  by Jatila Karawita
She is a well-known teledrama actress cum producer Rohani Weerasnghe
of `Kindurangana’ who is disappointed for not being able to show her
talents on the big screen.
In an interview with Panaroma, the actress who shot to instant fame
through two popular teledramas `Diya Sewaneli’ and `Chakrangi’, said
that the majority of Sinhala films currently shown were made by a few
directors, who features the same set of artistes regularly.
She emphasised during her 11-year association with the Sri Lankan
showbiz scene, she has never gone behind moviemakers requesting roles,
but entertained her fans through the small-screen.
Rohani who has now become a much-sought-after actress pointed out
that there are scores of talented stars in the field of teledrama who
had not got a deserved break in the celluloid world including her to
exhibit their skills.
She was of the view that there is a tendency among most filmmakers to
opt for foreign actors and actresses while shunning local artistes and
is unable to figure out the reasons for it.
She observed that if this `unhealthy trend’ continues it could ruin
the future prospects of budding actors and actresses and that Sinhala
cinema could face a risk.
Rohani Weerasinghe currently in the spotlight through the character
of `Rajini Gajasinghe’ in the popular mega drama `Kindurangana’, says
the response she received from her fans is enormous.
“The role of Rajini is one which people love to hate”, she says of
her work in the drama. People question me as to why I decided to play a
role like this as I have never played such a character in a teledrama
before.
Being an actress I should be able to play diverse roles instead of
being typecast, display talents to a wider audience.
Asked whether her talents as an actress has been curtailed by
continuing to work in a long-running mega teledrama she disagreed. She
was quick to explain that the prevalent economic situation in the
country and the refusal by some directors to hire artistes been
previously involved in mega teledramas has left her with no alternative,
but to further her career in such creations.
“The current trend is toward mega teledrama”, she stressed. “It is
true that by continuing to be associated only in such creations, we
might not get the opportunity to appear in other teledramas. “However,
if this is what the viewers crave for, then we must cater to their
tastes and demands, by putting aside our preferences”.
The actress who has combined beauty and brains to carve a niche on
the small-screen also spoke about the immense difficulty in the current
climate having produced a few award winning teledramas in the past such
as `Diya Sewaneli’ and `Chakrangi’.
Two teledramas titled `Anora’ and `Sanda Wasanthaya’ including her
maiden creation for TV `Singithi Bingithi’ are still on the waiting
list, but Rohani was optimistic that of the lot `Anora’ could be
telecast in the coming months, following an assurance by its director
Stanley Perera. |
