Arts

End of an era of brilliance

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Dr. Lester James Peries retires from cinema protesting against the death of 'Nidhanaya'

Internationally renowned Sri Lankan film maker who is aptly termed out as doyen of Sri Lankan cinema Dr. Lester James Peries announced his retirement from film making as he launched his biography Lester by Lester as told to Kumar de Silva.

The renewed film maker whose illustrious career marked the golden era of artistic cinema in Sri Lanka in an emotionally charged speech lamented over the untimely death of his most celebrated work Nidhanaya rated as one of the ten best films in the Asian and even world cinema as it had not been preserved well at the Dalugama studio.

Who'd mourn the death of a movie that was killed or made to die grief-stricken film maker said referring to the film conservationist attempt at salvaging the original print failed when he found only the sound track of the film at the Dalugama studio. He said that this was the reason for his constant insistence on setting up of a film archive over the last four decades.

"We could have averted such tragic death of films if we had an archive where films could be stored in a proper manner. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has shown interest in setting up one and I hope my dream would come true," he said.

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by Ranga Chandrarathne

Lester by Lester as told to Kumar de Silva glimpse into the professional life of a master film maker.

Lester by Lester...as told to Kumar de Silva, the authorized biography of internationally acclaimed Sri Lankan film maker, which was launched last Saturday (21st April) chronicles the trail-blazing career of the Doyen of Sri Lankan cinema, Dr. Lester James Peries.

Sumithra Peries	Irangani Serasinghe	Henry Jayasena

The book which was published by Vijitha Yapa publications as a limited edition has been autographed by Lester James Peries. Sri Lanka Telecom as a socially responsible corporation has willingly shared the financial burden of publishing the book which enabled it to be sold with a nominal price tag.

This is the very first time he has chosen to write about himself and his half a century film making career, in a single volume.

The book takes its readers through the trials and tribulations to a variety of anecdotes and memorable moments in the making of his twenty films.

It takes on an even greater significance and importance given the fact that Lester James Peries has now officially retired from film making and will direct no more films, said Kumar de Silva who completed the book in five years.

The twenty chapters of the book are dedicated to the twenty films of the master film maker, from Rekawa (The line of Destiny 1956) his first which is a watershed in Sri Lankan cinema as the camera was taken out of the studios and salvaged the Sri Lankan cinema from formula films to his last, Ammawarune (Elegy for a mother 2006). A journey in time is always fraught with multiple dangers; nostalgia and an obfuscation of the truth.

I have tried to avoid both pitfalls it hasn't been easy. When you have worked with artists who enjoy iconic status today, but were unknown when you started their careers, how much you can reveal? When you have ghost directed a considerable number of scenes, would you now reveal what has been artistic triumph today?

Historical veracity may try to force you to, but the ethical thing to do is to keep your trap shut. Excavating the past, when film-making has been past of your life, has triggered off many pleasants and creative important memories. Remembering them has been painful sometimes, but often deeply satisfying, said Dr. Peries.

Kumar de Silva whose untiring effort and perhaps, sleepless nights de-taping what Dr. Peries told him, resulted in the birth of the biography, is a Colombo-based Public Relation and Media Consultant who has been fascinated with the subject since his teens.

Kumar among other things holds an Honours degree in English and French and was the producer of the popular television programme Bonsoir.

One of the striking features of the launch which was also a creative excellence was the evocation of fond memories of the film maker from the perspective of equally legendary film personalities Henry Jayasena and Irangani Serasinghe.

Henry Jayasena who played the main role of Piyal in Gamperaliya and Irangani also played memorable roles from the first film Rekawa in Dr. Peries' films, related the eventful days they spent in shooting the films highlighting the extra-ordinary commitment of the master film maker who handled the cast delicately under his magical aura of directorship.

Malani Fonseka and Ravindra Randeniya also attributed their success in the silver screen to Dr. Lester James Peries citing many a memorable moment with the legendary film maker.

The book is a must to read for those who are interested not only in the master film maker who is rated as one of the ten great film makers of the world but also for the history of Sri Lankan cinema and its fascinating journey from confined to studios to present day artistic and creative excellence.

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Rights for differently- abled persons and peace building

Sunera Foundation which is in the forefront of elimination of discrimination against disabled persons has launched an ambitious project in the plantation sector aimed at integrating disabled persons into civil society and to raise awareness on human rights and peace building among the community.

The successful first phase of Sunera Foundation's work in the estates paves the way for integrating many more differently-abled people into mainstream society.

With funding from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs over the next two years, 12 workshops will be conducted, enabling 300 differently-abled participants to avail themselves of our free services weekly. Over the next two years, Sunera Foundation will empower them to present two major performances. The best will be selected to become competent performers when Sunera Foundation establishes two Street Theatre Companies.

The British High Commission, under its Bilateral Programme, funded the pilot project from November 2006 to March 2007.

During the pilot phase, Sunera Foundation established six performing arts workshops in the tea plantations in Hatton and Maskeliya. Working in close collaboration with our partner, the Citizens Welfare Development Foundation (CWDF), the first steps have been taken to create awareness within the upcountry plantation community on the Human Rights of differently-abled persons. Our work has created sensitivity to the fact that they are the same as any other human being, and as such have the same inalienable rights as every other individual.

A regional 'VIDIVU Drama Festival' staged by the six workshops on March 23 and 24 2007, with the participation of all the differently-abled performers, was the first time they were given an opportunity to showcase their hidden, latent talents through the therapeutic means of the Performing Arts.

The public appearances have built their confidence and helped them in the process of 'Self Development,' whilst bringing them into the broader community mainstream. For the first time, performances were staged in Colombo on April 3, by participants from the Hatton and Maskeliya workshops followed by the open forum.

Facilitated by an expert panel, Sunera Foundation used the open forum to educate civil society on the need to focus attention on the rights of Sri Lanka's differently-abled population, particularly those in the estates who have faced social and economic problems over generations, and to recognize the important role that the Management companies in the tea plantations can play in improving this situation.

(R.C.)