Faces behind YouTube sensation – ‘Janai Priyai’
Ranga Jayakodi and Chamal Ratnayake with their YouTube award. Pix by Ishanka Sunimal
Popularly known by the pseudonym ‘Janai Priyai’, Ranga Jayakodi and Chamal Ratnayake have engraved their names in almost every Sri Lankan household as a unique comedy duo over the past few years largely due to their YouTube following.
This week, Ranga and Chamal who portray the role of ‘Janai’ and ‘Priyai’ respectively, take us through the beginnings of their comedy series.
Chamal recalls how they met a few years back and discovered a common denominator between themselves – the ability to impersonate characters, which eventually led to the creation of their comedy series.
“Initially we wanted to start our very own TV show titled ‘Janapriyai Janakaanthai’. However, things didn’t quite workout says Chamal.
Undeterred by the failure, they went on to publish a series of short comical clips under the title ‘Janai Priyai’.
“Initially we released the clips on our Facebook accounts as we didn’t have a page to do so. However, as we continuously received a huge positive response we decided to create a page under the name ‘Janai Priyai’ in which we continue to publish our clips until today,” Ranga explains while adding that most storylines in their clips are based on yarns.
Speaking about their production process, the duo tell us that videographer Gimantha Arampath assists them in shooting the scenes .
The duo emphasise that their clips stay away from double entendres or multiple meanings and they try to maintain the clips as short as possible making it easier on viewers as well.
Ranga says they are very conscious of the fact that around 40 to 50 percent of their viewers are of a very young age.
“So far we have come across children around the ages of four and five who watch our clips,” he adds.
Recently their YouTube channel which crossed over 100,000 subscribers received a ‘Silver Button Award’ for passing a landmark subscriber base.
They go on to say that currently more than 200,000 subscribers are on their YouTube account as of now.
Commenting on their plans for the future, they reveal details of their first Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project called ‘Making smiles with Janai Priyai’. The project aims to help destitute communities by donating essential items.
“There are many people who cannot afford to smile due to the enormous amount of hardships that they face in their life,” Ranga says. “Our motive is to ease their worries in whatever way possible,” he adds.
Those interested in contributing towards this generous cause can contact the duo on their FB channel@JanaiPriyai.