Contemplating Curiosity

Ruwini JAYAWARDANA

He says that his curiosity to understand human nature is the drive behind his productions. He notes that emotions surface during a crisis. Conflicts and catastrophe are the basis of the tales which he projects using a slide of images.

“Some may term this the darker aspect of life but what makes us really feel for the characters are their attempts to overcome their crisis. My films do not give an entirely pessimistic view of life. I relate that there is hope amid crisis,” explains Prasanna Vithanage.

Ever since he made his first film Sisila Gini Gani (Ice on Fire) in 1992, this avant garde film-maker has broken the mould with every movie. So Anantha Rathriya (Dark Night of the Soul) made in 1996 is worlds apart from Pawuru Walalu (Walls Within) and Purahanda Kaluwara (Death on a Full Moon Day), both made in 1997. The list gets longer every passing year.

“I believe that every movie must liberate the audience. Sandya Rani repents and frees her conscience while her daughter, Priya, too gets rid of the hatred towards her mother by trying to understand her in Akasa Kusum. However this journey of freedom comes with a struggle. They do not tread on a bed of roses,” he opined.

He had touched on many topics like extramarital love, infidelity, lesbianism and abortion which other film-makers hesitate to take up because of the country’s social attitude.

“It all comes down to uncovering the hidden features of characters in the society. Many things which we do not agree upon are taking place. However, as an artiste I believe that whatever I bring out in the film needs to touch upon the audience’s senses and communicate with the experience for them to empathise with them,” expressed Vithanage.

Asked if he makes his films targeting to the western audience’s mindset Vithanage said that his focus is touching upon the deepest emotions of the character during the turmoil rather than moulding his movies in a manner to suit the spectator’s attitude.

“People enjoy films through images. I try to bring out the inner character of the role through imagery. This has won the foreign audience’s interest. I believe that there are only quality films and low quality films in cinema. I make films only on aspects which I believe in. I believe in entertainment but it is not mere pleasure but something which touches you that you can enjoy,” he said.

Does doing well at an international film festival help the film back in Sri Lanka?

“It all depends on faith. An academy award naturally wins more attention but you cannot survive from it if that faith is tarnished. You have to make better films with each go. At times the audience might reject the production even if it does win international accolades,” Vithanage said.

Each of your characters are so well-etched. Was casting an easy process?

“My task is to touch upon the innermost feelings of the characters. I believe that a good actor can give flesh and blood to what is penned in the script. Sometimes he or she would be able to instill a part of his or her own experiences into the role. Gamini Fonseka’s performance in Nidhanaya is a good example.

We had many such actors in the industry but now there is a scarcity. The television had become the survival drive for most actors but unfortunately teledramas do not offer them challenging roles. They are mostly representatives, not characters. However I do not see this as an excuse. As a director I should be able to get what I want from the actor or actress that I have chosen for my film.”

You have repeated Nimmi Harasgama in your films. Comment.

“It is unintentional. She was not actually our first choice for Priya’s role but she is the most professional actress I have met. She memorised the dialogs and performed each emotional act before the Ira Madiyama shoot. She did not know much Sinhala then but she was able to dub for her role in Akasa Kusum. She gave independence to the character through her inner self. It is pleasing to work with her and I look forward to working with her again,” he smiled.

The award-winning film director and producer says that audience is lured to historic films for two reasons. One is seeing a legendary tale unfolding on the giant screen as a change from witnessing a story revolving around a family on the mini screen. It is also huge productions with star casts and big budgets which bring in the cash locally and internationally.

“However there is a problem if the audience is actually interested in history or history as a fictional story. I have been writing a script on the last stages of the Kandyan kingdom for around 15 years. I hope to produce it but one aspect that most film-makers do not consider is the infrastructure development for such a project,’ he said adding that he had learnt much from working in Uberto Pasolini’s award-winning movie Machan. His latest stage drama Debiddo is also making the rounds on stage these days.

“It is a difference and gives me a sense of freshness. I am able to build up a character through months of rehearsal with the actors. You meet a lot of people while staging it in all parts of the country and get instant feedback. I decided to make a theatre production after each film after Ira Madiyama. We did Horu Samaga Heluwen before following it up with Akasa Kusum,” he said.

