Sanath
 

Follow-up to Ice on Fire after 20 years:

Ruwini Jayawardana

For more than three decades now, Sanath Gunathilake has been considered as one of Sinhala cinema’s most powerful thespians. Proving his mettle equally in the art house as well as in commercial cinema, he has given local movie goers no reason to think otherwise.

Making his entrance into cinema with Situ Kumariyo, which was produced by Chaminda Perera, Sanath soon made a name for himself with his first movie release, Sumitra Peries’ Ganga Addara. He then went on to portray many remarkable roles in a line up of movies from Aravinda in Tissa Abeysekara’s Viragaya to the more recent Professor Senaratne in Bennet Ratnayake’s Sulanga (The Wind).

He wrote the script, produced and acted the lead role in the1992 hit film Sisila Gini Ganee (Ice on fire).

The screenplay of this award winning cinematic creation was launched at the BMICH on September 20 (Saturday) to coincide with the Colombo International Book Fair.

The DVD of the film, sub-titled in English and Tamil and produced by Torana Group and its head, Sarath Kothalawala, will also be launched to coincide with the screenplay launch. The movie will be screened at the Contrast Dalugama theatre on September 26, 27 and 28.

The following are excerpts of an interview Daily News Projector had with Gunathilake.

l It’s nearly 20 years since Sisila Gini Ganeewas shot. Why did you delay launching the screenplay?

Sisila Gini Ganee was Prasanna Vithanage’s maiden direction and the movie was shot during 1989 before it started screening in1992. Vithanage and I discussed on launching the screenplay but the insecurity of the country prevented us from putting the deed into action.

The film is based on a true story where a lady was suspected of murder. She was a victim of the tangle of rumours surrounding the murder case. This story triggered my mind and helped me developed the plot.

Keshava Edirisinghe who produced Kavluwa was going to produce Sisila Gini Ganee but he migrated to Australia due to the unhealthy situation of the country. We were in hot water but everyone was against the idea of stopping the film. We discussed it at large and the whole team though of it as their own film. I financed the movie and borrowed the rest of the money.

In my opinion this is a timeless tale. Everyone worked hard for it and the interest is still there. The film won the Swarnasanka award for best producer in 1992.

Many believe that Sabitha’s best performance is in Sisila Gini Ganee.

I agree. She was looking for an opportunity to do something ‘real’ rather than commercial films. She did an exceptional job with her role.

There is a belief that the movie is somewhat similar to Adrian Lyne’s ‘Fatal Attraction’.

We have heard about such criticism and we wish people to discuss about this aspect and come to a conclusion. I wrote the script three or four times during the early 80s and the final proof was completed in1989.

The movie was in black and white but we used garments in shades of black, white and grey. If you get a good print of the movie you can note the colour differences. A similar technique was used by Lyne in ‘Fatal Attraction’. That is why people saw a similarity between the films. Sisla Gini Ganee even clinched the OCIC Film award for laboratory work.

Is it true that you are writing your autobiography these days?

I am writing a book about my experiences in the industry. I have always worked in a systematic manner. Even during the brief period which I was engaged in politics the listeners had informed me that my speeches were very clear.

My childhood ambition was to become a doctor but destiny took me to cinema. I have churned out many hits and failures during my stay. I have faced many episodes in the field and I wish to share the experiences with upcoming young actors so that they will be encouraged to become dedicated to the profession.

You are one of the few in the field who work and move easily with both veterans as well as the younger crowd. How do you manage it?

It is a delightful experience working with youngsters. Cinema is not a one-man show. Most of the young directors and actors like working with me and most of them are immensely talented. I also respect the veterans in the field. If you take someone like Tony Ranasinghe, there are many things we can learn from him.

We have to take advantage of these assets.

You have also turned director with your maiden creation Ekamath Eka Rataka.

It is based upon one of Emile Zola’s short stories. Nirosha Perera is playing the lead role and maestro Premasiri Khemadasa had composed the music. Chandani Seneviratne, Semini Iddamalgoda, Nilmini Buwenaka, Himali Sayurangi and many others have also contributed to the film. The work is complete. I hope to reveal more news about the film towards the end of the year.

