Sanjeewa, Chandran excel with many awards
Chandran Rutam
Sanjeewa Pushpakumara’s ‘Devena Vihagun’ (Burning Birds) excelled at the recently held ‘Derana Lux Film Awards 2019’ with nine nominations and five main awards.
The film was nominated for the Best Film, the Best Script, the Best Cinematography and the Best Music awards and won the Best Director-Sanjeewa Pushpakuamra, Best Actress – Anoma Janadari, Best Supporting Actress- Samanali Fonseka, Best Supporting Actor- Mahendra Perera and the award for the Best Make up. Veteran filmmaker Chandran Rutam’s Sri Lankan English film ‘According to Matthew’ was awarded with the Best Film, Best Editing and Best Sound.
Sanjeewa Pushpakumara Best Director
Among other awards Darshan Dharmaraj won the ‘Best Actor’ award for his role in “Porisadaya”. The award for ‘Best Screenplay’ went to Jayantha Chandrasiri for his film “Garasarapa” while Prof. Sunil Ariyaratne’s “Bimba Devi Alias Yashodhara” won the award for the Highest Grossing Film of the Year 2018. Jackson Anthony won the Most Popular Actor award while Udari Warnakulasuriya was voted the Most Popular Actress. Nayanathara Wickramarachchi won the award for ‘Best Upcoming Actress’ and Lux Glamorous Star award was won by Shalani Tharaka. Special jury awards for their debut performances were given away to Dewaka Kowage of “Garasarpa” and Gavin Ludewyke of “According to Mathew”.
King Ratnam received a special award for bringing new hopes to Sri Lanka;s Tamil cinema. Veteran award-winning actor Amarasiri Kalansuriya received the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ for his immense service to the Sri Lankan film industry.
Sanjeewa, whose film won most number of awards, speaking after receiving the Best Director award thanked a number of people who had helped him in his journey to become an award winning filmmaker.
Samanali Fonseka
“I came to Colombo from Trincomalee not to be a filmmaker but to be an announcer. But since I faced many rejections I decided to find the field in whcih I would be welcomed. It was on this decision that I decided to become a filmmaker, he said. He also thanked veteran cinematographer and cinema guru M. D. Mahindapala who supported him in his early career. “When I said I like to see the films of Andrei Tarkovsky Mahindapala sir made arrangements for me to watch all seven films of Andrei Tarkovsky at his home, and even arranged meals for me,” Sanjeewa said while Mr. Mahindapala was also present on the stage to give away the award.
Amarasiri Kalansuriya
He also thanked Jackson Anthony who introduced him to Colombo society and also the famous cricket erSidath Wettimuni who brought him to Colombo and provided accommodation.
During his speech the award winning filmmaker made a request from President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Cultural Affairs Minister and the Inspector General of Police to make necessary arrangements to release remanded writer Shkathika Sathkumara.
“While we celebrate victories and defeats, another creative artiste who worked for the freedom of expression has been remanded for months. Honourable President please ensure freedom of expression. May you carry out your work in politics and allow us to carry out our duty as artistes. We request that Shakthika be released.
He also requested the government make available facilities for those who want to learn cinema. Finally Sanjeewa said that the award he won was dedicated his mother celebrated her birthday on that day.
‘Burning Birds’ back in theatres Following the multiple awards won at the recently held ‘Derana Film Awards’, Sanjeewa Pushpakumara’s ‘Devena Vihagun’ or ‘Burning Birds’ will be in a few theatres for a limited engagement including Savoy Premier at 1.30 pm. The second feature film by Sanjeewa after his debut ‘Igilena Maluwo’ (Flying Fish), ‘Davena Vihagun’ won a number of international film awards including the Special Jury Prize (the second place) at the 17th Tokyo FILMeX International Film Festival and the Best Picture and Young Jury Prize at the 15th Geneva International Film Festival (FIFDH). In addition, its main actress Anoma Janadari won the Best Actress award in the Asian World Film Festival 2017 in Los Angeles for her role in ‘Devana Vihagun’. The film was premiered in the New Currents Competition of the Busan Film Festival in Korea and it also became the first ever Sri Lankan film to be nominated for the Ingmar Bergman Award at the Gothenburg Film Festival in Sweden. The film has been invited to more than 25 International Film Festivals including Locarno, Munich and Pune. Written by Sanjeewa himself, the film relates the story of a noble mother and a daughter who sacrifice and dedicate their lives to provide a better life to their children and siblings after the killing of her husband and father by an unknown armed group. | |