KOPI KADE!
Website
by Anuradha Herath
Dayavathi’, ‘Kurung Gurung’, ‘Appuwa’, do these words ring a bell?
Consider the words ‘hilarious’ and ‘popular’.....still baffled? These
are none other than words which describe the ever popular Sinhala
teledrama, ‘Kopi Kade’.
‘Kopi Kade’s origin belongs collectively to several people. This credit
must mainly be given to two people, Thevis Guruge and Andrew Jayamanna.
Before the television, the main and only source of entertainment in Sri
Lanka was the radio. The teledramas that are so popular today were heard
over the radio. When television was introduced to Sri Lanka, Guruge had
an idea to bring the popular dramas on radio onto the screen. With this
purpose in mind and his experience in radio, Guruge organised a
workshop. As a result of this workshop, two teledramas hit the screen
for the first time; one of them was ‘Veeduru Geval’ by the trainees
under Ananda Sirisena and the other was ‘Kopi Kade’ by the trainees
under Andrew Jayamanna. The first episode of ‘Kopi Kade’ was telecast on
August 4, 1986 with the story ‘Vahen Oro’. Consequently, ‘Kopi Kade’ has
been telecast ever since, every Wednesday at 8.15 pm.
To the present day, ‘Kopi Kade’ has telecast about 600 episodes.
Understandably, it has made some records along the way. First of all,
‘Kopi Kade’ has been the longest running TV programme in all of Asia.
Also, on the technical aspect, the use of multi-camera system was used
outside for the first time in Sri Lanka when recording ‘Kopi Kade’.
It is pretty obvious to an average television watching Sri Lankan that
‘Kopi Kade’ is not your everyday, predictable teledrama which focuses on
a murder mystery or an unwanted arranged marriage. The stories or the
themes that this drama focus on each week are completely unpredictable.
This is because of the way that ‘Kopi Kade’ is produced. Unlike other
teledramas, it does not prerecord the episodes and then show them every
week. Each episode is recorded the week before it is telecast. An
episode is recorded Monday through Wednesday and telecast the following
week. On Mondays the shooting is done at the Kopi Kade itself, which is
situated on the ITN premises. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays the shooting is
done at outstations which are of various places. Currently, the team
travels to Palanwatte, Pannipitiya. Producing a half an hour episode in
three days is quite a feat. Saman Fernando, the current producer and
director, says that this method is followed with the intention of
keeping up with the changes that take place in the society and around
the world. Quite often, the theme of an episode of ‘Kopi Kade’ has
focussed on some major event that has taken place. For example, stories
have been done focussing on the privatisation of the steel corporation
and the Indian actress, Shanti’s visit to Sri Lanka. A former producer,
Wipula Rathnasiri, said, "we portray a message to the public in every
episode, we show something that is wrong in society and present it
through comedy."
The scripts are also done in this unconventional way. Rathnasiri
mentioned the fact that the creators of ‘Kopi Kade’ are open for
suggestions and opinions. He said, "the scripts aren’t written by
professionals. Anyone can write them." This offers a great opportunity
for amateur writers to display their talents. Each week the show
receives many scripts. The production team selects a good script (if
available) or the writers, Kumara Sirivardana and K.D. Siripala, writes
one.
Without a doubt, ‘Kopi Kade’ could not exist without its very unique
cast. The characters in ‘Kopi Kade’ are what Fernando calls realistic
and prevalent in today’s society. It should be obvious to anyone who
watches ‘Kopi Kade’ that the characters portray the village folk. The
main cast includes 26 to 30 actors and actresses. Not all these people
have acting as a full time career. Several members of the cast have
other jobs which makes the recording of an episode during the three day
period even more of a difficult task. The team seems to work very
efficiently around this problem. During the three days of recording, not
all cast members come on all three days. Only the relevant characters
for the particular scenes come. If a cast member is unable to attend a
shooting, then that member is replaced, but sometimes because of this
replacement the scene must also change with the character.
Gnanasiri Kaluarachchi who acts the part of ‘Kaluwa’, has been involved
with ‘Kopi Kade’ for ten years. He also acts in films and admits the
fact that ‘Kopi Kade’ has helped a great deal in his acting career.
Kaluarachchi said that most of the cast members respect ‘Kopi Kade’ very
much for this reason. Many of the cast members having been involved with
‘Kopi Kade’ for a long time, one might expect some conflicts and
animosities. However, this doesn’t seem to be the case with the cast of
‘Kopi Kade.’ "All the actors and actresses are very co-operative," said
Kaluarachchi. "We get along very well and we work together." He
expressed a great sense of loyalty to the show. He said, "we won’t let
‘Kopi Kade’ decline." He seems confident that they will work towards
making it better and take it forward.
