G.D.L.Perera is not a man who likes to toe the conventional line in making either film or drama. It was way back in 1964 he produced and directed the stage play ‘Thotupola’, which explored the fragile ethnic relations between the Sinhalese and Tamils when there was little inkling of the bloody civil war the country could be plunged into due to differences between them.
It is the same sense of fearless exploration of human relations that he has instilled in his students of his acting school at the Meda Dhumbara Drama School in Digana, Kandy.
The students produced and directed their first home movie which was shown recently at the Punchi Theater in Colombo.
Titled ‘Lakshmai, Maya and Sugath’, the story revolves around the complicated relationship that springs up between these three young characters.
Mihiri Nissansala Jayaratne, Malki Dilesha Silva and Kelum Tharanga Gunawrdena, the amateur students from the 'Meda Dhumbara Drama School' portray the main characters of the film ‘Lakshmai, Maya and Sugath’.
The story begins in a predominately Sinhalese Buddhist village. The protagonist of the film Sugath is in love with Maya, a comely village girl who hails from an affluent family. Sugath is unemployed like most of his friends who spend a lot of their time meeting at village roadsides to express their frustrations at having so little do in their young lives.
They all want to escape the monotony of his village life and find some solace in the village temple where the young monk involves in them political work such as painting posters. Sugath turns to the monk and asks him to us his political 'contacts' to secure him a job as s teacher.
He does get the job but he has to serve in a school in the east where the terrorist problem is still prevalent. He is in two minds about whether to accept the job or not but after persuasion from the monk he decides to go.
Later one realizes why the Buddhist monk is keen to see Sugath leave the village. He has his eyes set on Maya and ensures that the two don’t stay in touch .The letters that are sent to the temple by Sugath to be given to Maya are destroyed and over time the monk wins over the girl.
Sugath meanwhile gets used to teaching the Tamil students Sinhalese in the run down school. A young girl Lakshmai is the cleaner at the school and soon a close relationship develops between the two. Sugath is frustrated that he gets no letters from Maya. His attempts to call the temple to get information from the monk about his girlfriend also fail. When Sugath comes home for his vacations, the most unexpected thing has happened. The monk has disrobed and eloped with Maya. Sugath is left with little choice but to return to his teaching job.
There are several other actors who also contribute to the movie with their fine acting to weave it into an interesting tale. While the finer points of film making are something that can be mastered only with experience, it’s a laudable first attempt by a promising set of students of cinema. The forthright manner in which some uncomfortable issues are addressed needs to be commended.
G.D.L. Perera continues to inspire a new generation of artistes to use their medium of art in a manner that is thought provoking and looks at controversial issues without fear.
Channa Udayanga ganegoda, Suranga Chamil Ratnayake, Daminda Rajapakse, A. H. Raj Abeyratne Edmond Seneviratne and Ayesha Madushani Udukumbura play the other characters in the film.
Salutation for Sathis
In honour of the service rendered to Sri Lankan cinema, television and literature for nearly five decades, actor, film and teledram maker, writer and programme producer Kalasoori Sathischandra Edirisinghe is to be felicitated by artistes.
Organised by Telemakers Guild, the felicitation titled ‘Sathischandra Edirisinghe in Retrospect’ will be held today, January 16 at 6 pm at Kularatne hall in Ananda College Maradana.
The felicitation ceremony will include songs in the films and teledramas directed by the experienced director with the participation of large number of fellow artistes. A book titled ‘Satischandra Prathyawalokana’ (Sathischandra in Retrospect) with articles and rare pictures of Sathischandra is also to be released.
Sathis started his career as a stage actor in 1961 and later joined cinema and television. Sathischandra played for 25 plays including some which weredirected by himself.
Playing in John de Silva’s play ‘Wessanthara’, produced by J. D. A. Perera, Sathischandra won much acclaim as a stage star and this gave him the opportunity to play in the dramas directed by country’s leading playwrights like Gunasena Galappathi, Dayananda Gunawardane, Henry Jayasena, Sugathapala de Silva, R.R. Samarakoon, Sunanda Mahendra, Ranjit Dharmakeerthi, S. Karunaratne, Lucien Bulathsinghala and Dhamma Jagoda. He gave an unforgettable performance in 'Mahagedara', an adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s 'Cherry Orchard' by playwright Ranjith Dharmakeerthi.
Sathischandra’s entry to big screen was in 1966 as a Buddhist monk in Reggie Perera’s ‘Sadol Kandulu’ and this followed a long and award winning journey with nearly 25 films to his credit. And playing a minor role in Dharmasiri Wickramaratne’s ‘Hima Kathara’, Sathischandra won the Best Supporting Actor at the Presidential Awards 1985.
Sathis entered filmmaking with ‘Mathara Achchi’ in 1973 followed by ‘Rajagedara Paraviyo’ (1975), ‘Sri Madara’ (1977), ‘Adhishtanaya’ and ‘Hamu Mahaththaya’ (1982) and ‘Vadula’ (1984).
