Mahagama Sekara

Mahagama Sekera (Mahagamage Samaraekara) (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.

Mahagamasekera (Maha Gamage Samaraekera)
Born(1929-04-07)7 April 1929
Radawana, Gampaha, Sri Lanka
Died14 January 1976(1976-01-14) (aged 46)
NationalitySri Lankan
EducationGovernment College of Fine Arts
SpouseKusumalatha Suraweera (1963–1976)
Children3
WebsiteOfficial website

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.[1]

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.[2] 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[3]
  • Mrano Mandira
  • Nomiyemi

Short stories
  • Peethara
  • Man Thananno
  • Puthata Karekak
  • Pungna
  • Meeya

Films

Plays

List of plays written by Sekera[4]

  • 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

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

References
  1. "Mahagama Sekara". Sri Lanka Poems. 20 October 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  2. "Mahagama Sekera PhD Research". Archived from the original on 16 August 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  3. Mahendra, Prof Sunanda. "Remembering Mahagama Sekara and his halo". Daily News. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  4. "The Official Website of Mahagama Sekera". Archived from the original on 12 October 2013. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
  5. "WD Amaradeva ~ Sandakath Pini Diya.. සඳකත් පිණිදිය...♫". Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  6. "Lionel Algama no more".
  7. Parasathu Mal.
  8. "Etha Kandukara Himaw Arane - WD Amaradeva Mp3 Song".
  9. "Anna Balan Sanda lyrics".


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