Tissa’s selection rejected for SAARC film Festival

By Susitha R. Fernando

The path of 'Sulang Kirilli' and 'Iramediyama' has never been smooth. Yet both the films have received international recognition- "Sulang Kirilli- the pick of the prestigious Tokyo International Festival of 2002 and "Iramediyama' being one of the most beautifully crafted films on the dehumanizing effects of war in addition to the acclaim it won internationally.

Now there is another obstacle set by the National Film Corporation (NFC) when it decided to drop the two films from the SAARC Cultural Festival to be held in December in New Delhi.

The puritanical reason is that films sent for festival should be free from controversial issues.

Tissa Abeysekera, Prasanna Vithanage, Inoka Satyangani at the table while filmmaker Somaratne Dissanayake expresses his views on the issue at the press conference.

A work of art carries a universal theme and as such it may be welcomed. There will be some who will feel violated and others who will see it as addressing an issue that needs to be addressed.

Filmmaker and writer Tissa Abeysekera, one of the members of the chapter of Foundation of SAARC Writers and Literature (FOSWAL) was requested to select three films for the festival and his selections were Inoka Satyangani's "Sulang Kirilli" (The Wind Bird), Prasanna Vithanage's "Ira Mediyama" (August Sun) and Jayantha Chandrasiri's " Guerrilla Marketing".

Mr. Abeysekera was surprised when he got to know that his selection had been objected and two alternate films "Sooriya Arana" by Somaratne Dissanayake and "Sulanga" by Benette Ratnayake were proposed.

This was the issue at a press conference organized by Swarna Sanka Foundation last week. It was chaired by Mr. Abeysekera, Prasanna Vithanage and Inoka Satyangani while well-known filmmakers, film critics, academics and journalists participated.

It was a matter of priority that Mr. Abeysekera, who also former NFC Chairman placed the selection within the forma procedure as it was films to be shown at an international event.

Mr. Abeysekera has not taken offence yet it is relevant to make some timely observation with a wider perspective and vision. Politics and arts are strange bed fellows and as such there should be no marriage between them. Judgment made by competent individuals should remain. When they are tampered with, the result is either tragic or hilarious.

This was written with the idea of enlightening our readers who are interested in Sri Lankan cinema and not with an idea of causing offence or making a controversial issue.