- Source: Mahagama Sekara
Mahagama Sekera (Mahagamage Sekera) (Sinhala:මහගම සේකර / මහගමගේ සේකර ) (7 April 1929 – 14 January 1976) was a famed Sri Lankan poet, lyricist, playwright, novelist, artist, translator and filmmaker. He is considered to be a groundbreaking figure in Sinhalese poetry and literature. He is best remembered as a poet and songwriter with several of his works even becoming popular songs in Sri Lanka. His works occasionally have an introspective Buddhist-influenced outlook. His poems and songs remain widely quoted on the island nearly thirty years after his death.
Early life and education
Mahagama Sekera was born on 7 April 1929 in Radawana, Gampaha. His father was Maha Gamage John Singho, mother was Ranawaka Arachchige Roslin Ranawaka. He had his initial education at Government School in Radawana and Kirindiwela Maha Vidayalaya. Sekera started life as an artist and in his later paintings and book covers he tended towards modern art. He got a thorough grounding in the forms and techniques of formal art at the Government School of Fine Arts of which he later became the Principal. Thus at a young age he was exposed to new ways of looking at the world and perceiving reality which combined with the folk culture of his inheritance in a typical village milieu gave its particular strength to his world view.
Sekera started his doctoral studies at Vidyodaya University of Ceylon in 1974. His thesis on "Sinhala Gadya Padya Nirmana Kerehi Ridmaya Balapa Athi Akaraya" (Influence of Rhythm on the Sinhala Prose and Poetry) was submitted to the university in 1975. At the time of his death in 1976, he was attending to the final editing of the thesis as recommended by the supervisors.
He was appointed as a teacher to Gampaha Bandaranayaka School, where he worked for few months.
Bibliography
Mahagama Sekera started his artistic and creative career as a painter. He contributed to every branch of literature. He wrote short essays and plays to sinhala weekly papers and magazines, published several novels and poetry, and wrote over 100 songs. Many of his songs were vocalised and music directed by Pandit W. D. Amaradeva. He wrote and produced the musical play Swarnathilaka, which was critically acclaimed.
= Poetry
=Vyanga (with K. Jayatillake)
Sakwa Lihini
Heta Irak Payai
Mak Nisada Yath
Rajathilaka Lionel saha Priyantha
Bodima
Nomiyemi
Prabudda
= Novels
=Thun Man Handiya
Mrano Mandira
Nomiyemi
= Short stories
=Peethara
Man Thananno
Puthata Karekak
Pungna
Meeya
= Films
=Thun Man Handiya
= Plays
=List of plays written by Sekera
Swarnathilaka
Daskon
Kundalakesi
Kantharaya
Chora Pabbatha
Vidura
Sora Pawwa
Sasa Jathakaya
Hansa Geethaya
Nava Baga Sanda
Saddhantha
Sabba Nadee Vankagatha
Amaraneeyathvaya
Mudu Puttu (with Gunasena Galappatthi)
= Notable songs written by Sekera
=Sandakath Pini Diya - Sinhala: සඳකත් පිණිදිය දියවී ගලනා Music Composer Lionel Algama & Vocalist Dr Pandith W.D. Amaradeva from Sinhala movie Parasathu Mal
Me Sinhala Apage Ratayi – Nanda Malini, music composer Pandit W. D. Amaradeva, from Sinhala film Saravita
Sannaliyane – W. D. Amaradeva, music composer Pandit W. D. Amaradeva
Seethala Diya Piri Sunila Vilai – Sunil Edirisinghe, music composer Dr. Rohana Weerasinghe
Adawan Desin – Victor Ratnayake, music composer Somadasa Alvitigala, from Sinhala film Wes Gaththo
Wakkada langa -w.d amaradeva
Rathnadeepa Janmabhoomi
Ase Mathuwena Kandulu Bindu Gena -W.D Amaradeva
Siri Lanka Ratama Api
"Mage deshaya awadhi karanu mena piyanani", a translation into Sinhala of the patriotic Rabindranath Tagore poem "Chitto Jetha Bhayshunyo"
Etha Kandukara Himaw Arane - W. D. Amaradeva, music composer Lionel Algama
Anna Balan Sanda - Edward Jayakody
Dathe Karagata Simba Sanasannata - W. D. Amaradeva, Wimala Amaradewa
Awards
1956 – Dina Dina Award for the painting Mahabinishkramana at the Annual Art Exhibition organised by the Jathika Kala Peramuna.
1965 – Merit Award for the Best Lyricist at the Film Festival of Lanka Industrial Exhibition for the song "Atha Gavu Ganan Durin" in Sinhala film Gatavarayo.
1968 – Award for the Best Lyric Writer for the song "Sinidu Sudu Mudu Thalave" composed for the film Sath Samudura (Directed by Dr Siri Gunasinghe) at the Sarasaviya Film Festival.
1970 – Receives the award for the Best Lyricist for his song "Ratakin Ratakata" in the Sinhala film Binaramalie at the Sarasaviya Film Festival.
1970 – Mahagama Sekera's film Thun Man Handiya receives the Friendship Award from Rajaye Lipikaru Seva Sangamaya.
1971 – Thun Man Handiya wins him the award for the Most Promising Director at the Awards Festival of the Film Critics and Journalists of Ceylon in 1970 – 1971.
1972 – Receives the Hela Vidu Saviya Kumaratunga Memorial Award for his Patriotic Songs.
See also
W.D. Amaradeva
Sandakath Pini Diya
References
External links
Mahagama Sekara
Mahagama Sekera Official Website
Laudatory essay
Lanka library
Kata Kunci Pencarian:
- Mahagama Sekara
- Sri Lankan literature
- List of Sri Lankan writers
- Chitto Jetha Bhayshunyo
- K. Jayatillake
- Cinema of Sri Lanka
- Sri Lanka
- Thun Man Handiya
- Chandra Kumara Kandanarachchi
- Shelton Premaratne
