essay's on pachadanam paribhratha
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Pani Bharatha (1920-2005) was born in Algama, a village in Kegalle district. He was named Panis, shortened to Pani. He belonged to the Alagama paramparawa of dancers, drummers and exorcists. This paramparawa produced three outstanding performers, in the 20th century, Sithrachariya Nekathige Siriya known as Algama Siriya, Siriya’s son Kiriganitha and grandson Pani Bharatha. Pani was Kiriganitha’s elder brother’s son.
Pani learnt his letters at Algama Madegama pansala. He studied there till he was about 12 years. He learnt gathas and slokas and read books such as Ganadevi Hella. His talent for drumming showed very early. At the age of seven, he performed as a drummer at a function at the Keenadeniya Vidyalaya, Gampaha. The audience was very impressed with his performance. He was selected to play the first ever opening magul bera theme of Radio Ceylon in 1928. He was eight years old. From around ten years, Pani was participating in drum displays and contests at temples and walauwas. He said later that he learnt much from these events. At 15 years Pani was performing in the Esala perahera with Algama Kiriganitha, Rangama Gunamala, Alotuwe and Ambulpura.
Pani’s father did not want Pani to become a dancer or drummer. He sent Pani to Ven. Thibbotuwe Gunananda, a respected physician in Ratnapura, to study ayurveda. But Pani after seeing dancing at Saman devale, when his brother was performing, decided to give up medicine and take to dancing. He first studied dance under his grandfather, Siriya then his uncle, Kiriganitha. Pani’s Kala Eli mangalyaya was in 1940. The Mahanuwara and Sabaragamuwa parampara also recognised him after that and performers from Botale, Ambepussa, and Hathnagoda came to learn from him.
Pani continued his drum training under a wide range of teachers including Hithgoda and Thiyambarahena gurukula and Honpale and Muddanawa gurus. He learnt davul from Tibbotuwawe Panikki, tammattama from Tibbotuwawe Seemanchi. He went to Elamaldeniya parampara for hewisi. He also learnt Sabaragamuwa dance from Puswelle kapumahatmaya and Parangiwatte Punchi mahatmaya.
Pani had seen a kolama in his youth and was attracted to low country dance. His mother sent him to her relative, Welgama Ginthoris to learn Ruhunu dance. Villagers said ‘hatara korale koluwa hondata natanawa’ and gave him gifts. He also learnt low country dancing from Melegama Marthenis. He used to train till dawn. He went to tovils with Mangalathiriye Sidoris guru and learnt tovil drumming from him. He went to Niwatuwa, Tumbiliyadda and Kadigamuwa parampara for yanthra manthra and gurukam and to Siriya’s relative, Ratnagala Seema guru for Bali yaga.
The dancer Chandralekha was looking for a competent drummer to accompany her dance. When news reached them of a skilful drummer in Algama, they got him down to Colombo and employed him. He stayed in their house from 1937. When Chandralekha went to Trivandrum, Kerala in 1938 to learn Kathakali from Sri Gopinath, Pani accompanied her . Pani learned to play the drum ‘Kathakali style’ and also the mrdangam. Gopinath was making innovations in Kathakali dance and Pani was able to observe Gopinath’s choreography and method of training dancers.
Chandralekha and Pani returned to Sri Lanka in 1942. Chandralekha’s husband J. D. A. Perera arranged for Pani to learn English at Lorensz College where J.D.A’s brother was principal. He got him into Vidyalankara Pirivena as well. It is likely that Pani’s lessons in music and singing under Kotahene Sardiris master, father of Shelton Premaratne, took place at this time. Sardiris was teaching at Vaishakya Vidyalaya, Wellawatte.
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