Poised for an ‘historic’ comeback

Ruwini JAYAWARDANA

She aspires to act in a children’s movie and a historical. Lady luck may not have granted her first wish yet but she had certainly been granted her second. Fitting snugly into the shoes of Princess Pabavathi, actress Pooja Umashankar is back on the wide screen in Professor Sunil Ariyaratne’s epic movie Kusa Paba.

After months of shooting in many parts of the isle ranging from Ranmihithenna to Dambulla, the Sri Lankan-born actress who had made her presence felt in Tamil, Malayalam and Sinhala cinema settled down for a chat with Daily News ‘Projector’. Excerpts:

Q: Kusa Paba is your first historic movie.

A: Coincidently a year back I thought that despite doing many film genres, it is a pity that I could not take part in a historic film. The thought of dressing up as a Maha Rani delighted me but I did not get a chance to do so until Kusa Paba came along.

I also regret not having done a children’s film. I was ready to do Rosa Kele when Naan Kadavul happened. Luckily one of my wishes was granted when I accepted Pabavathi’s role.

Q: You have returned to Sri Lankan cinema after two years of absence. What did you miss most about acting?

A: The working environment. Everyone is very friendly on the sets. You joke, laugh and bond till you are called in for the next shot. I have a very good relationship with my co-stars on and off the sets. It feels like being with your family!

Q: You are working with heavyweights like Prof Sunil Ariyaratne and Jackson Anthony in Kusa Paba. Comment.

A: Yes. You have all the big names involved in the project from the actors to the producers. When they requested me to take on the role I had to think twice because to give an immediate refusal would be a mark of disrespect.

Besides Kusa Paba is a very beautiful story and is integral to Sri Lankan history and culture. I thought over the proposal. Even my father felt that it is a great opportunity for me to portray this role. I feel lucky and blessed to be a part of this project. I had to back out of my decision of not doing any more films because I was so captivated by the assignment.

Q: What did you do to get Pabavathi’s role right?

A: I simply followed the director’s instructions and took everything he related to heart. He knows best on how to extract the performance out of me. I shed a few a kilos that I had put on while staying at home because I thought that I would not be doing any more films.

Q: What movie would you say is your best so far?

A: Naan Kadavul is an all time favourite because it demanded a lot of work. I will always be fond of my first Sri Lankan film Anjalika because it won me the Sri Lankan audience’s heart. Going by the way things are, Kusa Paba too will be at the top of the list.

Q: Why didn’t you make to Bollywood?

A: I did not have the time to focus on Hindi movies. I was so busy taking part in Tamil films. I did get offers but my hands were full with projects at that time. If did make it to Bollywood I would not have come to Sinhala cinema. It was basically a choice between doing a Bollywood film and a Sinhala film. I chose the latter.

Q: Lately you have been making a lot of guest appearances rather than acting the lead in Tamil movies.

A: All those directors are my friends and had invited me to do the lead role in their films. I refused but asked them to give me a small part in the film. I made guest appearances in TN-07 AL 4777, Drohi and Orange last year. They needed a known face to take part in their projects and well known actors normally shy away from minor roles.

Q: Would you take up an award worthy role even if it means going bald or putting on 20 kilos?

A: (Smiles) I would put on 20 kilos but not cut off my locks!

Q: You mentioned that marriage is your priority now. What is your idea of hubby material?

A: I believe that there is time and reason for everything. I have taken part in a lot of good films and am satisfied with my achievements. I come from a traditional Brahmin household and dad felt it was time for me to get married and settle down. The basic requirements that I expect of my husband-to-be are that he should not smoke nor drink. He should believe in God and be good at heart. Looks or wealth do not matter much to me as long as he has a pleasant personality. He should be able to look after me.

Q: Would you take on more work if you were offered films of Kusa Paba calibre?

A: (Laughs) Right now it’s marriage first but if my husband gives me permission to act, I will take on projects. However, most Indian husbands do not like their wives to continue with their acting career. It is not a matter of being narrow minded. They just like their wife to be at home looking after them.

I will have to limit the number of films I take if I act after marriage but if worthwhile projects like Kusa Paba are offered to me, I definitely take part. It will be an injustice that I will do to myself by refusing such roles.

Gamini Fonseka: an actor of rare talent

Ishara JAYAWARDANE

Though it is several decades since he passed away Gamini Fonseka’s legacy lives on. At the peak of his career he achieved the kind of success that many dream of but few attain.

