Celebrating 45 years in cinema, veteran actor Robin Fernando will be felicitated at a special event organized to pay tribute for his contribution to the country’s cinema.
Following ‘Robin Fernando Film Festival’ with three popular films featuring the veteran actor and director at Ritz cinema Borella from June 12 to 14, the felicitation ceremony will be held at the National Film Corporation, cinema hall at 4 pm onwards.
Organised by NFC Chairman Jayantha Dharmadasa together with NFC Consultant T. M. Sangadasa and Deputy General Manager Nadeeka Gunasekara, all cinema artistes and technical crew members who worked with Robin are to participate this evening.
Veteran actress Malani Fonseka and Minister and actor Jeevan Kumaratunga are to deliver talks on the valuable contribution made by the veteran artiste and a film screening on Robin is to be made under the courtesy of Tissa Nagodavithana.
Debuted in Titus Totawatte’s blockbuster movie ‘Chandiya’ in 1961, Robin has acted over 100 films including ‘Hara Lakshaya’, ‘Davena Pipasaya’, ‘Hadawath Neththo’, ‘Sagarika’, ‘Sihasuna’, ‘Lokuma Hinawa’, ‘Muhudu Lihini’ and ‘Weera Puran Appu’, some of the landmarks films in Sri Lanka cinema history. Robin, one of the best action stars has directed action to over 150 films and he himself directed two movies ‘Suraduthiyo’ and ‘Ninja- Sri Lanka’. Here follows some of the views shared by this veteran actor who is also a representative of the heyday of Sri Lanka cinema.
TVT: Can you tell us about your entrance to the cinema?
Robin: It was just after completing my education at St’ Benedict College, Kotahena. I was introduced to Titus Thotawatta and to the cinema by Ariyaratne Kahawita and was given a role in ‘Chandiya’.
Thereafter Mr. Thotawatta became my ‘guru’. Since then I have acted in some one hundred films and directed action in about another one hundred and twenty films.
TVT: What influenced you to become an action artiste?
Robin: At school I was a well-known gymnast and I won both School and National colours for gymnastics. I was also influenced by the famous American actor, Burt Lancaster, who was one of the best gymnasts during my time.
And I believe that gymnastics is the foundation for all sports. Along with gymnastics I took a keen interest in learning method of self-defence such as Judo, Karate, boxing, fencing, horse riding and almost all the areas that I thought would be beneficial to become an actor. And don’t forget, in the back of my mind I always wanted to be an action man, just like my hero, Burt Lancaster.
TVT: Where did we go wrong with our action cinema?
Robin: The main reason I think is we couldn’t keep up with the outside world. We competed internationally only with the films that highlighted our culture and socio-economical background. But we never tried to make action films which we were doing far better than Bollywood or South Indian cinemas then.
The other reason was the lack of technology. We did not think about the importance of developing the technology along with the cinema. Unfortunately we still work with outdated cameras, studios and other equipment.
TVT: Are the Sri Lanka action movies still in demand?
Robin: Originality of cinema is action whether it is Hollywood, Bollywood or Sri Lankan. People come to cinemas to be entertained. Films should be made not for a few professors and lecturersbut for the majority of 70% to 80% of the ordinary people. There is no time bar for action cinema, it is everlasting.
TVT: With your long experience what have you got to say for development of future Sri Lankan cinema?
Robin: I became 73 years old on June 13 (yesterday) and our time has gone now. With the end of the war now people can move about at night and we must encourage people to watch our films. And I think the President who was a person who engaged in cinema is keen on developing the art and we must get the best use of this opportunity to promote this medium of art.
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