TV Times

The post-production of ‘Vinivindimi Andura’ (Through the Darkness) a twenty-one episode - teledrama series based on a collection of 20 short stories written by well known Sri Lankan writers is scheduled to be released simultaneously during September on National Rupavahini and ITN.

A result of painstaking work by director Christie Shelton Fernando and producer Ranjith Perera, the project is a commendable effort to recreate reputed writings of twenty writers from the 1920s to 2000. Representing the different stages in the development of Sri Lankan short story, the visual treatment to the literary work of respected writers is a laudable effort to Sri Lankan literature and Sri Lankan television medium as well.

Encouraged by the immense success received for the 'Gal Pilimaya Saha Bol Pilimaya' teledrama series based on Dr. Gunadasa Amerasekera's short story, 'Vinivindimi Andura' is an effort by the producer and the director to bring back the renowned literary work to the visual medium. 'Gal Pilimiya and Bol Pilimaya' received a good response in addition to becoming one of the highest rated TV programmes.

The twenty short stories made into miniscreen are Martin Wickremasinghe's 'Narakwu Piti Banduna', W. A. Silva's 'Wairodiya', J. B. Senanayake's 'Kalahaya', Hemapala Munidasa's 'Ganudenuwa', Gunadasa Amerasekara's 'Apasu Gamana', K. Jayatilakke's 'Athiranaya', T. P. W. de Silva's 'Nambu Pissuwa', Madawala S. Ratnayake's 'Kuhumbuwo', Ajith Thilakasena's 'Awurudu Pahakata Passe', Simon Navagaththegama's 'Saradhage Mangalya', Somaratne Balasuriya's 'Karaththaya', A. V. Suraweera's 'Bawathimira', , Miniwan P. Premathilake's 'Vikalpayak', Ranjith Dharmakeerthi's 'Ohu Enathuru', Piyasilee Wijemanne's 'Welegedara Gunawathi', Jayathilake Kammalweera's 'Thaththage Malagama', Dayasena Gunasinghe's 'Mawathe Daruwo', Arawwala Nandimithra's 'Raththaran Nelum Mala', Eric Ilayapparachchi's 'Giri Kula' and Liyanage Amarakeethi's 'Mora Adawiya'.

The star cast comprising nearly 200 actors and actresses joined the project which was shot in more than 100 locations around the country. The shooting on location started from Galle, Koggala, Yatalamatte and extended to Gampaha, Meerigama, Kurunegala, Wellawaya, Matale, Raththota, Negombo, Chilaw, Iranawila and Puttalam. In making some of the short stories the original location where the stories were based had been used. For the story 'Apasu Gamana', the original house and the surroundings of Dr. Gunadasa Amerasekara were used.

The main roles played by the cream of Sri Lankan teledrama artistes are, Cyril Wickremage, Suminda Sirisena, Chandani Seneviratne, Janak Premalal, W. Jayasiri, Maureen Charuni, Jagath Benaragama, Luxman Mendis, Gamini Samarakoon, Udeni Alwis, Jayani Senanayake, Sandun Wijesiri, Geetha Kanthi Jayakody, Madeni Malwatte, Asela Jayakody, Richard Weerakkody, Vinie Weththasinghe, Buddhadasa Vithanachchi, Pramudi Karunaratne, Gihan Fernando, Nihal Fernando, Rupa Pathirana, Nimal Yatiwella, Milinda Perera, Hemantha Prasad, Priya Ranasinghe, Gihani Amerasinghe, Bimal Jayakody, Sujani Menaka, Gamini Hettiarachchi, Gayani Gyshanthika, Sarath Kothalawela, Ananda Athukorale, Gamini Ambalangoda, Anula Wanigasuriya, Budhdhika Rambukwelle, Malkanthi Ranasinghe and Ramya Wanigasekara.

Director Christy Shelton Fernando speaking to the TV Times said it was the most challenging experience in his career.

‘Twenty stories and themes with their own cast, locations, background and time periods, I had to think and adjust completely in a new way every two or three days. But I believe that our labour was worthwhile as this is going to be a tribute to those respected writers and a treasure for our future generations’ he said.

The director has planned to begin telecast from next September, the literary month along with a book exhibition to educate school children.

‘Almost all the stories are in the Advanced Level examination syllabus and the teledramas would not only provide entertainment but education as well’ said Mr. Fernando.

The director also said that the series of the miniplays made into DVDs will be distributed among the schools for academic usage. ‘The stories are of international standard and we are planning to forward some of them to International Video and TV production festivals. This will begin with the next Vienna Festival’, the director stated.

The producer, Mr. Ranjith Perera who made the film 'Sandamadala' for the direction of Malani Fonseka and Christey Shelton Fernando's 'Thahanam Gaha' in addition to two teledramas 'Rankira Soya' by Andrew Jayamanne and 'Gal Pilimaya and Bol Pilimaya' by Christie Shelton Fernando said the main purpose of this tedious work was to expose our younger generation to our own literature.

"The challenge ahead of us was how to do justice to these writers when their much treasured works were transformed to visual art. This was a colossal work compared to a prolonged teledrama on one theme. Selecting from cast to locations we had to be extra careful that the most suitable artiste and the set was selected. All these stories are about human emotions and it was a challenging task to bring them to visual images,".

"But our effort was fruitful as some of the writers have been extremely satisfied with our work," said Ranjith Perera.