Downfall of cinema imminent unless remedial action is taken

by Anushka Nanayakkara

Sri Lankan cinema in recent years has featured films that tackle coarse subjects, including affiliations, abortions and the years of conflict between the military and the LTTE.

Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena	Wasantha Obeysekara	D. B. Nihalsinghe	Malani Fonseka

The first film to be produced and shown in Sri Lanka was 'Kadawunu Poronduwa' which was released in 1947. Later on, the first colour film 'Ranmuthu Duwa' and hundreds of movies were screened.

Sri Lankan cinema has generally depended on the wealth of the local film producers. But gradually, when you look back, you will realise that the national cinema has failed miserably.

Cultural Affairs Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena told the Sunday Observer that he sees many reasons for the downfall of the national cinema. Starting off with the first reason Minister said the lack of proper productions, is the main drawback.

He said the directors and producers did not want to take the risk of investing in new productions due to meagre profits they earned mainly in the last 10 to 15 years. The Minister also said people have refused to walk in to cinema halls because of these poor productions.

The Minister said the major problem of finance was solved by the Government by giving the tax concession, offering unlimited loans in cooperation with the National Film Corporation.

Finally, the Minister said though film distribution is still under the private sector, it should be strictly under the supervision of the National Film Corporation.

The ardent patron in the film industry, Director D. B. Nihalsinghe said the disturbing crisis in the film industry which is mainly due to the total collapse of film attendance. He said it was 7.4 million a year in 1979 when the population was 15 million. Now with the population at 21 million attendance has collapsed to just 8 million in 2006.

Nihalsinghe said in the NFC suffered a colossal loss of Rs. 229 million from 1999 to 2003.

He said all governments since 1977 and the private sector dealing with films since 2001 have been responsible for this collapse. All added to and ensured that the crises continued with almost total obsession with production, ignoring the other areas of films: import, exhibition and distribution. Millions have been wasted, the attendance continues to drop uncontrollably.

He also said after much agitation, film distribution and import was privatised in 2001 on the promise that they will turn around.

But the yearly attendance has continued its downward path, from 17 million in 2001 to 8 million in 2006, resulting in a massive debacle of the private sector film enterprise. In addition Nihalsinghe said most cinemas have been turned in to places where the young go to make love and cinemas make more money on liquor sales than from screening films.

Nihalsinghe said, both the private sector and the public sector have failed the people of this country. What can be done? According to his view what is necessary is a co-ordinated development plan which takes into account all sectors.

Award winning actress Malani Fonseka said that undoubtedly the national cinema is in crisis. And the main reasons she sees behind it is the unethical political influence. She also said the governments which have been in power upto now, play the same game.

They appoint various committees in which discussions would go on for a few months and then without anyone's knowledge another set of people take over the committee, Malini said.

She also added the new committee starts its work from scratch and so the history repeats itself. She said although there is no outcome there are many damages caused to the industry.

Award winning film Director Wasantha Obeysekara said from the beginning of the Sinhala cinema there have been conflicts involving politics.

Naturally the film industry was badly affected and the downfall of the national cinema started right at the beginning.

Imtiaz J. Cader, Director of Cinema Entertainments said according to the State Film Corporation Act, prohibition of the importation or distribution of films by any person is not permitted.

For instance photographic equipment, that is necessary. He said the only reason for the downfall of the national cinema is the political threat to the cinemas. Finally he said the industry should not be State controlled and if the right changes are not made swiftly the Sri Lankan cinema will be destroyed.

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