Open Mic: Thank You
Thank you to everyone, especially everyone who came out to read, and the Sansoni family, and Geoffrey Dobbs and the Galle Literary Festival, and everyone who came before. I got a bit tipped at the end and had to be trundled off in a cab, but I think it went off well. Near the end I couldn’t stop talking, but I was really so very proud. I wake up in the morning and I have a staff meeting and I need a haircut and my shirts are un-ironed, but last night I saw a variety of Sri Lankan talent which was interesting and new and hilarious. But overall, seriously, everyone was so good. Like Kottu, there are now a lot of high-quality and entirely different creatives in Sri Lanka, and that’s very entertaining to see. And this is just Colombo, there’s a lot happening island-wide in all our languages. More than anything, thank you to everyone who came and read and listened and heckled (Richard Simon, Timmy) and all.
Personally, I cracked up at Harean Hettiarachchi’s description of the simians contracted to build his deck, and I’ve always enjoyed his sister Ru’s poetry. There were a few young talents (fresh coming from me) that totally blew me away. Saint Fallen (whose blog I can’t find) read something holding a match. His hands were shaking but his words were sure. Dude who Of course Halik who I’ve actually worked with in a more boring context and who I think is one of the most imaginative people out there. And Drifter, who I’m glad came and read his Terrorist poem.
Not to mention, Gihan De Chickera and Tehani Chitty and Jake Oorloff for their renditions of Mike Masilamani’s poetry. They’ve been doing this for ages and their performances are really tight now, no notes, another level. Gihan De Chickera (Machan, watch it) is the closest thing we have to a movie star, and Jake’s the closest to a perfume ad (YouTube). And Mike, who’s entertaining and gracious as ever. His work has been extraordinarily new and fertile and, for me, the start of performance poetry in Sri Lanka.
Plus the two Navin’s, Weeraratne and Ratnayake. The former read a voice from the private sector about running a SME, something I have actually rarely heard about in this context. And my old friend Nav Rat for drinking on stage and reading Baudelaire. The poem was about drinking, that’s why.
And Pradeep Jeganathan who, aside from being a great cook and photographer is also probably the major published author there. And Sanjana Hattotuwa, editor of Groundviews and terrorist underling (jokes, jokes, don’t shoot). Plus Delon Weerasinghe, IMHO, really loosened up and started the night with his hilarious stand-up, connecting with the crowd and mortifying his wife.
And of course Hania Mariam (YouTube), for her beautiful self and voice.
If I forgot anyone I’m sure the people there didn’t forget. I lost my mental read/write function at some point in the night, but thank you so much.
Organizationally, it was just a microphone and a place and time. However, that ease is the result of years of work on the part of many people. Thank you to Tracy Holsinger and Tehani and everyone from Mind Adventures, and the Tennekoon family. Their talent and professionalism are a rock and a foundation. And Jehan Mendis (YouTube), who is a party in a box. And Nazreen Sansoni, who is like a second mother and an inspiration to me, and Dominic Sansoni, who is a mischievous scamp with a heart of gold. And Mo, for sure, and the Barefoot staff. I think I said it far too much at the end of the night, but we are truly standing on their shoulders, just like we as we depend on the inheritance from Lionel Wendt, Geoffrey Bawa, Barbara Sansoni, the 43 Group and so many more. And our parents and grandparents, for all their mistakes, what they have given us.
I got video of most but it’s overheating my laptop as I process. I’ll uplord over the course of the day. I gotta go to work. I really need a haircut. Omigod my email is on fire. Same shit, different day. But last night was something new.
Not to quote Ice Cube, but the Sri Lankan police are hardly beloved. A 
I just gave a talk at the University Of Sri Jayawardenapura along with Reeza Zarook of Anything.lk and Rohan Jayaweera of Google. These are my notes: Devin Jayasundara asked me for a subject for this talk and I told him Internet property. But I talked to my fiancé Shru and she had a better idea. Startups aren’t about creating property at all, not really. They’re about creating territory, about creating land.
