TV Times

Veteran script writer and internationally acclaimed filmmaker Kalasoori K. A. W. Perera bid farewell to the nation last Sunday (August 20).

Koddul Arachchige Wilson Perera, popularly known as 'KAW' who started his career as an English teacher, joined Radio Ceylon as a programme producer and ended up being a acclaimed dialogue writer for film and award winning filmmaker. While at Radio Ceylon KAW's programmes 'Handa Mama', 'Radio Sangarawa' and 'Sinhala Geetha Dhara' were an instant success and became very popular among the listeners.

Turning a new page in Sinhala cinema KAW joined as dialogue writer to Dr. Lester James Pieris's epoch making film "Rekhawa" (1956). With that remarkable contribution, he was to be the most sought after dialogue writer for Sinhala films, and 'Sri 296', 'Heta Pramada Vediy', 'Sandeshaya', 'Getawarayo', 'Sarawita', were outstanding among them.

In his strides in the long journey in the path of cinema, it became a turning point when he wrote not only the story, script and dialogues for 'Pirimiyek Nisa ' (1960) produced by EAP Edirisinghe for EAP films, but also co-directed it with T. Somasekaran.

Also he was the co -director of 'Suhada Sohoyuro' (1963) produced by the same company.

In his march in the industry he introduced several artistes to Sinhala cinema among whom were young actors, actresses and lyricists. The year 1966 was the next landmark in his chosen field of cinema art.

He directed the film' Sanasuma Kothanada' for Mr.Somasiri Perera which won him the 'Sarasaviya' award for the best film of the year. With the success of that film KAW was to stay in cinema as a giant with its promotion, protection, propagation and search for its rightful place in the country both as an art and an industry.

KAW's most remarkable contribution was introducing a new music format for the Sinhala cinema. In all, he directed a total of 26 films in his 50 year long career and 'Kapatikama', 'Bicycle Hora', 'Seeya Nottuwa','Kathuru Muwath', 'Lokuma Hinawa', 'Duleeka', 'Lasanda', 'Wasana', 'Janaka saha Manju', 'Hingana Kolla', 'Sumedha' and 'Dhawala Pushpaya' standout as some of his most popular cinematic creations. The songs in most of these films are still popular even among the present generation of music lovers.

With the dawn of the seventies, Sinhala cinema was facing a crisis mainly due to a drop in aesthetic quality and over-production. KAW was in the forefront to save national cinema from being doomed, and spearheaded a struggle together with others in the film industry to form a state corporation for cinema.

KAW who had made national cinema his life, is even today in front whenever the industry or the Film corporation is threatened from within or without. He is special as a film director in his dedication to defend it from whatever angle the brickbats were hurled.

Kalasoori KAW Perera has been honoured with Sarasaviya , Deepashika ,Swarna Hansa , Swarna Jayanthi ,Rana Thisara , and Sumathi awards at various stages in his career .He was honoured at the 'Tashkent' International Film festival (1975 ) for his film" Lasanda " And, he was further honoured with the best film director award at the OCIC film festival held in Rome in 1976, for the same film.

The name of KAW and his over 50 years contribution to the cinema will be remembered forever.