Masses have high confidence on artistes
Script writer Mahinda K. Premasiri:
Veteran lyricist, cinema and tele script writer, journalist and
political analyst Mahinda K. Premasiri talking about his production 'And
Company' shared views with Asanka Devamithra Perera.
Q: Your script of 'And Company' seems
to be a style of reporting rather than presenting in an artistic style.
Presenting the incident straight away is the way you have used in this
production.
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Mahinda K. Premasiri
Picture by Malan Karunaratne |
A: It is not like you
feel. There are some limitations. We have to find and we can't do the
aesthetic side in full doing a program like this. We discuss the
day-to-day incidents of these political figures. So we take only the
current topics to give an instant feeling to the viewer with some
satire. I try my best to criticize the loopholes of opposition as well
as the government.
Q: Do you believe that your endeavour
has become a success?
A: Actually it happened.
Government members can feel that they are subjected to criticism and
also the Opposition members could feel they are the ones subjected to
criticism mostly. But I do it with a sense of balance for both parties.
Q: Why did you choose a State media
for it?
A: At this moment I think
the people have high regard on State media. Once the State media was
away from the masses. At present a large number of viewers are with the
State media. It is much evident that the people stand with State media
with the results of the recently concluded election. That is the wish of
the people. If we want to criticize the Government we must grasp the
State media perfectly and should do the criticism through it wisely. So
I dare not to criticize the Government as I did in the past, today and
tomorrow.
Q: That means you have high
confidence on State media?
A: Yes, I have much belief
in this regard with experience of which they do not harm their observer
or the guide in anyway. Earlier, I produced a program Isiwara Horane
with Tennyson Cooray. We criticized the politicians directly and
highlighted their loopholes. Nothing happened and I did not receive any
threats or intimidations. During the year I worked with 'Siyatha' Radio
I criticised the Government and with 'Sri FM's Ayubowan did the same.
That means I focused my criticisms on the Government during the past
four years.
Q: During the last election most of
the artistes were with President Rajapaksa and they gave their fullest
backing to him. You were also there to back him. Opposition's accusation
was that all of you were 'marketing' to President. On what basis you
extended your support to President's victory?
A: As a whole, most of the
artistes gave their support to President Rajapaksa without seeking any
personal gains. They have a good instinct of the future and they had a
reasonable fear over the Opposition candidate's victory might bring a
disastrous situation to the country.
Q: Why do you say so?
A: The Opposition had a
chauvinistic attitude and the artistes identified it beforehand and came
forward to support the President and they decided to rally round him.
They did not think the war victory was not the only cause to support
him. They wanted to arrest the chauvinistic forces' hidden agendas and
safeguard the country and the nation from these evil forces. That's why
they came forward and stood as a wall, around President.
Q: You are an artiste with much
prowess in various fields of arts. But nowadays we see you as a
political character rather than a talented artiste. Why do you try to
enter harsh politics by forgetting the aesthetic side of the art?
A: No. I did not give up
art. It is my life blood and my profession. It is one side of my
ambitions that comes out as politically satire programs. I did not give
up lyric writings and now I tend to write novels and short stories. In
near future I will launch a novel. I did not stop writing scripts for
films and teledramas. These days I am busy with writing a film script
called Lorry Baage which is directed by Sumith Kumara, which is a film
full of satire. |
