|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 29 August 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Magazine |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
From steward to film producer by Lakmal Welabada Stout, dark complexioned yet with a pleasant smile, Daminda D. Madawala has worked as a 'short time father' to many actors, actresses, camera crew, directors, producers and so on in all the films he worked as 'Assistant Director'... Beginning from Prasanna Vithanage's film Anantha Rathriya (Dark night in the soul), Daminda has continued his work as Deputy Assistant Director through Pavuru Valalu (Walls within) also directed by Vithanage and Robin Fernando's 'Ninja-Sri Lanka'. "Prasanna Aiya gave me a helping hand for me to step into the film world, but I learnt my job as an Assistant Director by working with Leslie Siriwardane who was the Assistant Director of these films," reminisced Daminda. The very first film he worked as Assistant Director was Asvesuma (Compensation) directed by Benet Ratnayaka. After that in Rohitha Silva's comedy Pem Kekula (Love bud) he worked as Production Executive, Linton Semage's Mage Vam Atha (My left hand), Sathyajith Maitipe's Boradiya Pokuna (Muddy Pond) which is to be released, Somaratne Dissanayake's award winning films Punchi Suranganavi (Little angel) and Sooriya Arana (Fire fighters), Prasanna Vithanage's Ira Mediyama (August sun), Anura Horatius' Sonduru Dadabima (Happy hunting ground), Booddee Keerthisena's Milla Soya (Bonjor nor Italia) which is now showing, Wasantha Obeysekara's Sandagiri Muduna (Moon amidst the rock face) which is being shot has been the major shoots in his career. Daminda prefers to call himself a 'Mirigama Kolla' as he loves the serene, peaceful, shady and breezy environment of Mirigama, his home town where he hopes to settle down. "I had my primary education at Guru Vidyalaya and Anubaddha Maha Vidyalaya, Mirigama. Through the Grade Five scholarship exam I entered to St. John's College, Nugegoda. My father worked at the Marketing Department and my mother is a housewife. I have only one brother," he said. His 82-year-old grandmother is his inspiration. She was working as an instructress at the Department of Small Industries. "Her exposure in Colombo subsequently brought me also to a Colombo school," he said. While schooling he had no particular aim in life. Other than scribbling in the corners of his school books. Once he took part in a stage drama produced by his Social Studies teacher Kamithananda Yakdehige who later became his guiding light Daminda was never involved in any artistic work either during his school days. Ignoring his family's disapproval, just after O/Ls Daminda thought it was the right time for him to start earning money. He joined Ceylon Hotel Inn where Ceylon Hotel School was conducting a six month course in hoteliering. After the course he got a job at the same hotel. While expanding his experience in the hotel line, first as a steward, then as a Barman and finally as a cook for about two to three years. During this time many films and teledramas were shot at Ceylon Hotel Inn. Among his busy schedule the young hotelier used to peep and have a look at the shooting locations and he made friends with the crew. All of a sudden the craze for films which had been lurking in him began to overtake him. With the influence of Theja Kiriella and Janak Mayadunne of the film field, Daminda's interest grew towards international cinema. As a result he began visiting the German Cultural Centre, Alliance Francis, American Centre, British Council, Indian Cultural Centre and Vibhavi. He never missed a single film festival held in Sri Lanka at that time. The most memorable film festival he had ever visited was the four-day film fest held at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute. He stayed at a friend's place since he didn't want to miss a single day of it. And he didn't get shaken up when he returned to the hotel and heard that he had been interdicted. Ignoring the pressure from his family who wanted him to do the Advanced Level privately, Daminda continued his craziness over films. He was blessed with good friends. His friends Chaminda, Lakmal, Anura, Indika and Maya are still with him. After leaving the hotel, Daminda launched a bakery with a friend of his, but later quit as he felt it was not his line. Meanwhile, through Anura Guneratne, another film fanatic and journalist, Daminda was able to meet Prasanna Vithanage. And it was the beginning of his film career. Before involving in films he got the opportunity to work in a few tele dramas as well. Gamini Perera's Kaluwara Gedara (The Dark Home) and Yak Dehi Gedara, Chaminda Pathberiya's Heen Bandage Avurudda (Heen Banda's New Year), Rajeev Ananda's Me Ape Nattalai (This is our Christmas) and Anura Guneratne's tele film Sooriya Vinshathi were the teledrama he was involved as the Assistant Director. Daminda became a tele drama director with 'Thun Path Rela', an 18-episode teledrama produced by Hiran Chandima Gunesekara. Daminda had his first foreign exposure with the film Sonduru Dadabima (Happy hunting ground). "I'm grateful to its producer Saman Samarawickrema for giving me a chance to go to India where I got the opportunity to see the Prasad Colour Lab and so many other historical places," he reminisced with gratitude. Getting the chance to work in two foreign short films directed by two Lankan expatriates and scholars are also another milestone in his life. Dhammika Widanapathirana's 'Ballad of a Hermit' which was made for an American University and Vimukthi Jayasundara's La Carbaletar for a French University were the two films he assisted in. "Working as an Assistant Film Director is an interesting, gainful yet very stressful job. My work and the work of a Production Manager are two sides of the same coin. Both have to work with understanding. I must give credit to Deepal Guneratne as the best production manager I have ever come across," he said. Daminda has come a long way in the film world within a short period of time. He has a long list of people to thank for giving him all that opportunity, and his family for tolerating him. Other than on books and film equipment Daminda does not waste what he earns. Apart from film magazines, books on Indian history like 'Mahabharath', 'Ramayanaya', 'Panchatantra', and old Sinhala novels of W.A. Silva are the favourite and most precious books in his book shelf. "At present I'm working with Upul Nishantha in his film Bherunda Pakshiya. Once it is over I will finish constructing a small theatre, I have already begun at my Mirigama. I desperately need my own place to relax and continue my hobby 'watching good films'. And er.... after that I might consider getting married as it has been the hot topic among my family," he concluded with a hearty smile. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Produced by Lake House |