Leaving his comfort zone of war and dark drama aside Vithanage is ready to venture into a children’s movie which also happens to be a comedy. He is trying to adopt Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s short story, The Meek One into a film. He is also working on a Tamil movie named Athirum Kaatrum (Blowing in the Wind). It is the final installment to his war trilogy: Purahanda Kaluwara and Ira Madiyama.

“Though we call the industry Sri Lankan cinema it has been predominantly Sinhala cinema. Most Sri Lankan Tamils enjoy South Indian Tamil movies by Kamal Haasan, Vijay and Suriya. I want to reach them through my film. We need to bring them to our cinema industry. Young Tamil technicians and actors will be given an opportunity to act in Athirum Kaatrum. They all wish to see a Sri Lankan identity in a Tamil film,” he concluded.

Punchi theatre turns mini cinema

Ruwini Jayawardana

Hit movies and some of yesteryear’s favourites will unspool at the Namel Malini Punchi theatre, Borella, from September 8 as the renowned theatre hall turns mini cinema centre. It will function under the National Film Corporation’s Rithma circuit and will be one of the many mini cinema halls that they hope to launch in the future.

Speaking to the media about the launch, NFC Chairman Kumar Abeysinghe said that this move is timely during an era when the audience is flocking around theatres.

“Films like Mahindagamanaya had lured masses back to theatres. However we have to rejuvenate some of the cinema halls which have been neglected due to the situation in the country a couple of years ago. The mini cinema concept is not new to the world. Many cities have a large number of mini cinema theatres scattered around the world,” he said.

Though there is an enthusiasm to see the latest films to take over the screen, a small section of people like to watch some of the past films all over again.

However they do not get the opportunity to enjoy the production on the wide screen.

The mini cinema hall is the answer to this issue.

The Punchi theatre had been renovated to cater to the needs of a mini cinema hall. It has 40 balcony seats and 100 ODC seats. A Cine Vision projector had been installed to ensure the best quality pictures.

The theatre had been air conditioned and is spacious so that you can have privacy with your friends and loved ones as well enjoy the show. Around four screenings are set for each day and the team has drawn a list of films: Sinhala, English, Tamil and Hindi, for six months.

“The theatre will be open for stage dramas too.

If we have a show in the afternoon we will be canceling one of the screenings and be giving priority to the drama.

The screen is built in a manner which enables us to move it away from the stage so that everything will be ready for the drama performance,” Namel Weeramuni said.

Apart from film screenings the Punchi theatre will also be the hub of many other activities connected with cinema.

Film festivals, discourses, debates, seminars and workshops too will take place.

“We are hoping to launch mini theatres in many other parts of the island and see that the country comprises a strong cinema culture in 2012,” Abeysinghe said.

Story of a miser

Ishara Jayawardane

Arthur is an introverted, lonely and desolate person who makes a living by renting a room in his house for any strangers passing through the area. He lives in a temporary house built near a junction.

A youngster, who has lost his way, finally arrives at this house and has a chance meeting with Arthur. He is exhausted from this journey. However the only barrier in this friendship is that Arthur is completely profit minded. Due to Arthur’s selfish behavior, the youngster is eternally thinking how to balance his needs and money.

This is Lakmini Amaradeva’s story which will soon turn into a feature film named Balla.

He is no stranger to the limelight. He received the Youth Award for his play Devani Thattuwa in 2008. In 2007 he received the Sumathi Award for The Bohimian. Balla will begin shooting in different parts of the island soon.

Rodriguez and Alba reach common ground

Jessica Alba was having an art imitates life moment when she made Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World 4D. Alba portrays Marissa Wilson, an international spy who is nine months pregnant when the film commences.

While promoting the film, Alba was also nine months pregnant (in fact, Alba gave birth to daughter Haven Garner recently). Alba stars with Joel McHale as parents on the verge of the beautiful world of parenthood.

In a True Lies meets Mr and Mrs Smith-like twist, neither knows what the other does for a living. Alba is a spy while McHale’s Wilbur Wilson is a spy hunter. Speaking about what keeps calling her back on the sets of Rodriguez’s films Alba said, “Growing up, we come from a similar cultural background. We’re both Mexican-American and we grew up with a lot of the same traditions.

We’ve shared stories about the way we grew up, and they’re quite similar in the way that our families raised us.

We just have a comfort and a shorthand with each other. Although sometimes I disagree, most of the time, we always seem to find some common ground.”

Spy Kids 4 will begin screening at Liberty cinema from August 26.

Movie Fanatic