Premaratne - a jewel in the Sinhala Cinema's crown

Many branded him as a film maker of the middle path but the late veteran and award winning film director H.D. Premaratne did not relish this label and even registered his objection to this tag.

He challenged his critics and writers who called him a film maker pursuing the middle path.

I still remember how Premaratne countered arguments of his detractors in an interview with me for Stage & Screen some time back.

"There is no middle path in film making. Only those who did not like to recognise and appreciate my movies branded me as a director following a middle path or parallel cinema," he noted.

At his office at the Swarnawahini where he was serving as the Director (Programmes) until his death, Premaratne explained that according to the accepted rationale, there are only good and bad movies.

"Despite this fact, those critics said my films are OK, but they did not say they are good films and instead categorised my movies as belonging to the middle path or parallel cinema. Although they enjoyed my films, they never treated me as a good director," he lamented.

However, Premaratne paid a tribute to the country's film patrons for being with him all the time. "It is the people who protected me."

I still remember how he spoke in glowing terms of the gratitude and support extended by the viewing public which motivated him to a great extent.

The rise of Premaratne in the local film world and how he reached the zenith of his career by the time of his death is in itself similar to a movie script.Born on January 27, 1944, Premaratne had his education at Gurukula Vidyalaya, Kelaniya.

He entered the film world way back in the 1960s as a clapper boy and later became the third art director in the making of "Daru Duka" while serving as a proofreader at the then Times Group.

His maiden film was "Sikuruliya" which became an instant hit and also marked a crossroad in the local cinema.

In his career as a film director spanning four decades, Premaratne created 18 films and from his first to the last, he always dealt with social issues. He won many prestigious awards for his films while gaining much critical acclaim too.

Premaratne believed that his success as a director was due to selecting a theme closely related to real life situations. He told this writer that through every film of his he had always opened new avenues of discussion.

Apart from films, he has also contributed to a few teledramas too.

Premaratne's big hits includes Devani Gamana (1984), Parityaga (1980), Mangala Thegga (1987), Palama Yata (Under the Bridge - 1990), Visi Dela (1997), Sapta Kanya (1993), and Seilama (1995).

Among his other creations are Apeksha (1978), Sasaraka Pathum (1980), Hasthi Viyaruwa (1983), Adara Hasuna (1986), Saharawe Sihinaya (1990), Kulageya (1992), Mandakini (1999) and Kinihiriya Mal.

Most of his creations were admitted for screening at international film festivals including Tashkent, Hawaii, Cairo, Manila, Singapore, India and Fukuoka.

BM

Kularatne Ariyawansa's lyrics albums launched

Kularatne Ariyawansa has released three albums of his lyrics collection.

Ariyawansa was a young lyricist who popularised the classic lyrics. His lyrics were tilted towards love. This trend was initiated by Karunaratne Abeysekara. His songs were sung by artists such as H. R. Jothipala, Milton Perera and Milton Mallawarachchi.

From such a background Kularatne Ariyawansa emerged in the 70s. Ariyawansa was identified as the successor of Karunaratne Abeysekara. Ariyawansa's lyrics came to his fans in voices of new artists such as T. M. Jayaratne, Neela Wickramasinghe and Rohana Siriwardana. Even Veteran singers like W. D. Amaradeva, Nanda Malani, and Victor Ratnayake made his lyrics melodious.

His lyrics were not confined only to words. His lyrics were embedded with strong experiences and feelings of true love. The experiences of songs were common to all of his fans. The very reason made his songs popular. Therefore Ariyawansa represents an era in the Sri Lankan lyrical art.

For the last two decades Ariyawansa rendered his silent service to the field by stretching a helping hand toward the young amateurs in the field among whom many skilful lyricists became well-known.

It is not incorrect to say that Ariyawansa contributed only about ten lyrics for the last twenty five years.

His silence created a visible vacuum in the lyrical art in the country. Out of this vacuum a superficial lyrics culture invaded the field.

Prof. Sunil Ariyaratne

Dramas at the Elphinstone:

Lokaya Thani Yaayak

Award-winning actor and dramatist Jayalath Manoratne who has proved his prowess on stage, the small screen and cinema is now busy rehearsing his latest stage play 'Lokaya Thani Yaayak'.

For the first time perhaps in Sri Lanka's drama history, Manoratne is presenting a stage play based on a series of poetic compositions by veteran wordsmith Mahagama Sekara.

While Navaratne Gamage is composing the music scores, Ravibandu Vidyapathi will handle the dances and Swineetha Perera in charge of costumes.

'Lokaya Thani Yaayak' will be staged at the Elphinstone Theatre on January 14 at 3.30 p.m. and 7 p.m., to coincide with Mahagama Sekara Day.

Naribena

Dayananda Gunawardena's Drama 'Naribena and Jasaya saha Lenchina' will be staged on the January 15, 2006 (Sunday) at the Elphinstone Theatre at 3.30 and 7 p.m.

Those taking part in the play are Wijaya Nandasiri, Rodni Warnakula, Bandula Wijeweera, Sarath Kulanga, Rathnasheela Perera, Jayanath Bandara, Niluka Lokubalasuriya, Saman Gunawardena, Sunil Thilakarathna.

Music is by Rohana Baddage and Ranjith Balasooriya, Costumes by Airangani Gunawardena, Dancing by Rohana Baddage, Main Organiser of the show is Jude Srimal.