PROJECTOR

Withstanding the test of time

Ruwini Jayawardana

Age and ailments withstanding, he continues to spin magic on screen. Age is just a state of mind where this artiste is concerned. He had traversed into many fields and come up trumps in the projects that he had undertaken. In this interview with the Daily News, Tony Ranasinghe, reveals more about himself and how he withstood the test of time.

His looks and talent declared him a winner right away. He belonged to the golden era of cinema and has screen icons like Gamini Fonseka, Joe Abeywickrama and Henry Jayasena as contemporaries.

Debuting into cinema with Dr Lester James Peries’ Gamperaliya in 1964, Tony had taken on diverse roles in many cinematic productions like Ran Salu, Parasathu Mal, Ahasin Polawata, Duhul Malak, Delovak Athara, Saptha Kanya and more. Though he was armed with all the features that are essential for a star, he did not make it as the hero of the reel.

“The stereotyped portrait of the hero was a young man with good looks and an aggressive personality at that time. Actors like Gamini fitted the bill. A critic named Gunasiri Silva once wrote that while Gamini and Vijaya created the image of the hero, I did try to embody the personality of one. I agree with that statement. I had to underplay my role since the hero needed to outshine all the other characters in the film. I was not action-oriented. Maybe this worked against my ability to emerge as a hero,” he opined. After seeing contemporaries and successors wither away he notes that an actor’s popularity lasts only for a certain era. “It all depends on how you stand the test of time. Even actors like Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor, Rajesh Khanna and Mithun Chakraborty were at the zenith of fame for a certain period. Dharmendra and Meena Kumari were ‘hot property’ during a certain span while Shammi Kapoor followed suit in another few years. It all depends on the audience’s taste. It varies,” he said.

With more than four decades of experience in the field behind him Tony says that Gamini Fonseka, Dr Peries and Henry Jayasena had a great impact on his acting career.

“Since I was a stage actor cum movie actor I had to adjust to the camera. You have to overdo acting and raise your voice so that even the people in the last row will be able to hear what you are saying on stage but it is a different matter when you are acting for a film. Gamini and Dr Lester trained me to underplay the theatrical aspects. Many people talk big about acting when they have little knowledge about the subject. Henry was an exception. He had trained in drama and acting in Moscow for five years and knew exactly what he was talking about. I met Iranganie Serasinghe while acting in Delovak Athara. She had trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London. They inspired me,” he added.

One aspect that worked towards his advantage was his passion for reading. That helped him develop as an actor. He turned to other fields like script writing and even won awards for his screenplays Koti Waligaya, Keli Mandala, Awaragira and Pavuru Walalu. He is presently working on a script for Sumithra Peries’ next project.

“I find it a challenge to work with her because she is the type who studies my script and asks me if I can put something which a character had uttered in three sentences into one!” he said with a wide grin.

He had also penned novels, translations and even a book on cricket titled Loka Cricket Kusalaana Puraanaya 1975-2011 (Chronicle of World Cup Cricket 1975-2011).

“I am an ardent cricket fan. I pinned my hopes on us winning the world cup this year. Kumar Sangakkara is a brilliant skipper,” he explained.

He says that the director should know how to get what he wants from the actor.

He had seen some talented youths in the field but says that they lack knowledge in acting.

He said, “You need not worry if you are in good hands. Making a production is a teamwork. You should be malleable and let the director extract what he wants from you. However there are a few individuals who have read a bit about acting and think the world of themselves.

If you are going to give your own interpretations to the character without heeding the director, then it will never be a success.” Speaking about his recent teledrama Ammai Duwalai which is based on Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice Tony said that he had fallen ill during the shooting.

He had been hospitalised and his assistant had taken over the project. Unfortunately they had not been able to do full justice to the script as it had to be completed on time to meet deadlines and meet the producer’s demands.

“I was planning to make a movie too. Former NFC Chairman Jayantha Dharmadasa even approved of my script. Unfortunately once he was transferred to another sector the project never took shape as there were issues with the funds.

“We had even finalised the cast by then,” he lamented. At 75, Tony’s only regret is that he did not dedicate more time for the stage.

“I played a kaleidoscope of characters ranging from haughty males to hen-pecked husbands and suppressed homosexuals in dramas.

Sugathapala Silva, Dharmasiri Wickramaratne and Namel Weeramuni opened the doors for me to explore many diverse characters. Some say that I could have really blossomed had I stuck to the stage,” he said.

Two teledramas, Sudath Dharmasiri’s Yakshaya Nonidai (Satan Never Sleeps) and Ravindu Wijeratne’s Aluth Gedara, in which he had portrays significant roles will be telecasting on the mini screen in future.

Stage set for Japanese Cultural Month

Ishara JAYAWARDANE

Film lineup

* August 5 to 8 – Contemporary Film Festival at the National Film Corporation Auditorium

- Turn over – 7 pm (Only for invitees)
- Glass Rabbit - 3 pm
- A stranger of Mine – 5.30 pm
- Chibi Maruko–Chan – 3 pm
- Hotel Hibiscus – 5.30 pm
- Nabbie’s Love – 3 pm
- Shangri-La – 5.30 pm

* August 20 and 21 – Cultural Exhibition at the Lionel Wendt

- Ikebana
- Bonsai
- Origami
- Calligraphy
- Tea ceremony

* August 25 – Yosakoi Dance at E O E Pereira Theatre (Faculty of Engineering), Peradeniya University at 6 pm

* August 27 – Yosakoi Dance at New Town Hall, Colombo 7 at 6 pm

The Japanese Embassy will launch of the ‘Japanese Cultural Month’ in August, featuring several cultural events in Colombo and Kandy with the aim of popularizing information on Japanese culture, lifestyle, performing arts and aesthetics.

