Gamperaliya - restored

Rain, at times, proves a dampener. When the 2009 European Film Festival opened a few days ago, the relentless downpour, threatened to develop into a spoil-sport. But, the indecent weather added an unexpected piquancy to the gala event.

Lester James Peries	Martin Wicremasinghe

As a curtain-raiser to the prime presentation of the celebration, the planners had arranged a reception that, featured the culinary variations of the countries of the European Union.

The precipitation outside, deepened the delight of the experience of the variegated cuisine, offered by the organizers.

When the invitees moved into the cinema hall a stunning aesthetic feast was awaiting them.

The event, that ushered in the 2009 European Film Festival, was the exclusive screening of the restored 'Gamperaliya' in Sri Lanka.

As the first Sinhala film, that brought home an International Award, Gamperaliya, occupies an unassailable niche. Strangely enough, the passage of time, can in no way, diminish the perpetual relevance of its central theme - the transition of a rural hierarchical system.

Restored version

Some among those who viewed the restored version, had seen it when it was originally released, way back in 1963. To those of the new generation who were present it was an entirely fresh experience.

Henry Jayasena in a scene from Gamperaliya

Henry Jayasena as Piyal in Gamperaliya

A memorable momemnt

For those of us, who still cherish the original viewing 46 years ago, the impact of the restored version was overwhelming. It was surprising to note, that the texture of the visuals approached high definition. Even great Sumithra Peries, seemed impressed by the technical triumph.

"Facial pores of actors too are clearly visible," she remarked.

The restored version appeared on a mega-screen, with its sound-track enhanced by the state-of-the-art techniques. The sophisticated cinema hall, provided ultra modern facilities to the viewers. In this advanced theatrical ambience, Director Lester James Peries 'Gamperaliya', could not help but inspire new meanings and fresh responses, in the audience. The narrative essence of Lester James Peries' 'Gamperaliya,' derives from Martin Wickremasinghe's fiction-classic of that name. Martin Wickremasinghe's 'Gamperaliya' - undoubtedly the greatest work of fiction in Sinhala todate - embeds in the readers' mind, by its 'learned' simplicity, that evokes the 'feel' of a folk-tale. In its narrative objectivity, it employs a flowing prose, strongly reminiscent of Jataka stories.

Cinema version

In his cinema version, Director Lester James Peries welds together these two streams of simplicity and objectivity, through a sight and sound idiom, that eventually became the hallmark of his film-personality. Some Western critics went to the extent of even concluding that the relaxed pace of the cinematic rhythm, is a form of film expression endemic to Asian culture. That is a different story altogether.

In 'Gamperaliya' the invisible but the, most dynamic character is 'Time'. The crucial entity, in this village in transition is the family of Kaisaruwatte Muhandiram. Occupying the hub of a network of feudal obligations, Muhandiram Kaisaruwatte receives the traditional deference due to him as the head of the rural social hierarchy.

When I viewed the film afresh, at the screening of its restored version, the forces that determined the decay of the rural aristocracy, became starkly clear. The traditional dependence on the feudal obligations due to them, has robbed them of the capacity for initiative. They become victims of events and processes. The sense of dignity and decorum, they cling onto helplessly prevents them from accepting the hand of assistance extended to them at a time of need. Obtaining tuition in English is a mandatory social refinement for their kind of family. But, their system has no provision to cope with the emotional 'fall-out' that results from such a relationship.

Cash-nexus

In the face of the dynamism and the drive of the cash-nexus, the emaciated network of feudal obligations, has no chance at all, of survival unless of course the two forces merged.

The restored 'Gamperaliya', provides that peculiar form of keen pleasure, usually generated by the archaic seeing how those actors and actresses appeared 46 years ago, elicits a kind of intriguing joy. Henry Jayasena as Piyal, Punya Heendeniya as Nanda, Trilicia Gunawardene as Anula, Shantilekha as mother and all those others who enlivened the film, seem personalities met in another incarnation.

But its appeal is eloquently contemporary.

To most of us, who have intimately known village life, when we grew up in the warmth of a rural setting, the film brings back nostalgic memories.

The sick hurry, the angst brought on by the relentless rat-race, the senseless disregard for sustaining human values, have overtaken the leisurely way of life, that is movingly depicted by 'Gamperaliya'. The New Year rites and rituals, the pilgrimage to the temple in a bullock-cart, village weddings possess a documentary value today, as they have already vanished or are fast disappearing.

The restored 'Gamperaliya' raises some questions, that are deeply disturbing. We in Sri Lanka do not have a copy of this epoch-making film. Are we not at all mindful of the need to have a wholesome sense of history? History ramifies into hundreds and thousands of fields. In order to form a comprehensive national history, the annals of those various fields have to be assiduously set down.

The Restoration of 'Gamperaliya' by France and the holding of '2009 European Film Festival' remind us of our deep obligation to those foreign institutions, that have continued to enrich our cinema culture, over a long period of time. Embassies, High Commissions, Consulates, Cultural Centres of a whole range of states, organise film and cultural events, at times, even on a daily basis, for the benefit of our people. If, we are not properly attuned to derive the best benefits of these wholesome gestures, it is nothing but a pity. The current film festival sponsored by the European Union, ends today. More than 15 states and international institutions, came together to provide this rare cinematic opportunity to Sri Lanka. Reclusive Dr. Lester James Peries accompanied by Mrs. Saumithra Peries, was present at the screening of his restored 'Gamperaliya'. His presence itself was a significant highlight, since it is very rarely that he goes out now-a-days. Meeting Michel Lummaux, Ambassador for France in Sri Lanka, I expressed our gratitude for the screening of the restored 'Gamperaliya'. Dr. Lester James Peries ever witty and ebullient, spoke to the Ambassador. "You have restored my film. Can't you restore me?"

Restored 'Gamperaliya', established beyond the trace of a doubt that Dr. Lester James Peries is ever fresh and ever great, for all of us, who esteem his unsurpassable achievement.