Wilson’s latest: 14 roles in one
Wilson as Gandhi
Wilson Gunaratne is back, this time juggling no less than 14 characters from his customary seven or eight in a telefilm that casts a wistful if sardonic glance at the ‘heaven on earth’ promised us by our trusty politicians.
Ranging from the Father of India Mahatma Gandhi, writer Martin Wickramasinghe, former President J.R. Jayawardene, and myriad other colourful personages of Surapuraya (‘Heavenly Kingdom’), the roles played by Wilson will be supplemented by other comedians including Richard Mundy, Priyantha Seneviratne, Tharaka Adhikari and Kasun Mendis.
Neatly tying in with the country’s celebration of 75 years of Independence from colonial rule, the teledrama baits audiences with the question “do you want to spend the next 75 years like you did the last 75?”
While claiming he is no social reformer, Wilson says the teledrama asks the question “are we heading in the right direction?”
Wilson says that the best management plans are learned ‘in the womb’- when a mother respects a baby she teaches him to accept and sustain the position, with devotion, accountability and responsibility. The current crisis, he says, is due to an unhealthy political party system. It is important to do the right thing at the right time and appoint the right people for the right positions. “The A Man should be in the A job,” he says.
A plan with 8 Ds are recommended in this satire, the Ds standing for discover, design, develop, deploy, dedication, devotion, determination and discipline.
Another recommendation is unity, peace and harmony.
With three previous political satires under his belt Wilson has one expectation: to “give a better tomorrow for those looking for a better life.”
His own personal vision being “living with integrity and doing his maximum to make a difference in somebody else’s life,” Wilson hopes to bring a transformation of minds with his newest offering.
His reminder to politicians is “if you are not the solution then you are the problem.”
Surapuraya, a 50-episode teledrama, will be made with consultant Chandran Rutnam, S. Jayakumaran, Shantha Mendis, astrologer Bisara Chanakya Manage and K.M. Karunatilaka, supported by the Sri Lanka- Nepal Friendly Association and the Sri Lanka- India Friendly Association.
The Muhurath ceremony will take place on January 14 at 8 a.m. at the Grand Oriental.
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