“Japan has always been an age old friend of Sri Lanka and the National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka wishes to honor this friendship by helping the Japanese Embassy by lending its premises free of charge to hold the contemporary film festival in its auditorium” said NFC Chairman, Kumar Abeysinghe.

The film festival will feature seven contemporary films including two animated movies: Glass Rabbit and Chibi Maruko- Chan. A comedy movie titled Nabbi’s Love; a story based on an old woman’s incubated passionate love, A stranger of mind will also be screened along with Hotel Hibiscus and Shangri -la, two films which are full of excitement , adventure and entertainment.

This festival will not only feature age old Japanese classics but modern films as well.

The History of the Japanese Film Industry spans over 100 years. It is the oldest and largest film industry in the world compared to Hollywood and Bollywood. It is the fourth largest in terms of the number of feature films produced in the world. In the South Asian region, eight out of 20 films are produced by Japan.

That comes to 800 films per year.

“60 percent of the films produced in Japan are animated films. In our country we don’t have a developed animation film culture.

We are inviting all the local film-makers and artists to watch the films at the festival so that they can see state of the art techniques used in the movie productions,” said Abeysinghe.

Admission for all the events are free and are on first come first served basis.

For more information contact: 01- 693831-3 (ext 266)

National Diploma for television and film

Nipuni Wimalapala

The Sri Lanka Television Training Institute (SLTTI) is conducting a higher national diploma in television and film to inculcate advanced techniques and aesthetic skills in film-making and television production. They also hope to introduce professional directors, cinematographers, editors and sound designers to the film and television industry in Sri Lanka.

A well established national training centre for television, the SLTTI is renowned for introducing media professionals to the field. Its vital scope includes creation of a meaningful social impact through qualitative and standard training.

Functioning under the purview of the presidential secretariat and mother organisation Sri Lanka Foundation, SLTTI conducts a varied and vast range of Diploma, certificate courses and workshops on television and film art for those who are currently in the field, school leavers and those with interest and ability in television and film disciplines.

The objective of the Higher National Diploma in Television and Film is to impart advance techniques and aesthetic skills in film-making and to bring out professional directors, cinematographers, editors and sound engineers to the film industry in national and international level. The diploma offers four areas of specialisation: directing, cinematography, editing and sound engineering. Participants can make their own selection on the area that they want to pursue.

The diploma is of four main sectors. The first term is dedicated to the general module where every student will be studying basics of direction, electronic cinematography, editing, sound engineering, set and costume designing and make-up for four months. In the second term participants are allowed to select the preferred area where they want to specialise. They will be exposed to advanced research and practical training in the specialization areas.

In the third term, students will do their final practical project of creating an experimental film in three months. The fourth term is for the preparation and implementation of the Colombo International Film Festival (COINS) which is organised by the students of the course.

COINS is an open forum for the local and international students to exhibit their film talents. Feature, documentary and experimental films are prepared within an educational frame work are accepted for the film festival and the competition which will be held at the end of the diploma.

Speaking at a press briefing held at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, the Sri Lanka Foundation Chairman Dr Ranjith Bandara said that they hope to develop the features and standards of the course.

“We are providing an academic and practical approach to the field and we need to produce creative and skillful film-makers who are having the capacity to compete in the international arena,” he said. Cinematography Department Head M D Mahindapala said that though there are many institutions and colleges to study this subject, SLTTI offers the best package.

“Our distinct feature is that we are highly practical as well as theoretical,” he noted. “Though there are many creative individuals in the field they not given the necessary training to bring out the best of their talents. We are training them to produce a qualified team to bring Sri Lankan cinema to the fore,” he stressed.

Direction Department Head Sudath Mahadivulwewa, Editing Department Head Wasantha Kotuwella, SLTTI Assistant Director Thushani Bulumulle and Higher National Diploma Coordinator Dhanushka Gunatilaka also spoke at the event.

The second batch of the Higher National Diploma will start in October. Those who are interested can apply. The course fee is Rs 150, 000. Student loan facilities are provided by the institute.

Lasseter’s Cars 2 not for vehicle lovers

Credits

* Director: John Lasseterand Brad Lewis (co-director)
* Producer: Denise Ream
* Starring: Owen Wilson, Larry the Cable Guy, Michael Caine, Emily Mortimer, Jason Isaacs and Thomas Kretschmann

Ratatouille and Finding Nemo director John Lasseter says that his recently released movie Cars 2 is for people who “don’t care about cars”.

The 54-year-old was advised by his wife to think of those who are not interested in driving when working on the animated movie, reported Contactmusic. “My wife told me, ‘Don’t make it for the car guys; make it for everybody else. Basically she said make it for all those people who don’t care about cars and I hope that’s what I have in done.

“As with all our movies, whether it’s the fish in Finding Nemo or the rat in Ratatouille, we see our job as creating characters which people can invest in right from the beginning of the movie. Press Trust of India

S Africa’s iconic plucky pup Jock goes 3D in film

South African literary classic Jock of the Bushveld has been turned into the country’s first 3D animation film and features the voices of global celebrities like Bryan Adams and Desmond Tutu.

The film, which opens Friday in southern Africa, is based on the 1907 bestseller by Percy Fitzpatrick who details his true-life bush adventures during the 1880s gold rush with his pup Jock, who became a national icon.

AFP