Another outstanding character is ‘Appu’ who is played by Srilal
Abeyakoone. He has been involved with ‘Kopi Kade’ from the episode 160
onwards. He acts and sings as his career. He has also gone to various
places such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Lebanon, Bahrain, and Kuwait either
singing or acting out parts from Kopi Kade. There has also been small
groups of cast members that have travelled bringing the famous show
closer to people who don’t have much access to it. Abeyakoone expressed
the fact that many low quality teledramas are coming onto the screen. He
said, "people who have money will create a drama, either to get their
name popular or the show popular." Obviously, not all teledramas end up
a being big hits. Abeyakoone felt that one reason for ‘Kopi Kade’s
popularity may be in the cast. "Everyone has a lot of experience," he
said. "They have been in the field for a long time."
Another interesting character who is one of the bad guys is ‘Gajan’
acted by Rodney Fraser. He has been a part of ‘Kopi Kade’ for
approximately 12 years, ever since episode eight. He has a diverse
background. Being a graduate from the University of Sri
Jayawardana-pura, he has taught at one time. Other than acting on
television, he has also done stage dramas. He says that the cast members
who portray sinister characters have the problem of viewers thinking
that they are that way in reality as well. However, it is possible that
viewers think that way because the acting is so influential. Fraser
said, "we always do the wrong thing (in the show) but we aren’t like
that. We convey a message through that."
Is there an explanation to the immense popularity that ‘Kopi Kade’ has
received? There could be several reasons. Fernando and Rathnasiri both
felt that it may be because they portray the everyday life of the normal
village folk with real life situations which occur constantly throughout
society. Rathnasiri said, "there have been criticism, but no political
influence."
Kaluarachchi stated the obvious fact that quite often goes unsaid. He
said, "Many people criticise ‘Kopi Kade’ but they still watch it."
The popularity of Kopi Kade is quite obvious. It has about 65 percent of
the Colombo viewers and even more in the rural areas. The production of
this show seems to be simple, but quite efficient and productive
considering the fact, that it brings in the most profit to ITN. The
cast, however, has to be the most popular part of the entire show.
Whether one has actually watched the show or not, it can be certain that
they have heard of the characters and the name of ‘Kopi Kade.’
We wish to thank Saman Fernando of the Independent Television Network
(ITN) for the assistance given to us in taking photographs of some of
the leading characters in ‘Kopi Kade’ who are featured in this article.
Ponnampalm Kulendiren
dubai. What I liked most is the real village environment and the humor built
in the conversation. It is coloquial viallge sinhala and the dressing too
was typical of the village. Village gossiping and the bathing in a common
well, and the village surroundings with a corner shop style Kope Kadae with
KoliKuttu Platains hanging and the Seeni bola bottle are very common in
Sinhala villages. I found the sinhal villagers are more friendlier tahn
polluted sinhalese in the cities . I still remember the Hot Hot Hoppers with
Kollikuuttu plantians & tasty tea with Kakuru served bya village corner
shop near Belihul Oya. That was the time instead of sugar people used Kauru
to drink tea. (1960's). One question, mainly tea is served in that corner
shop in that episode, why did they name it Kope Kade?. Kope Kade is similar
to Surutu Kadae (Cigar Shops) down south owned by many Tamil businessmen
from the Isalnds in Jaffna. Some of them got married to sinhalese women
Tiger Killer
Ponnampalm Kulendiren <ku...@home.com> wrote:
Did you miss Srilanka, Ohhhhh poor baby.
Live longer in Canadai, Don't ever come back.
Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
--
Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
MEE SINHALA APAGE RATAI
API IPADHILA MARENA RATAI
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
Vulgar Display of Power
whinning propaganda posts. U and Ponnampalm will go in the history of the
SriLanakan Newsgroup as the biggest brainless fucks. The Sinhala one is ONLY
showing pictures of sinhala civilians killed by the LTTE and the LTTE
dumbfuck is ONLY showing pics of tamils killed by the SLA.
I have not met one Sri lankan who showed pics of killings by both side on
one web-site and condemn both killings. That is because all the web site
owners of SLA supporters and LTTE are brainless dumb-fucks.
The only person who condemns all violence is me and Pallavan.
All the decent SL do not invlove themselves with this utter propaganda
rubbish as they do not want to sink into this lowest of all animals.
Vulgar Display of Power!!!!
Website wrote:
> Kopi Kade the teledrama
>
> by Anuradha Herath
>
> Dayavathi’, ‘Kurung Gurung’, ‘Appuwa’, do these words ring a bell?
> Consider the words ‘hilarious’ and ‘popular’.....still baffled? These
> aopi Kade’ by the trainees
> uKade’ is produced. Unlike other
> teledbvious to anyone who
> waspect ‘Kopi Kade’ very
> muan be certain that
Vulgar Display of Power
now u want to talk about how friendly they are.
GodDAMN you are one Pathetic Wanker.
Vulgar Display of Power.
Vulgar Display of Power
head.
Tiger Killer wrote:
> In article <37F4A74C...@home.com>,
> Ponnampalm Kulendiren <ku...@home.com> wrote:
>
> Did you miss Srilanka, Ohhhhh poor baby.
