Putting his adventures down in words
Biman Pic by Amila Gamage
It took Biman Wimalaratne his first day of writing and exactly three sentences to visualize the title for his debut book.
The first time author’s curiously titled “Shakespeare on Cocaine” was first introduced to potential readers at the Cockerel Fringe Festival in Galle recently. For the young actor turned writer, “Shakespeare on Cocaine” was a project that took a long time in the making and is “for all the people we meet along the way” Biman quotes, from “somewhere in the middle” of the book.
More familiar with exposing his vulnerability on stage, Biman’s initiation into writing came with the scenes he used to scribble while acting at his alma mater St. Thomas’ College and later at the Actors Centre, Australia. Before joining the prestigious performing arts company (whose alumni include Hugh Jackman) Biman’s initial plan, studying engineering, finance and economy at the University of Sydney, also found the artistic undergrad producing equally creative essays, the closest he admits he has ever come to creative writing.
Biman’s jump from imagining scenes and dialogue to a full length book was at the request of others, he tells us. Inspired by a dream he had while living in Sydney, Biman found himself trekking from Sri Lanka to France and Peru, an experience which would offer the future writer a direction for his still unconscious calling.
His favourite memory from his trip would have been another person’s nightmare – with Biman losing his passport, wallet and going off the radar for a month. The misadventure, or adventure, as he describes, would find the traveller doing odd jobs such as selling sandwiches to tourists by the road who would tell him “you should write a book.”
“I started writing because people told me to,” he shares candidly, and started scribbling his thoughts soon after.
Biman’s collection of stories would travel with him to Australia for a wedding where he compiled it and gave to a couple he had met during his South American escapade. As Biman explains his journey it’s not difficult to imagine him through the pages of a Paolo Coelho book. Incidentally, Biman’s recent reads range from books on leadership, Buddhism, the Quran and biographies. “The Alchemist” which put Coelho on the map is also on his list, “but I wanted to live it,” he says.
The writing process is one he does “out of love”. Beyond the enigmatic, psychedelic cover and the obvious eyebrow raising title, the book itself is simple and reflects his social responsibility as a writer. “You have to disturb the system, but I don’t want to be controversial,” he adds.
These days, Biman is putting the finishing touches on his own spin on philosophy. It’s where the book got its curious name. Along with Biman’s guide to enlightenment, “Shakespeare on Cocaine” is a nod to the Bard’s most iconic, skull clasping, existential question “to be or not to be”. The underlying theme for what Biman hopes will take his readers on an adventure and a “journey to happiness.”
Interested editors, publishers and curious readers can find out more about “Shakespeare on Cocaine” via email to bimanw@gmail.com