Midweek Review
As I Like It...
Glossy magazine on politics and the arts
by K.S. Sivakumaran
A few weeks ago, a glossy and lush monthly magazine in Thamil called 'Sarinihar' (On Equal Basis)was launched in Colombo.
This 100-page journal is full of colour photographs and illustrations, new to Lankan Thamil journalism. It is basically a left-inclined political journal with space for alternative thinking contributed by both Sinhala and Thamil speaking Lankans. One would not call it a 100 % political journal either as it incorporates within its pages a coverage on Sinhala and Thamil films.
As a person more interested in the arts than in politics of the country (which again is in a muddle), I naturally went over to the 13 pages allocated to the arts as I opened the beautifully designed magazine of 12 x 06. I found it to my satisfaction that there were excellently written film reviews by the knowledgeable G. T. Keathaaranaathan, who has also translated into understandable and elegant Thamil two of the articles written by a Sinhala intellectual (Sunila Abeysekera) and another by one Ammu Joseph an Indian journalist who writes in English in India.
The films reviewed were 'Sankara' directed by Prasanna Jayakody and 'Ammawarune' directed by Lester James Peiris and 'Veyil' directed by Vasanthabalan. While I do not subscribe to GTK's stance on two of the films, I agree with him on what he says about 'Sankara'. His review of the film is more detailed than what I wrote about it in the Sunday Standard some months back.
Commentary on the arts includes a profile on the late poet S.Vilvaratnam by Dr.S.Yogarasa of the Eastern University (with illustrations of his poems by G..Kailasanathan, a notable artist hailing from Yaalpaanam and other illustrations are by Nirmalavaasan)
There are also obituaries on Eliyathamby Ratnasabapathy of the EROS fame by R.Cheran and Ajith Samaranayake by K.S.Sivakumaran.
The magazine includes poems by S. Jeyashankar, Harold Pinter (translated by M. K. M. Shakib), Parakrama Kodithuwakku (translator's name not given), Ilavaalai Wijendiran, Simonthi, Anaar and Avvai.
Moving away from these pages to the front section of the magazine one finds faithful recordings of the political climate in the country with justifiable commentaries from the Lankan Thamilan points of view.
The names of the editor or editors are not given, but one assumes that at least two of them are involved in the content and production of the magazine. In fact, 'Sarinihar' was in existence as a fortnightly tabloid receiving wide acceptance as an organ of alternative views funded by an NGO that comprised people of the calibre of the late Charles Abeysekera, Kumari Jayawardena, Uyangoda et al. It folded up in February
2001 and the editors, one of whom was reckoned as Sarinihar Sivakumar, started a new newspaper (fortnightly) called 'Nihari' with the sponsorship of Victor Ivan's 'Raavaya'. It was in circulation for sometime and then wound up due to lack of funds. Now 'Sarinihar' is reborn in the magazine format.
Apart from the editorials there are a few political observations by an unsigned writer. A signed commentary by Naasamaruppan, notes on three journalists arrested or abducted, translations of articles by Victor Ivan and Sunanda Deshapriya.
Other articles are by Prabha, Siraj Mashoor, and S P. Nirmanyshan. Interviews published in 'Raavaya' and another set of interviews conducted by 'Sarinihar' on current political matters with eminent public figures are also published. Sivakumar has translated an interview with the Maoist Prasanda.
The magazine includes a translation of a short story in Sinhala written by Sumika Perera. The translator's name is not given.
Email: sarinihar@gmail.com.
