Prasanna Vithanage honoured in Assam
Acclaimed Sri Lankan Filmmaker Prasanna Vithanage was conferred prestigious Bishwaratana Dr Bupen Hazarika International Solidarity Award on April 10 at Rabindra Bhawan in Guwahati Assam.
The award instituted in the name of Assam’s cultural icon Dr Bupen Hazarika was given by Assam Sahitya Sabha in association with the Numaligarh Refinery Limited.
‘’My Personal Belief of ‘’Diversity’’ being a significant factor that strengthens a nation is reflected both in my personal life and my artistic endeavours. To hold an award in honour of a human being whose entire life was spent standing up for his beliefs and creating works of art backing up those same beliefs is not just an encouragement, but demands much greater responsibility ‘’ said Vithanage in his acceptance speech.
Presented biannually, the award was first offered to Bangladeshi scholar and dance exponent Lubna Marium and the second award was conferred on eminent Malayalam filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan. Prasanna was the third to receive the award which carries a trophy, a citation, cash prize and other traditional gift items.
In his acceptance speech, Prasanna pointed out that there is still a sizable propotion of serious film-goers in Sri Lanka who supports alternate film making. However he agreed that Bollywood movies enjoy important market shares in Sri Lanka.
He also paid tributes to Indian film makers namely Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen, Guru Dutt, Adoor Gopalakri- shnan, Jahnu Barua etc along with Bhupen Hazarika. According to Prasanna, the simplicity conveyed with creative ardours by the filmmakers inspired him to try his hands with the art of filmmaking. In his speech the internationally awarded filmmaker specially mentioned Jahnu’s award winning Assamese movie ‘Halodhiya Choraye Baodhan Khay’ (The Catastrophe) that influenced his creative journey to a great extent.
During his stay in Assam, Prasanna attended an interactive session titled Guest of the Month at Guwahati Press Club with the local scribes. He had bared his heart to the participants expressing his concern to the crisis of small time filmmakers based in different parts of the globe and also conveyed optimism over digital screening of quality films for the benefit of film appreciators. Prasanna stated that the present scenario of the Sri Lankan film industry is bleak, but the new technology could be used for its sustained growth. He argued that the screening of regional movies (inclusive of Sinhalese films) with multiple sub-titles through various alternate media outlets would help the industry to survive for a better future.
Talking about the strong presence of female characters in his movies, the energetic director revealed that it is because of his mother’s influence over him. Prasanna termed his mother as a strong individual and admitted that her influence remained a real strength to him in all times of crisis. Tohim a mother is always an unparalleled symbol of love, affection, care and simplicity.
Prasanna also made an interesting revelation that unlike Indians, who are diverged but united in oneness, the Lankans are yet to nurture the spirit of nationalism. He admitted that the Lankan society remained ethnically divided even after the end of Tamil uprising turned into terrorism in northern part of the country.