I haven’t been blogging much, I know. It’s partly because we’ve been doing a lot of work on YAMU, especially shipping 1.0.1 of the Android app today. It’s on the 
I met an old-timer who said they used to drop acid and sleep atop Sigiriya, but the place has taken on a more commercial and quasi-spiritual role now. It was built by a king as a sort of retreat and used as a monastery. Now it’s a prime tourist and cultural destination. Hence it’s a bit odd to see a Japanese beer commercial shot up there. There’s a bunch of people eating, um, deep fried cream filled coconuts and then drinking some bracing beer. I hear the whole thing cost Rs. 25,000 (I’m presuming they used stock images).
http://changeiseverywhere.wordpress.com/
thats his new blog. his old one’s deleted.
Great stuff last night man! hope this keeps going :)
Whakster..I was fuck stoned byt he time you were reading Your poem “Dependance Day” …i’ve read it on ur blog but it was obviously different wen u actually recite it…cool shit man…I was just sitting there and agreeing with everything you were saying with the words “Yeeeah man” over and over again…
glad you liked it man! thought the terrorist poem was awesome btw…
Good stuff right there. Pass on the word for the next.
Super evening. Nicely done.
brilliant….
The night had everything, some guys read some funny shit and its the closest i’ve gotten to a comedy club in Colombo!
Harean’s logic on our -ancient engineering accidents- was epic!
Damn. Missed the first bit.
Nicely done btw. We could definitely do with more of these. There’s a huge dearth of these type of stuff.
Heard it was an amazing night. So sorry I couldn’t make it. Had something ready from my blog to read too. Next time maybe? There WILL be a next time right?
Certainly will be another one. Was thinking biweekly, but now feel like monthly would be better. Dunno. Leaning monthly, so next month
Frankly, I think it’s a bit pointless reading from blogs. Isn’t that why we have blogs? So unless you’re gonna have a discussion, why bother? It’s OK reading poetry you’ve put up on your blog, ‘cos it’s still poetry and no one’s really gonna argue with your rhyming or whatever.
Wasn’t really my thing, but I’m not sure why. When I figure it out, I’ll blog about it.
To be honest, i heard a lot of bloggers reading out yesterday whose blogs i wouldnt have read due to time contraints…..
Some stuff i really enjoyed! so.. all in all… its good to hear from different ppl even if the material is off blogs,
And if there is an argument, you can always visit the blog and let your thoughts be known?
Reading from blogs is OK, though not all posts are suited for reading aloud.
It’s just a medium and it’s just words. The words themselves have more to do with it.
Super evening Indi – and the arrack mallum was also wow!
Fantastic evening, Indi. My heartfelt thanks to the band of believers who put it all together. I think it was the fact that, not only were the performances really honest, but that the audience was SOwarm and supportive, that made it the enriching expeirience it was for most of us last night.
BTW, through my apathy and gorilla-fetishes i have let the blog – eatlard skip from the kottu blogroll. Help a brother?
Great Idea and super evening..many thanks
i’d like to add my thanks to indi’s. it was so great to have so many people reading and performing. we thought it wouldn’t last more than an hour, but it went on for two and a half, without any breaks. so encouraging. thank you, thank you. please keep writing and please come back. we intend to make it a regular event.
however, david’s comment is exactly why i feel this kind of thing should be kept small. we are feeling our way, literally in the dark. we have an ultimate goal in mind, but the steps we take to get there will be fragmented, and the process will be slow. working things out in front of a small, friendly but objective audience before taking it out there to a larger, more diverse group of people.
so much of what we say is open to misinterpretaion, and could derail us before we really get started. but yes, david, the intention is to have discussion and debate. why don’t you suggest a topic?
‘Friendly but objective’
Not going to happen in this town I’m afraid. It tends to be one or the other. Sigh…
Tracy,
There will always be those who come, lurk in the shadows, drink, fart and leave. Fuck them. You have a good thing going here – just do it. But expect vicious commentary on blogs and maybe even in the papers. Keeping it small is great, like the discussion groups Beyond Borders organises. But you guys have it better methinks. Nazreen has a great space, you and Indi get the best of the new writing on stage and those who are unhappy with the content can choose to not come, or leave. Just speaking – just airing out thoughts, is great.
Discussion and debate also cool – but it has to be managed and that’s a bitch with a lot of people, their aunties and their dogs who have opinions. This evening was cool because people just stood up and read without fear of being ripped apart by a critical audience. My guess is that if this becomes a forum / event for debate, you’ll see far fewer people present or more of the same voices coming – and that would be a pity. God knows we read enough of the same shit from the same people!
Dr. Who has spoken.