Extremely talented actor and devotee of theatre, Dharmapriya Dias was adjudged the Best Actor for his first lead in the internationally acclaimed movie ‘Machan’ of Oscar nominated producer Ubarto Passilini. This multi-talent who has titles such as award winning playwright, actor, set designer, choreographer, teacher of art and Master degree holder in Theatre and Drama is well known for his dedication to art. However more than anything else, Dharmapriya has won many more accolades for his down to earth personality.
Playing his maiden major role in internationally awarded ‘Machan’, winning the Best Actor Award is indeed a rare feat to the young cinema actor.
In a bid to showcase the outstanding talent, ‘TV Times’ talked to this enthusiastic actor to disclose about him, his creations, performance and his achievements last week.
‘I started liking the stage as a student of Piliyandala Central College early 1990s and our teacher was Premakumara Karunaratne. As a result of this deep interest I selected Theatre and Drama as one of my subjects for Advanced Level examination’ says smiley Dharmapriya.
Just after the Advanced Level examination Dharmapriya dedicated his life to the stage and acted in a play together with his fellow school leavers and the drama was selected for the final stage of State Drama Festival. This followed a series of stage plays he performed under veteran producers like Bandula Vithanage, K. B. Herath, Jayalath Manoratne and young and innovative playwrights like Rajitha Dissanayake, Thumindu Dodanthenna and Chamika Hathlawaththa.
Having realized the talent of this rare gem, teledrama directors Nalan Mendis, Sudatha Rohana, Janaka Siriwardena and Dee Gee Somapala hired him for their directions. His performance in the small screen opened to him the door for the cinamatic screen.
‘I never dreamt that my first big role would go around the world like this and I would become an award winner’ Dharmapriya shared his experience about ‘Machan’.
Having played minor roles in Vijitha Gunaratne’s ‘Wala Patala’ and two other films ‘Bora Diya Pokuna’ and ‘Nahi Werena Werani’, which are awaiting release for past several years.
‘The period of nearly one year working for ‘Machan’ with ‘Ubarto Passilini’ was like a study on cinema’ he added. ‘We knew that ‘Machan’ was going to be a very special film. This is not because it was directed by an internationally acclaimed filmmaker, filmed in two countries or any other reasons but due to its sheer genius and it’s true to life theme and story. Considering the seriousness of the problem of human smuggling, it was a film that should have been directed by a Sri Lankan filmmaker’ said Dharmapriya talking about ‘Stanley’ his star role in the film.
‘Machan’ was released in 42 theatres simultaneously in Italy and many other countries including Germany and Switzerland and it is a rare achievement for a Sri Lankan film. ‘I wonder, when we shall be able to join and enjoy such a good cinema experience again’ said Dharmapriya describing the depth that Sri Lankan cinema had fallen into.
Asked whether he will going to be selective in his future roles in cinema Dharmapriya said that he does not see any difference between artistic cinema and commercial cinema. “Whatever the direction is, if the role suits me, I am ready to take up’ said enthusiastic Dharmapriya.
Speaking about the theatre, teledrama and cinema, Dharmapriya said that he is ready to dedicate himself to stage more than any other fields of art. ‘Comparatively the return we get for performing in a theatrical production is nothing. Even for when we have to devote months for rehearsing, yet we still do it with a passion and satisfaction’ described Dharmapriya.
On stage Dharmapriya has won Best Actor- State Drama Award for his performance in ‘Hina’ directed by Chamika Hathlawaththa in 2003, Best Set Designer for Ruwan Malik Peiries’ ‘Dasa Mallige Bangalawa’ (Dasa Malli’s Bungalow) in 2004, Best Choreography in his own production ‘Gehenu Lamai Weda Arambathi’ (Girls start Works) and Youth Drama Festival’s Assistant Actor for Lanka Ishan Kankanamge’s ‘Sanda Sewanella’ in 1997. As a playwright Dharmapriya has directed short drama festival and is getting ready with two of his stage scripts to start when he finds a prospective producer.
Working as a teacher of art at Sasthrananda Vidyalaya in Dehiwela, Dharmapriya remembered with gratitude the support he had from the principal, P. P. D. C. Pathirana and the staff and also expressed his gratitude to his parents and family and all the teachers whom he describes as those responsible for all his achievements.
|
E-mail
