Tiny TV Times’ titanic mission

'TV Times & Entertainment', the title suggests just another television and entertainment guide to look up and decide as what to watch and when on your television, apart from the all local entertainment news. However over the last fourteen years TV Times and Entertainment, the most popular entertainment pullout of Sunday, has been forging ahead in its mission of providing a TV guide and involving itself in a greater mission.

With its limited space of 26 in to 19 cm in size and with limited number of pages TVT has been supporting and promoting Sri Lankan cinema, television and the music industries at large. Celebrating its 14h anniversary this week, TV Times talked to a cross section of filmmakers and teledrama directors in an attempt to share their genuine views about this magazine.

The father of Sri Lankan cinema, Dr. Lester James Peiries, whose films were regularly highlighted in this popular magazine, had this to say about TVT and its service to cinema. 'TV Times has been a great inspiration to the cinema industry which is struggling for its survival at this moment. It disseminates news related to cinema and other forms of arts impartially and independently;'

Though the TV Times sounds like a guide for television it has promoted both television and cinema at large. And interestingly while the main section is read for once and disposed of, TV Times 'I wish that the magazine become bigger with more pages and that there will be more room for cinema and other material,’ said the pioneering filmmaker.

Prof. Sunil Ariyaratne who has directed highly acclaimed and award winning films like 'Siribo Aiya', 'Sarungale', 'Krishthu Charithaya' and 'Sudu Sewaneli' said "TV Times with its limited space has given its utmost support to cinema artiste and cinema as whole"

‘Whenever I have made a film I received TVT's highest support without any condition’ said Prof. Ariyaratne sharing his personal experience with TV Times. Not only cinema this small magazine has promoted television artistes and the music industry with its simple and readable articles.

‘I wish TV Times long life and hope that it would continue to serve the country and its cinema in the many years to come’ veteran filmmaker said. Filmmaker Benette Ratnayake won international acclaim starting from his maiden film 'Aswesuma' which won Platinum Award for the Best First Feature at the 34th Houston International Film Festival and Special Jury Award (Fipresci) by Federation of International Film Critics at the 4th Mumbai I.F.F..

‘Sunday Times is a well read weekend newspaper popular among the educated and the younger generation for its integrity and impartiality. And the TV Times with the same integrity has played a vital role to take the cinema to Sri Lankan audiences," said the filmmaker.

"The film related news as well as critical reviews on cinema and issues related to cinema it reports has helped to enlighten cinema audience updating them on happenings on cinema. As a filmmaker I really appreciate the service rendered by TV Times to the film industry in this country.

Talented Boodee Keerthisena is a young filmmaker who has proved his potential with his award winning and highly acclaimed films like 'Sihina Desayen' and 'Milla Soya'. Asked about the TVT's service Boodee says ‘Keeping the Cinema audiences and the industry people up dated by carrying news and film critics on the TV Times, it has been doing a great service for the Sri Lankan audiences’.

'Since there aren't any Cinema newspapers in English in Sri Lanka, I think it has been a great service that the TV Times has been doing to the Cinema industry and the community' Boodee explained. Senesh Bandara is a young filmmaker who made popular films like 'Adaraneeya Wassanaya' and 'Heart FM' which became an instant success.

"Cinema is an art full of glamour and TV Times which presented the same glamorous outlook is praiseworthy,". At a time when film goers began leaving the theatres, the magazine has been striving hard to keep them intact. The magazine created hopes in the audience with the information it provided on the films to come.

"This information helped them to prepare themselves for coming up cinema and everybody involved in presenting this small magazine with such glamourous outlook should be appreciated and the industry and its artistes should be grateful to them," the young filmmaker said.