TV Times

TV Times

AJG compiles literature on Lester
By Susitha R. Fernando
Writing about his close friend Lester James Peries, Prof. A. J. Gunawardene (AJG), who was also a script writer for a number of Lester's films treated his work as ‘labour of love’.

Unfortunately his own incite analysis and assessment of Lester's work was not to be completed when AJG died in 1998, before his work was completed this literary endeavour effort was left in limbo.

Starting his career as a journalist at Lake House after a successful career also being an English honours graduate from Peradeniya University Ariyasena Jayasekere Gunawardene-AJG in his younger age was a gifted writer. Writing to Lake House newspapers AJG was one of the leading film critics of the film world then. Meeting Lester after writing a review of Lester's classic 'Nidhanaya' (The Treasure) was the start of a congenial and amiable friendship which was to last a lifetime of creativity.

‘Being a film critic AJG took great interest in my cinema. Our bond tightened as Trilicia his wife who was the first Maname Kumari in Ediriweera Sarachchandra's drama was cast in a number of my films and teledrama 'Giraya'. Choosing academic life as a university lecturer in English he proceeded to New York University to obtain a Doctorate in the Performing Arts.

As Professor of English at Vidyodhaya University (University of Jayawardenapura) he contributed a great deal to the promotion of new writing from the Commonwealth and Africa. AJG was the chairperson of The Presidential Committee of Inquiry concerning the Film Industry of Sri Lanka.
Deciding to work together AJG collaborated with LJP as the scriptwriter for three of his well-known films Beddegama (Village in the Jungle), Kaliyugaya (The Age of Kali) and Yuganthaya (End of an Era).

His weekly column on arts and culture the "Marginal Comment" column in a weekend newspaper was highly appreciated. Prof. Gunawardene began researching and writing the biography of Lester James Peries in the early 1990's. AJG's intention was to enhance the narrative with his own insights, analyses and assessments of the filmmaker's work.

‘He contacted me whenever he wanted and used to send chapter by chapter as they were finished. This practice was continued even when we were in Paris’ Dr. Peries recalled reminiscing his close association with prolific writer AJG.

Sadly AJG passed away in 1998 before he could complete this labour of love. However the manuscript, which was in the possession of Dr. Lester James Peries proved to be a treasure chest of Prof. A. J. Gunawardene's singular writing style as it shone through to illuminate the heart and mind of his esteemed subject.

However the first manuscript which was in the possession of LJP was handed over to the Asian Film Centre (AFC) which brought it up to date with his latest film Ammawarune. Interviewing Dr. Peries young writer Prasad Pereira updated the book on the latest films 'Wekanda Walawwa' and 'Ammawarune'. "AJG did a comprehensive study of different aspects of each film such as how the film's idea was born, how funds were raised, what difficulties were faced etc. but the most important part to be was AJG's critical analysis which he couldn't do," Dr. Peries noted sadly.

However the AJG's dream of completing his 'labour of love' was handed over to Prof. Wimal Dissanayake a foremost scholar and authority on Asian cinema.
It was Prof. Dissanayake who is a lecturer at the University of Hawai at present took over the task of writing the much waited introduction.
‘I was very satisfied with Wimal's contribution for the book. It is a dispassionate and impartial piece of work. He was knowledgable and he analysed my whole journey based on three of my films’ said Dr. Peries expressing his contentment.

‘It was the first serious study done on me’ he added. When the TV Times contacted Prof. Wimal Dissanayake who is in Hawai about his contribution to "Life and Work"-LJP said Lester James Peries is the father of Art Cinema in Sri Lanka; He put Sri Lanka on the international cinema map.

‘His deep humanism and the mastery of the craft of cinema are exemplary’.
Asked where Dr. Peries stands in the international arena of cinema, Prof. Dissanayake said Lester James Peries is one of the most important Asian film directors of all time. He is in the same league as Akira Kurosowa and Satyajit Ray.

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