He was one of Sri Lanka’s best loved actors. There was a unique quality of magnetism in this man that no one could be wholly insensible of. Indeed that is exactly what seasoned actor Ravindra Randeniya addressed in his speech as he paid homage to Fonseka. He said that Fonseka had such sensitivity that he was once moved to tears by a verse that he had uttered.

“My connection with Fonseka goes beyond that of being colleagues. We shared a deep friendship. His dedication and contribution to Sri Lankan Cinema is exemplary. He was a friend and a gentleman. He had fineness that is a class of its own and no one can deny this or challenge this. He was a versatile personality and the chance to be acquainted with someone like Gamini is a great honor. There was so much value in knowing him because of his vast knowledge from astronomy to politics,” said Randeniya.

Speaking of greatness Minister Mervin Silva named Mahatma Gandhi and Abraham Lincoln as examples.

“Fonseka was a man of wisdom who did more for this country in the field of cinema than anyone has ever done. The advent of such men is rare. In his career he was upright and kept his dignity and was respectable to the last letter. He did not bend down to anyone but conducted himself well,” said the Minister.

Fonseka did much for the masses but let us not forget that it was the masses who made him what he is and what he was. A general is only as good as his army. Fonseka was made by the film loving public. His brilliance evoked the love of so many and he will be held in high esteem in years to come.

Force is a real, raw action film - Abraham

Actor John Abraham feels that his upcoming film Force has raw and real action that is similar to Sunny Deol’s Ghayal. Force, which is directed by Nishikant Kamath, is an action-thriller, in which, John is essaying the role of a cop.

“Force has that real and raw action. And last time you saw this real action was when Sunny Deol used to do Ghayal. I think the masses like size and hard hitting action,” John said.

Force, a remake of the Tamil film Kaakha Kaakha, and also starring Genelia D’Souza, is screening at Liberty Lite cinema.

Dheevari takes to the wide screen

Cast

*Director: Salinda Perera
*Screenplay: Salinda Perera and Darrell Costa
*Art director: Sunil Wijeratne
*Editor: Harris Nandasiri
*Director of Photography: Lal Wickramarachchi
*Music: Pradeep Ratnayake
*Producers: Salinda Perera and Chandran Rutnam
*Cast : Sangeetha Weeraratne, Joe Abeywickrama, Cyril Wickramage, Trilicia Gunewardena, Jackson Anthony and Veena Jayakody
*A Serendipity Films and Taprobane Pictures Presentation

Based on the novel “A Fisherman’s Daughter” by Raja Proctor and set in the 1970’s, Dheevari (Fisherman’s Daughter) is a subtle, but serious portrayal of the harsh realities of life in a fishing village in Sri Lanka.

It depicts the struggle of a determined young woman to overcome superstition, the ravaging sea and the iniquities of a traditional feudal system, all of which traps her community in a cycle of constant poverty. The film shot in 1995 was finally completed in 2006. No longer a child, Valli is forced out of the orphanage where she was raised and returns to the fishing village where she was born, to live with her aunt and uncle.

Valli’s parents were denied their own boat by the mudalali, who controls all aspects of the fishing trade in the village. Instead, Valli’s father fashioned a homemade outrigger, and he and Valli’s mother perished at sea. While her uncle and the other villagers are resigned to their dismal life under this feudal system, Valli, an outsider is appalled. She finds the inequity of life in the village, especially the prejudice against women, to be intolerable. Inspired by her parents’ courage and independence, Valli sets out to change things. Director Salinda Perera started his film career as Assistant Director with Lester James Peries on the God King in 1973.

He has a MFA from UCLA Film School. He had a brief career as an artist and theatre director in Sri Lanka before he immigrated to the United States. He co-wrote, produced and directed Life the first English language rock opera in Sri Lanka. He returned to Sri Lanka in 1995 to film Dheevari his first feature film. He currently lives in Los Angeles and works on Television Commercials.

The film will begin screening at Ridhma circuit theatres islandwide.

Kiwwada Nahi Nokiwwada Nahi premiere

Film duo Janitha Marasinghe and Lala Priyadewa of Magi Digo Dai fame’s latest movie Kiwwada Nahi Nokiwwada Nahi premiered at Colombo Regal recently. The cast, crew and many well wishers were there to take part in the event.

The movie which stars Ranjan Ramanayake, Tennyson Cooray, Arjun Kamalanath, Menaka Piries and Chanchala Warnasuriya has much fun and laughter embedded in an interesting storyline.

It focuses on a string of hilarious incidents which occur due to a white lie told by the husband to his wife. What turns out to be an innocent fib paves way to a number of unexpected incidents leaving the characters in tight spots and comic situations.