Star-struck!

Ruwini Jayawardana

Tennyson Edirisinghe

He is a star in his own right. A gifted photographer and seasoned media personnel, his name is as celebrated as his pictures. Armed with a camera and an eye for creativity he has clicked alluring images of artistes of many generations.

His work speaks volumes on behalf of him and so does his friendly nature. Hailing from the outskirts of Veyangoda, this individual has travelled along a less travelled path to earn the love and respect of cinema enthusiasts today. His talent is not only in immortalizing artistes in glamorous aura but also capturing them in a manner which reflects his signature style. One has to only look at the image to guess that it was taken by him and his pictures have adorned many covers of ANCL publications, film cutouts and posters. He also won the Best Feature Photographer of the Year award at the Asia Mass Media Awards Ceremony 2010.

Fondly known as Tenny among his peers, Tennyson Edirisinghe is the leading photographer of the Sarasaviya cinema weekly. Tenny will be holding his maiden solo exhibition of photography, Sihina Seya, at the National Art Gallery, Colombo, from July 27 to 29, 10 am to 6 pm.

Q: What prompted you to hold Sihina Seya?

A: I was very busy taking pictures for Sarasaviya during the past few years. I would not only take pictures but edit and set the pictures in a manner to suit the cover or article. Most of my days were spent working for the magazine then and I hardly had time to spend with my own family.

I have more free time in my hands this year. I began to contemplate on having an exhibition mainly because people use to question me on when I would hold an exhibition. Even at a couple of television interviews they asked me about that and I would always answer saying that I would hold an exhibition before my next birthday. It was embarrassing to give the same answer over and over again and not do anything about it.

I also wanted to take my time and organize the exhibition in a manner in which no one else had done before. I have over 300, 000 images. I needed to choose the best image of each artiste to include in the exhibition. That was time-consuming because I have taken around a thousand images of artistes like Malani Fonseka.

Malani Fonseka

Sanath Gunatileke

Muthu Tharanga

Saliya Sathyajith

Oshadi Hewamaddumage

Pandit Amaradewa

Ravindra Randeniya

Dilhani Ashokamala

Anarkalli Aakarsha

Channa Perera

Q: What can we expect to see in the exhibition?

A: It comprises images of well known celebrities in the country. There are around 200 images but all of these were not taken with an idea of holding an exhibition but to adorn the covers or pages of the Sarasaviya magazine. There are also around 25 wedding photographs as that is my part-time profession.

I have also taken pictures of foreign celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan, Asha Bhosle, Priyanka Chopra, Sonakshi Sinha, John Abraham etc. I hope to include Amitabh Bachchan’s image to Sihina Seya because the number of images I have in mind for the exhibition will exceed the amount if I include the others.

Q: Do you take only portrait pictures?

A: The exhibition mostly comprises pictures taken for Sarasaviya. These include mostly actors and actresses in our country. An exhibition of pictures comprising Sri Lankan celebrities has not yet been held in such a large scale before.

I have images from veterans like Gamini Fonseka to budding young artistes like Oshadi Hewamadduma. I did not have time to venture into any other photographic genres because I was busy with the magazine.

Q: Do you work with only colour photography?

A: Colour photography suits this genre because celebrities spell glamour.

I have not done any special effects to the images. It is mostly movie buffs and fans who will be visiting this exhibition so they would not be able to grasp the effects if they were inserted into the pictures. Only a professional photographer will be able to appreciate things like light and shade effects.

Q: Who is your most photographed star?

A: Anusha Damayanthi

Q: What is the most challenging picture that you have taken?

A: Some years back they needed a picture of Ruwanthi Mangala for the Vesak edition. Ruwanthi was in a boat in the middle of Kelani River with a lotus bouquet in her hands. The water was flowing with great speed and even the bank was in the verge of overflowing.

Though the boat was tied to the bank and there were swimmers near at hand, she was in a panic. Even I felt nervous during that occasion but I tried to keep cool and calm her to fix her mood for the picture.

I was also asked to take some pictures for the army calendar by Major General Shavendra Silva who was a Colonel during that period. He is a childhood friend of mine. I went to the Maduru Oya Special Task Force Training Centre and had to click a picture of soldiers climbing down a rock which was about 100 feet high. I have a phobia for heights! They soothed my fears and secured me with ropes and I took the picture lying horizontally. That was the cover picture of the calendar. Later they provided me with the feedback that the calendar comprising my images was the best calendar done in army history.

I have also snapped images in land mine zones during the terrorist era.

Q: Out of the collection, which is your favourite photograph?

A: It is an image of Saliya Sathyajith with olive oil and water droplets on his upper body and standing with water up to his hips.

Q: Whose work inspired you?

A: Dayan Vitharana’s photography inspires me. We use to comment about each other’s work and I used follow some of his theories.

Even if I see a good image taken by someone new to the scene I inquire about it to learn about the technique. I have many things to learn because I am a self taught photographer. I used to study the images in foreign magazines.

A specialty about my images it that I choose even colours for the background to go with the attire worn by the artiste. The colours merge together and the eye does not go immediately to the backdrop. Many photographers are afraid to practice this technique.

Q: How has working with Sarasiviya help you excel in your career?

A: My success is mostly due to Sarasaviya. I have worked with many Sarasaviya editors like Anura Bandara Rajaguru, Deepthi Fonseka, Sunil Mihidukula, Gamini Samarasinghe and Aruna Gunaratne for nearly 12 years.

Yovun Janatha editor of that time Newton Pinthu, the present Tharuni editor Anton Samson and Gamini Hettiarachchi were the first to help me get one of my photographs published on paper.

Former Sarasaviya editor Gamini Samarasinghe admired my photographs and always wanted me to take the pictures for the magazine. Sarasaviya is the beacon for Sihina Seya.

Q: You are so well known among artistes and the public that you are almost a celebrity yourself.

A: Many inform me that I never grow old and I reply saying that the reason is because I am constantly among the stars! I deal with them genuinely and because of this, I have been given opportunities to act in films and teledramas. I have acted in a few for self satisfaction.

Q: Is there any particular picture that you have in mind but have not gotten the chance to click yet?

A: Our artistes normally pose in a very formal manner when it comes to family pictures. They huddle together on a settee with their spouse and children.

I saw a lovely picture of the former Indian cricketer Mohammad Azharuddin’s family in Filmfare.

They were in the courtyard with their house in the backdrop and Azharuddin was on his knees, crawling on the grass with his kids on his back and his wife was pulling the kids from behind. Our artistes are hesitant to pose for an image like that.

I only make requests from those whom I feel are open to such ideas because otherwise I will feel discouraged would not have a good mindset to carry on with the photo shoot.