Nalan Mendis:

Giving importance for family ties

Ruwini Jayawardana

He plays the silent role behind many of the well-loved stories, which unfolds on the small screen. His dynamic role as a director is the key behind the success of his creations. The tales are intriguing and realistic and the characters become a part of our own family in a matter of few days or weeks.

Nalan Mendis had enriched Sri Lanka's tele scene with a number of eye catching tele dramas such as Doo Daruwo, Nedeyo, Sathpura Wesiyo and Sooriya Daruwo. His latest creation Senehasata Aadarai is telecast over Swarnavahini from Monday to Friday at 8.30 p.m.

How different is Senehasata Aadarai from your previous creations?

Topic wise this story has more emphasis on the younger generation and their problems.

Drama wise the difference lies in the actors and actresses portraying the roles. I used many experienced and famous actors in the past but this time the lead roles are given to youths, some of them who have never acted in a tele drama before. This is a new experience for most of them while for others it was the first opportunity to play a lead role.

What is the storyline?

It is about three sisters, Priyanwada, Narmada and Menaka. Their parents are divorced but the mother and father keep close contact to discuss the affairs of their children. Each of the three girls are very different from each other but they all face different problems. The story shows how each girl faces these situations.

You were accused of using the same set of actors for each of your creations. Is this an attempt to eliminate those accusations?

If you take a close look at all the tele dramas, the characters are portrayed by the same set of artists. We have a very limited number of leading actors and actresses. I introduced new artists into the scene and they get the opportunity to act in other tele dramas.

Though I prefer to work with the same set of artists I must point out that they are extremely talented - the cream of the industry. They are made to play different roles in each tele drama. Neither they nor I have problems with the transition. None of their characters remind the audience of the previous character they portrayed.

Is this a family drama?

The story is based on several families. It is also a creation which all the members of a family can watch together.

It puzzles me how some tele dramas are categorised as 'family' dramas. All the characters in a story are connected to a family one way or another. Family ties are given an important place in my creations. They open the doorway to facts connected to a number of families.

What is the theme you want to uphold through Senehasata Aadarai?

Nalan Mendis, the producer with the caste of the tele drama

As the story flows the audience realises that there are some virtuous characters amongst them. At a period where there are less respectable people, I believe in the importance of showing characters which can be taken as examples to the society.

The main family in focus consists of a mother and father separated by divorce. Normally even if the two parties encounter each other they pretend not to know each other.

The universal belief is that one should not keep in touch with one's ex. Senehasata Aadarai shows us something different. It reflects the bond between parents and their children.

How were the actors chosen?

This is a tele drama consisting of many episodes. Therefore my first focus was to choose those who had more time at hand to devote themselves to the tele drama. I also used senior artists like Damayanthi Fonseka who do not appear on TV often.

We started shooting in May but the preparations were made in January. We held workshops for the newcomers. A group of 25 actors were chosen and they were trained for nearly three months. I chose the final eight whom I believe were the best for the lead roles.

Where were the locations?

Shooting commenced mostly in Colombo. The main location was in Kottawa. We also shot several scenes in Pannipitiya.

Any ideas to approach the cinema field?

I have had the desire to make a movie ever since childhood. We encountered television in the late 1970s. The problem is once we conclude a story we begin shooting another. We had to postpone our approach to cinema due to this reason.

I have achieved a stable place in television and amongst its audience. It is much harder to run a film more than it is to make one. However this fact does not discourage me. I cannot pin point a specific date on which I hope to start on a film but I hope to try my hand at it soon.

You are known for making lengthy tele dramas. How many episodes does Senehasata Aaderai include?

We have planned 150 episodes at the moment. Around 25 episodes are included in one schedule. There are six schedules altogether and we have completed shooting 100 episodes.

Several people have written the script of your latest tele drama. That is unusual.

Yes, A group of people got together, discussed and wrote the script. This a new concept in our country. Normally script writing is done by one person but in other countries they use a group of people to write the script for lengthy tele serials.

This is a successful methods as several minds function together and the story takes different turns. Anura Premaratne functions as the main scriptwriter and the rest are people who have contributed to the theatre.

What is your idea on local tele dramas?

Each of our television channels have committed a long time period for tele dramas. This aspect needs to be changed. There are a variety of entertainment programmes such as documentaries, musical items and quiz shows. People become fed up with too music of tele dramas.

Are you planning on another story?

Not at the moment. We plan to continue with this series.

The director of Senehasata Aadarai is Sandya Mendis of Susila Productions. The executive producer is Hema Nalin Karunaratne. Line producer is Saliya de Zoysa. Script is by Anura Premaratne, Uvani Chamika, Nipuna Balasuriya and Chamal Ratnayake. Chandana Arandara is the cameraman. Kumara Karawdeniya is the art director while music is by Rohana Weerasinghe.

Kapila Pugalaaracchi is the composer and W. Jayatissa is the make up director. Thilanka Bandara handles the editing while Sidath Gunawardane acts as the production manager. H.M. Sugath Sisira is the project Media Coordinator of Senehasata Aaderai.

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