Imbula’ : A tragedy of settlers in a colony

Noted director Sudath Rohana’s latest teledrama “Katu Imbula” revolving around the pathetic tale of settlers in colonies is telecast every Wednesday at 9.00pm on Swarnavahini.

Based on Sarath Dharmasiri’s novel which won the Best Novel award at the 1999 State Literary Festival, the miniplay is produced by Indika Gunawardena and Sudath himself.

Teledrama script written by Sarath Dharamasiri is woven around a set of people who settle in a new colony with many hopes and dreams and how those dreams shatter due to poor administration and political influence.

The backdrop for the teledrama is Rajanganaya peasantry settlement. Some people who had obtained crown land there come with the hope of starting new lives. Jamis a married man who is coming with his two children and wife is one among the new settlers. Jamis is a clever farmer who has undergone many vicissitudes but manages to survive with his wife Seyda and his son Sekara and daughter Wimalawathie.

Sugathabanda a bachelor is another new settler. He starts a business in a small way and by thrift and care flourishes. A large number of people obtain crown land and settle the colony only a few achieve success whilst the majority ruin their lives and lose their earnings by addiction to liquor and other vices.

Sugathabanda starts a pawning business. He lends money to settlers obtaining as collateral, plots of land belonging to them. When the settlers find it impossible to redeem their mortgaged lands they leave the colony.In the meantime Sugathabanda starts an affair with a girl in a neighbouring village.

Subjected to bribery, corruption and political influence these poor settlers are burdened by the bureaucracy and many social influences. Jamis involves himself in many social service activities. As a man who underwent much discrimination, Jamis goes out of his way to help others. Sekara his son passes the University Entrance Examination and gets into the University.

Jamis is also the treasurer of the Dayaka Sabha of the colony temple and the miniplay takes a dramatic turn when the money in custody is robbed by an unknown person.

Jamis gets into debt to settle the money. For this he mortgages his lands and this depresses him. Soon he gets addicted to liquor and this worries Seyda his wife.

Jamis faces many unfortunate events. During this time Jamis too hears about an affair carried on by his wife and this upsets him more. Unable to pay the debt Jamis is going to lose the land which was mortgage to Sugathabanda. What will be the future of Jamis Will he too join those who leave the colony? Is there truth in Seyda’s affair? What happens to Sugathabanda?

The massive cast in ‘Katu Imbula’ includes Janak Premalal, Champa Sriyani Palitha Silva, Suneetha Wimalaweera, Lal Kularathna, Cyril Dharmawardhana Shirantha Premawardhana, Milinda Perera, Gayana Sudharshanie, Sarath Chandrasiri, G. R Perera, Gamini Ambalangoda, Buddhi Wickrama, Gihan Fernando, Sri Nimal Padmakumara, Ajith Lokuge, Udeni Chandrasiri, Wasanthi Ranwala, Tissa Udangamuwa, Saranapala Jayasooriya, Gamini Jayalath, Milton Perera, Kumara Thirimadura, Rohana Hettiarachchi, Prasanna Mahagamage, Gayathri Mahesha and Berty Susiripala.

Speaking about his latest teledrama, Sudath Rohana says “this story was formed about the hopes which were created by the people who came and settled down in a new colony and the failures of their ambitions due to wrong plans, the erroneous administration and so many other influences affected badly on their lives.

Asked about the selection of the theme Sudath said “the attention of the audience is decreasing fast in the teledramas which are based on the middle class ambitionless playful enjoyable lives”.

“We come across very few numbers of tele-dramas regarding the settlers or colonies and their life pattern. We very rarely come across dramas which are built on the problems of these settlers and the sufferings they undergo.

The creations which are specified about the settlers with high analysis scope are extremely needed other than the analysis which are created just viewing at the surface, highlights of the problems with them, That will be a observation media to watch regarding their problems politically socially and economically.”

Camera handled by Daya Sooriyaarachchi, edited by Chanaka De Silva, art directed by Deepthi Mangalasoma and music director is Navaratne Gamage. To the lyrics written by Bandula Nanayakkarawasam the playback is done by Senanayake Weraliyadda and Sageeth Wijesooriya.

By Susitha R. Fernando