Thinking ahead
Nuwan ventures along discourses of a new path:
Ruwini JAYAWARDANA
‘The media goes after those who gain
popularity and turn them into instant ‘superstars’ but not those who had
carved a niche for themselves by introducing new concepts. I have fought
against this system and my fifth book Gaddarica Pravahaya Hevath Sukiri
Batillanga Lokaya is a result of this concept’
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Nuwan Nayanajith. Picture by Ruwan de
Silva |
Today's world is overcome by trends. They come and go at a rapid
rate. Certain fads are short-lived while no more than a handful of
ideals last to be talked about or remembered by those in this
fast-pacing society.
Yet these few 'productive creators' have many barriers in their
paths. They need to brave the storms to make their voices heard with
more stones being hurled their way rather than helping hands or words of
encouragements being scattered across their path.
Renowned young journalist and critic Nuwan Nayanajith Kumara has
focused on this issue when he compiled his seventh book Nava Magaka
Sankathana (Discourses of a New Path). The volume comprises 35 articles
which he had penned for various newspapers while interviewing
individuals who had made their presence felt in the society in a new and
unique manner.
These are not merely mimicking their elders like parrots but embody
the ability to create something fruitful and novel while respecting the
ideals of the elder generation. They possess the capacity to filter the
values of what they had been taught and shape their thinking to suit the
modern context.
“This book is an offspring of Gaddarilca Pravahaya Hevath Sukiri
Batillanga Lokaya (Undiscerning) which I launched in 2008,” Nayanajith
explained.
He notes that his upbringing has a great impact on this creation.
Since his parents, Ranjith Kumara and Damayanthi Jayasuriya, are
veterans in the art field, Nuwan had been in contact with the arts from
his tender years.
“I socialized and read lot. Therefore I was armed with knowledge when
I stepped into this field. With the shift of economy in 1978 there was a
change in society. People began going crazy over the latest fads. Only
those with foundation withstood their ground,” said Nayanajith who will
be completing two decades in journalism in 2012.
Ever since he had begun his journalistic career Nayanajith had kept a
look out for talented individuals in the new generation. One of the key
factors he realized early in his life is that there was no one to
support these waves of unfurling talent.
“I penned a majority of my Silumina articles under Thurunu Madala in
the Pun Kalasa section highlighting the upcoming artistes of the new
generation. They are people who do not follow trends but seriously study
the art and explore new avenues. Interestingly they have respected the
traditions of the art in their process,” he said.
The articles are set in question and answer form and explore the
thinking of 36 artistes from the new generation. They are from the
Buddhist communication, cinema, stage drama, teledrama, music, poetry,
novel, short story, dance, announcing, acting, journalism, singing,
radio journalism and experimental art fields. Nayanajith notes that only
a few of these 'new thinkers' included in the book have taken to the
field after their parents.
“They have developed their own identity in the field. They embody
diverse opinions. Significantly they have all faced some sort of
injustice in their career. Some members of the elder generation do help
them out and appreciate their talents but some of them wish to see
everything demising after them. They believe that the new generation
should follow in their footsteps and take up their principals. Going
beyond their theories is a crime in their eyes. They do not focus on
moulding a quality artiste for the future but leaving their own mark in
history. They look down upon the new generation and dub them immature,”
he stressed adding that it is not the media who creates superstars bit
the audience.
“There are many more talented individuals in the new generation and
they too need to come to light instead of being buried with time. We
tend to take things in a negative light at first glance and harp on the
golden past instead of looking around and appreciating what we already
possess. We tend to give popular characters more time and space while
the truly talented individuals get only a small space in the newspaper
or a few minutes to appear in the television.
If the tables were turned then a positive message will be delivered
to upcoming artistes. They will realize that only those with novel ideas
and capabilities will be highlighted,” Nayanajith concluded adding that
we cannot develop as a nation without this positive thinking. |
