Meet the officials of ‘Maru Palanaya’! 

‘Maru Palanaya’, Indu Dharmasena’s newest political satire is fuelled by the talented performances of Yasal Ruhunage as Nimal Kariyakarawana, Sanwada Dharmasena as Vyjayanthi Lanudena, Indu Dharmasena as Romesh Kaylingnayaka, Anoop Kapukotuwa as Upul Paminiligoda, Sashini Wakwella as Nadeeka Pamawardena, Ruwendi Wakwella as Upeka Madyasooriya, Keshiya Leitch as Trixie and Abbasali Rozais as Rohan Molagoda.

This week, the Daily Mirror Life features their thoughts on the roles they play, what they do in real life and what they have learned from theatre. Following are the excerpts:

How do you interpret your role?

Yasal : Nimal Kariyakarawana, is the PA to HE. I try to be extremely professional but I’m excited. But instead of ‘kariya kireema’ I mess things up at times. It’s quite a normal character.

Sanwada : I play the role of Vyjayanthi Lanudena and I am Romesh Kaylingnayaka’s cousin. I live in London and I have that real Londony accent. I have come down once I have heard that he has won. I have come down claiming that I’m his only family.

Abbasali : I play the role of Rohan Molagoda who is the leader of the People’s United Freedom Front (PUFF). I’m a career politician and I’m very concerned about the country and I try to help the president to pass the amendments in parliament.

Abbasali (left) and Anoop (right)

Sashini : I play the role of Nadeeka Pamawardena who is the leader of the National Alliance Party (NAP), which is essentially what she does. She doesn’t do anything productive and whatever she does is all to herself. The moment she hears that ministries are being given she will try to approach the president. I am always at loggerheads with Upul Paminiligoda who is the leader of a Marxist party and I keep referring to him as ‘His honourable member’. But at the end of the day I will jump back and forth to where an advantage lies.

Anoop : My character is Upul Paminiligoda and I’m the leader of the Marxist Alliance Party (MAP). Basically in the new government I'm the one who looks in to reporting cases of corruption from the past regime. I always end up carrying loads of files to the president to get his approvals. I always give him updates about what has happened in the bribery commission. As the leader of MAP I always try to do what is right for the country.

Keshiya : My role is Trixie, the lawyer and the scatterbrained secretary of the president. I mess up everything. I am worried that I will lose my job. Extremely scared of the president but respect him dearly.

Ruwendi :  My role is Upeka Madyasooriya who is the PR adviser of the president. I’m extremely professional and it's a disaster-management role as well and I’m continuously in contention with Trixie who is the disaster. I have a very straightforward relationship with the president.

What is your role behind the stage?

Yasal : I work as a systems engineer at Virtusa. Drama can be quite stressful but Indu’s work plan is modified. After work when we come here we feel relaxed.

Sanwada : Basically Indu directs and I assist him in his work. Usually I do the choreography and when he is directing a play there are certain characters who take a bit longer to absorb their role. So my duty is to fine-tune them and get them in to the character’s shoes.

Abbasali : I am involved in some business.

Keshiya (left) and Ruwendi (right)

Sashini : I am currently an apprentice in courts.

Anoop : I manage projects at the British Council.

Keshiya : This is a breather for me from work life. We get to make friends and it's always fun and an experience. I think it’s quite refreshing from your busy schedule of work.

Ruwendi : I work for a policy think-tank and i am always involved with this subject.

Is this your first experience in drama?

Yasal : I have been in dramas in school mostly Shakespeare. I have been in more than 5 plays directed by Indu. Ever since then I have been acting. Also I have done a few plays with Professor Halpe during school.

Sanwada : When I was in school I got involved in a couple of school productions. But I mainly did dancing and my public performances in drama started in 2004. My first play with Indu was ‘Madai Tommiya 007 wuna’. I didn’t have a speaking role in it and I only danced.

Abbasali : I have been acting with Indu for more than 10 years. I actually produce plays on my own as well. I wrote my first play when I was in school.

Sashini : I have acted for quite a while with a different production company. This is the first time I’m acting with Indu. With regards to the role I play it’s not at all me but at the end of the day its quite fun.

Sanwada (left) and Sashini (right)

Anoop : I have done around 6 to 7 plays with Indu and I have been doing theatre for quite a while.

Keshiya : This is actually my fifth play with Indu and I enjoy my time here.

Ruwendi :  I have been with Indu for the past 5-6 years. The last play i did with him was two years ago and i was quite happy to join him back again.

What have you learned from theatre?

Yasal : Best thing I have learned from drama is to put you in someone else’s shoes, live in that character and see things from their perspective.

Sanwada : What I have learned is how to observe people, how they react. When you play a certain role you have to observe them and play it. So it’s a learning process.

Abbasali : I think drama is something that helps you to learn about life.

Sashini : That anything can happen on stage but the true talent lies in how you try to manage those situations.

Anoop : It's not something you can narrow down.

Keshiya : I have made a lot of friends and drama also teaches you a lot of confidence because you go out there and act in front of a lot of people. Also it gives me a sense of relaxation and it is a stress-reliever for me.

Ruwendi : Everything I am today is because of drama. It’s what has gotten me out of my shell today.

Maru Palanaya will be staged on May 22, 23 and 24, from 7.30pm - 10.30pm, at the Lionel Wendt. Tickets are available at the Lionel Wendt.

By Kamanthi Wickramasinghe
Photographs by Nisal Baduge