 Lester at 91
Sumitra Peries reflects on her life with Dr. Lester
James Peries:
by Ruwini Jayawardana
Internationally acclaimed Sri
Lankan filmmaker Dr. Lester James Peries turned 91 recently. The gifted
movie director, screen writer and producer who had once dedicated his
life to establishing the identity of a truly national Sri Lankan cinema
now spends the twilight years of his life in his room amidst books.
According to his life partner Sumitra Peries the doyen of Sinhala
cinema, “he reads almost anything and everything that comes across his
path”.
 She added, “He takes up anything with a lot of concentration and
reads a variety of topics. It is astounding how widely read he is!” Dr.
Peries even allocates time to strum a few keys on the piano. Recalling
the bygone years when they worked together on one of their most renowned
work, ‘Gamperaliya’ (Changes in the Village), Sumitra said that she
learnt the meaning of commitment and job satisfaction from Dr. Peries.
She says, “He did not probe into matters when I took over the director’s
chair for ‘Gahanu Lamai’. He let me have a free rein in my creations but
he was a bit particular about some of the scenes I edited in his own
films.
However, I believe that I earned my right to take over the task
because he would not have had the confidence to entrust it on a
newcomer. I bagged my first Sarasaviya Award for ‘Gamperaliya’.” The
movie even clinched the Golden Peacock at the Grand Prix International
Film Festival in India and the Golden Head of Palenque in Mexico. “It
was a turning point in the film industry – even more than ‘Rekhawa’
(Line of Destiny). As much as ‘Rekhawa’ took the cameras out of the
studios ‘Gamperaliya’ brought the studio element into actual houses.
It is path breaking and inspirational to generations of filmmakers
that followed as they took to shooting scenes in the domestic
environment. It is heartening to notice that the film is still
appreciated when we released it as a restored film last year. It boosted
our faith in the kind of work that we do,” she said.
Sumitra’s first ambition had been to make documentaries. A chance
meeting with Dr. Peries, who was touring France with his maiden feature
film ‘Rekhawa’, sealed her fate. He encouraged her to study at the
London School of Film Technique.
After three years she returned to Sri Lanka and began working as an
assistant and photographer in Dr. Peries’ ‘Sandeshaya’ (The Message).
“It was a tough life with hardly any pay but one never though of it in
that manner during that period.
You just took the challenge as it comes. It has been my motto and
maybe his as well. I believe that we have spent a full life together
when I reflect back on the past,” she concluded with a hint of
nostalgia.
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