 We see you acting in guest roles in many of the present movies. Isn’t it damaging to your image to take part in so many productions?

I agree. Many assistant directors with whom I have worked in the past have turned directors and they plead with me to play a role in their films. Many youngsters in the field have also expressed their desire to work with me. Sometimes it is very difficult to say no to them. I am hoping to make some creations of my own so I hope to excuse myself in the future.

You have been involved with cinema for a long time. Why did it take so long to turn to directing?

Film directing is no easy task. Throughout my life I have taken part in many memorable creations. I have acted in diverse roles like Lester James Peries’ Kaliyugaya, H.D. Premaratne’s Deveni Gamana and Yasa Palitha Nanayakkara’s Navatha Hamu Vemu. Young actors are not given a chance to take up such roles these days. There are lack of good scripts and professional producers who can later turn into good directors.

What are the future projects to watch out for?

There are many films coming up but Sarath Dharmasiri’s Suvisi Vivirana and Sirithunga Perera’s Kanyavi are two new projects I’m setting my sights on. Anthony Raja’s ‘Feel My Love’ is the next film slotted for release.

Producer Chaminda Perera who introduced me to the movies saw my script of Sisila Gini Ganee and requested me to write the script of his next film. It will be based upon Buddhism and will be an interesting experience.

Mama Mia! and more

‘Mamma Mia’ became a Broadway smash when it hit Broadway back in 2001. With a story framed around the music of the Swedish pop band Abba, crowds loved its raucous, dance party vibe.

Now it comes to the silver screen, with some truly delightful performances from the likes of Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan. It is the story of Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) a young woman living on a picturesque Greek island with her mother, Donna (Streep.) Together, Donna and Sophie run a ramshackle island inn, and they are in the midst of preparing for Sophie’s wedding.

As the wedding approaches, Sophie becomes troubled by the fact that she has never known her father. She was the result of one of her mother’s summer flings, and her mother has never revealed her father’s identity.

When Sophie stumbles upon her mother’s diary, she learns that there are three possible men who could be her dad.

Without tellng her mother Sophie invites all three men to the wedding in a desperate bid to discover which of them is her father before the wedding bells start to chime!

Everything does not go according to plan: old loves are re-kindled, new loves are formed, and Sophie risks everything to discover the true identity of her father.

‘Mamma Mia’ is a film adaptation of the West End stage musical, based on the songs of successful pop group ABBA, with additional music also composed by ABBA member Benny Andersson.

Meryl Streep heads the cast of the film, playing the role of single mother Donna Sheridan. Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgard play the three potential fathers to Donna’s daughter Sophie, portrayed by Amanda Seyfried.

The movie is billed to be released at Majestic Cinema on October 3.

Kidman to turn treasure hunter

Australian actress Nicole Kidman is to set off on a huge treasure hunt in her next film “The Eighth Wonder”.

The film, which appears to be in the “Indiana Jones” mold, will follow the adventures of an archelogist as a major discovery triggers a global treasure hunt.

Oscar-winning Kidman, 41, was recently toppled as the world’s highest paid actress, losing her place to Reese Witherspoon and Angelina Jolie. Married to Australian country music star Keith Urban, Kidman gave birth to a little girl, named Sunday Rose, in July.

AFP




 

Pitt and Jolie: Hollywood’s Most Powerful

Brad Pitt holds the title of the Most Powerful Actor and his companion, Angelina Jolie, holds the title of the Most Powerful Actress in the Guinness Book of World Records 2009 edition.

They replace Tom Cruise and Jennifer Aniston who held the titles in the 2008 edition. Guinness editors select the winners in the publication’s annual Most Powerful categories based on a combination of such factors as Internet searches, annual earnings, and news-media stories.

Pitt and Jolie did not dominate in all fields, however. The most-searched subject celebrity on the Internet over the past year, the Guinness folks observed, has been Britney Spears.-IMDB