Having succeeded as an actor in stage, mini-screen and silver screen, playwright and filmmaker, Sathischandra later entered as a teledrama director and producer. He produced eleven teledramas of which he directed seven.
Sathischandra was honoured with ‘Kala Suri’ and has been conferred with an honorary degree from the University of Kelaniya.
Cinema study in Tamil
In order to promote filmmaking in Tamil, National Film Corporation (NFC) is to start a diploma course on cinema from the year 2011.
Having successfully completed several courses in Sinhala, applications for Tamil medium course is to be released till January 28 and it can be collected from NFC, Bauddaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7.
The applications can be obtained through the mail by paying a money order to the name of Chairman, National Film Corporation and applications will be accepted till February 18, 2011.
Further information can be obtained by calling 0112585721 or 0112584623.
‘Sinhawalokana’ DVD presented to the President
The original DVD on very maiden Sinhala cricket film ‘Sinhawalokana’ was presented to the President last week at the Temple Trees.
Coinciding with the 2011 Cricket World Cup, ‘Sinhawalokana’ is to boost cricket fever in the country depicting that it is no more a game of the white or the west but of the black and the east.
‘Sinhawalokana’ is a creation of young director Suneth Malinga Lokuhewa.
The picture shows director Lokuhewa handing over the DVD to the President. NFC Chairman Kumar Abeysinghe, the producers of the film, Rohan de Silva, Ravihansa Wetakepotha, Pasan Chandrasekera and Dilan Lamb with Thushan Rangana Meemanage, the Executive Director of EAP Films and Jayaratne Galagedara, the Operational Executive of EAP Films were also present at the occasion.
‘Sinhawalokana’ blending to different eras of the country pre-independent and post-independent, 2009 and depicting cricket history of Sri Lanka is now being screened on EAP circuit cinemas.
‘Sinhawalokana’ marks the maiden appearance of Dilon Jayasinghe Menaka Rajapaksa and singer Rainy Charuka Gunatillake, the daughter of talented musician Rukantha Gunatilake. Others in the cast include Sanath Gunatilake, Cletus Mendis, Damitha Abeyratne, Kanchana Mendis and Dilhani Asokamala who make guest appearances. Others in the cast are Pubudu Chathuranga, Ashen Manjula, Kumara Thirimadura, Sarath Kothalawela, Dharshan Dharmaraj, Wasantha Kumarawila, Janaka Rupasinghe and many more. Cricketer Tilakaratne Dilshan also plays a major role in the film.
‘Salt’: A patriot and a traitor
One of the latest released American films ‘Salt’ starring Angelina Jolie as a dutiy bound CIA officer but accused as a traitor will be screened at 6.00 pm on Tuesday, January 18 at American Center, Galle road, Colombo 3.
Directed by Phillip Noyce the action thriller revolves around Evelyn Salt, a CIA officer who swore an oath to dutsy, honor, and country. When she is accused by a defector of being a Russian sleeper spy, Salt goes on the run to clear her name and ultimately prove she is a patriot.
Salt is highly respected by all, including her boss, Ted Winter. Out of the blue, a Russian spy walks into their offices and offers a vital piece of information: the President of Russia will be assassinated during his forthcoming visit to New York City to attend the funeral of the recently deceased U.S. Vice President. The name of the assassin: Evelyn Salt. Concerned about the safety of her husband, who she cannot contact, she goes on the run. Winter refuses to accept that she is a mole or a double agent but her actions begin to raise doubts. Just who is Evelyn Salt and what is she planning?
Columbia Pictures production is also played by Liev Schreiber, Chiwetel Ejiofor, August Diehl and Daniel Olbrychski.
Craving of a Spinster
French movie, ‘Ma vie est un enfer’ (My Life Is Hell) a story of a spinster craves to be young, will be screened at 3 pm on Tuesday, January 18 and at 6.30 pm on Wednesday, January 19 at the Alliance Francaise de Colombo.
Directed by Josiane Balasko, the film depicts Léah, a dowdy spinster in her mid-thirties who resents her self-obsessed mother and hates her job as a dental assistant. Her dream is to be young and beautiful so that she can seduce the psychiatrist she visits frequently.
The Devil hears her prayer. Summoned when Léah reads the inscription on a fetish mirror which her mother gave her, the Devil’s servant Abargadon appears. He offers her the body she craves in exchange for her soul. Reluctantly, Léah signs the contract and at last has the wherewithal to seduce her dream lover (who gets more than he bargained for).
Abargadon learns that he has made a terrible mistake when the Archangel Gabriel appears and tells him he has corrupted the wrong person. He should instead have bought the soul of Léah’s mother, the original owner of the mirror. Léah’s contract with the Devil is cancelled and Abargadon finds himself transformed into a mortal. Unless he mends his ways, Abargadon will die in three months’ time and thereafter endure an eternity in Hell. In love with Abargadon, Léah does all she can to save his soul. However, for this servant of Old Nick, old habits die hard... |
E-mail