> Live longer in Canadai, Don't ever come back.
> Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
>
>
Ponnampalm Kulendiren
drama and films with reality that portrays the living and habits of people. I
loved Satyajit Ray's film . Have you heard about Apu Sansar?, This has nothing to
do LTTE . This has nothing to do with ideology. For your info I have many
Sinhalese and Muslim friends.I support a movement because it is the only movement
that is fighting for Tamils rights.If not for that movement our problem would not
have not known to outside world. It does not mean that I support all their
actions just like the way many support point blankly the actions of SLG
Vulgar Display of Power wrote:
> What the hell is this. You support the LTTE who destroys sinhala villages and
> now u want to talk about how friendly they are.
>
> GodDAMN you are one Pathetic Wanker.
>
> Vulgar Display of Power.
>
> Ponnampalm Kulendiren wrote:
>
Tiger Killer
Vulgar Display of Power <V...@altvisa.ca> wrote:
> As long as u are in Sri Lanaka, no body wants to visit it. You fucked
in the
> head.
>
Good, Don't come here.
But, This is a BIIIIIG B, We would love to see you in University
Property with HandCuff.
By the way Mr. Hickery was looking for you.
Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
> Tiger Killer wrote:
>
> > In article <37F4A74C...@home.com>,
> > Ponnampalm Kulendiren <ku...@home.com> wrote:
> >
> > Did you miss Srilanka, Ohhhhh poor baby.
> > Live longer in Canadai, Don't ever come back.
> > Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
> >
> >
Tiger Killer
Vulgar Display of Power <V...@altvisa.ca> wrote:
We are racist dumbFuck , I wonder why it took sooooo long for
you to graduate, What a brainless fool..
Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
> Why don't u post more articles like this, rather than your usual
racist,
> whinning propaganda posts. U and Ponnampalm will go in the history of
the
> SriLanakan Newsgroup as the biggest brainless fucks. The Sinhala one
is ONLY
> showing pictures of sinhala civilians killed by the LTTE and the LTTE
> dumbfuck is ONLY showing pics of tamils killed by the SLA.
>
> I have not met one Sri lankan who showed pics of killings by both
side on
> one web-site and condemn both killings. That is because all the web
site
> owners of SLA supporters and LTTE are brainless dumb-fucks.
>
> The only person who condemns all violence is me and Pallavan.
>
> All the decent SL do not invlove themselves with this utter
propaganda
> rubbish as they do not want to sink into this lowest of all animals.
>
> Vulgar Display of Power!!!!
>
> Website wrote:
>
> > Kopi Kade the teledrama
> >
> > by Anuradha Herath
> >
> > Dayavathi’, ‘Kurung Gurung’, ‘Appuwa’, do these words ring a bell?
> > Consider the words ‘hilarious’ and ‘popular’.....still baffled?
These
> > aopi Kade’ by the trainees
> > uKade’ is produced. Unlike other
> > teledbvious to anyone who
> > waspect ‘Kopi Kade’ very
> > muan be certain that
> > they have heard of the characters and the name of ‘Kopi Kade.’
> >
> > We wish to thank Saman Fernando of the Independent Television
Network
> > (ITN) for the assistance given to us in taking photographs of some
of
> > the leading characters in ‘Kopi Kade’ who are featured in this
article.
>
>
--
Tiger Killer
Ponnampalm Kulendiren <ku...@home.com> wrote:
You are fucking foreigner to our Srilanka, How long you live in Canadai.
Our New culture called SAKKILI KILLING
Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
> I respect the culture and social hablits. I love the beauty of the
village. I love
> drama and films with reality that portrays the living and habits of
people. I
> loved Satyajit Ray's film . Have you heard about Apu Sansar?, This
has nothing to
> do LTTE . This has nothing to do with ideology. For your info I have
many
> Sinhalese and Muslim friends.I support a movement because it is the
only movement
> that is fighting for Tamils rights.If not for that movement our
problem would not
> have not known to outside world. It does not mean that I support all
their
> actions just like the way many support point blankly the actions of
SLG
>
> Vulgar Display of Power wrote:
>
> > What the hell is this. You support the LTTE who destroys sinhala
villages and
> > now u want to talk about how friendly they are.
> >
> > GodDAMN you are one Pathetic Wanker.
> >
> > Vulgar Display of Power.
> >
> > Ponnampalm Kulendiren wrote:
> >
> > > I had the chance to see few episodes of Kope Kade in 1980''s when
I was in
> > > dubai. What I liked most is the real village environment and the
humor built
> > > in the conversation. It is coloquial viallge sinhala and the
dressing too
> > > was typical of the village. Village gossiping and the bathing in
a common
> > > well, and the village surroundings with a corner shop style Kope
Kadae with
> > > KoliKuttu Platains hanging and the Seeni bola bottle are very
common in
> > > Sinha
>
>
--