Photography, his love and life
Piyasena WICKRAMAGE
A courageous man, one with a mission and a vision. In the early
seventies Chandrasena Perera was involved in the printing trade. He was
at Government Press. With that influence he wrote his first collection
of short stories, and edited contemporary writers’ collection of short
stories: Samakaleena Lekakayange Ketikatha. It was well-received by the
critics.
 When the Film Corporation was influential on young scriptwriters to
write quality film scripts for the new generation of film-makers,
Chandrasena Perera tried his pen in the arena.
Veteran dramatist and novelist (late) Sugathapala de Silva’s maiden
novel Bitthi Hatara (Four Walls) was transformed into a film script by
Chandrasena Perera.
He was also influential for creating Sarasavi Cineru Film Company and
as its maiden production Bitthi Hatara was floated. H D Premasiri, the
producer of the film, was more interested in producing quality films and
not mere commercial productions. It was also the second film by
Parakrama de Silva. In Sri Lanka this type of attempts was not very much
appreciated.
Chandrasena Perera then tried with his pen Thuththiri Mal a film by
Pathiraja L S Dayananda. It was also a different film. Both these film
scripts proved that Chandrasena Perera’s ability as a scriptwriter.
After these explorations in printed word and in cinema media,
Chandare (as we call him) tried his hand in paintings and photography.
|
Perera’s photography |
I feel this is a common feature in the generation of seventies. They
tried their hand in all these media, and Chandare was no exception. In
the late eighties Chandare began a long career with photography.
His photographs won Sri Lankan highest acclaimed photography awards
and of course in the outer world international awards too. With the
career of the photography Chandare is now teaching photography to the
new generations in the leading schools in Colombo and in the
Photographic Society too. Chandrasena Perera’s maiden solo photographic
exhibition was held at Kurunegala with a collection of fifty five
images.
His second solo exhibition was held in Colombo at the Harold Peris
Gallery at the Lionel Wendt Memorial complex.
This is his third exhibition and of course this time too at Harold
Peris Gallery for the second time.
A man of dedication, Chandrasena Perera is in a worthy cause of
developing cultural life of Sri Lankans. It is important to note his son
Sanka is following his father’s footsteps. In the seventies at the (old)
Maharagama Sarasavi Bookshop with the pioneering book trader H D
Premasiri, with his good company, there were a set of youngsters who met
in the evenings after work: Somaweera Senanayaka, Chandrasena Perera,
Nimal Asoka Siriwardana, Rohana Wettasinghe, S H Sarath and myself with
Ranjan Perera too. All of us were explorers of new paths in life.
H D Premasiri rose to the peak of the book trade and in film
production. Somaweera Senanayaka rose to the peak as a novelist and cine
and television writer. I feel the third is Chandrasena Perera in the
field of photography. Rohana Wettasinghe became a veteran in music.
The first ever book launch held in Sri Lanka at the Maharagama
Sarasavi was my concept; H D Premasiri and Ranjan Perera were the other
two who cooperated in this event. For a generation who explored in the
world of books, cinema, paintings and photography, Chandrasena Perera is
the best example.
[email protected]
|
