Music of Sri Lanka



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Kolam is a secular dance-drama genre once popular in the south of Sri Lanka but now infrequently performed. It is distinguished by masked characters who take part in satirical preludes to the main story, often based on Buddhist lore. Today the main story is performed without masks and is less popular than the preludes. In this prelude a narrator scolds Anabera, an elderly king’s crier, for neglecting his wife who, played by a male dancer, confirms with humorous, erotic gestures.

"Song of Mudali, the village leader" performed by the T.W. Gunadasa troupe, from Sri Lanka, Popular Comédies and Opéras (Cat.# Le Chant du Monde CDM CMT 2741006) (p)1995 Le Chant du Monde, Paris. All rights reserved.

Appears in these articles:

Sri Lanka; Asian Theater

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