LESTER’S films seen through LESTER’S LENSES
A 94th birthday tribute to the maestro:
K. S. Sivakumaran
In the world of International Aesthetic Cinema we have one Lankan
film maker who has withstood for several decades as an established world
class Asian cinema innovator. He is, as we all know, Dr. Lester James
Peries. Along with Satyajit Ray of Bangla in India and Akira Kurusowa of
Tokyo, Japan and also of the same place Ozu, Peries has been pioneer
from the Asian continent of vintage fame to compete with the New Wave
Directors of France like Francois Truffaut or the Italian Michael Angelo
Antonioni or Swedish Ingamar Bergman – just to name a few – to emerge as
someone to look forward to in producing different kind of films that had
humanism as a base. They were different from those clever craftsmen
across the Atlantic.
Lester James Peries therefore is an international celebrity that
needs to be completely understood particularly by the rest of the
Western world. To do this we need to write a complete biography to be
written in at least in the English language.
Lankan Sinhala Cinema
There are a few books in Sinhala and English and one or two articles
in Thamil to be understood by our local citizens. There are various
interpretations on Lester as film maker by our own film critics, et al,
in the calibre of the late Reggie Siriwardene, the late A. J.
Gunawardene, the late Philip Cooray, the late Donald Abeysinghe, the
late Tissa Abeysekera, the late Ajith Samaranayake, the late Gamini
Haththotuwegama, the late Vernon Abeysekera and a few others who have
written in English of the illustrious figure in his 90s and his films.
There are many more writing on him and his films in Sinhala and English.
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Dr. Lester James Peries |
But we must get the exact information from the horse’s mouth –
Lester’s own estimation of his films. That is why “Lester by Lester – as
told to Kumar de Silva” gains a significant place in the library of
Lester James Pieris Studies. This illuminating book was first published
as early as April 2007 by one of the outstanding publishers in the
country – Vijitha Yapa Publications. The 212 page book has a few
photographs of some of Lester’s major films and other words partly
speaks about the growth of Lankan Sinhala Cinema.
Besides the Introduction, Foreword, Publisher’s Note and
Acknowledgement, information and critiques of Peris’s own films
beginning with Rekawa (1956), Sandeshaya, Gamperaliya, Delovak Athara,
Ran Salu, Golu Hadawatha, Akkara Paha, Nidhanya, Dessa Nisa, The God
King, Madal Duwa, Ahasin Polowata, Veera Puran Appu, Pinhamy, Beddegama,
Kaliyugaya, Awaragira, Wekande Walauwwa, and Ammawarune(2001) are
succinctly analysed. There is also a Filmography of Lester’s short films
from 1949 to 1971.
The credits of all the films have been listed and this too would help
the student of cinema to identify the past veterans in Sinhala Cinema of
yore.
Listen also to what the Maestro says in his Foreword to the book
about the enthusiastic Kumar de Silva - “.… Kumar’s wise counsel
prevailed. Excavating the past, when film making has been part of your
life and that of Sumitra’s (editor of some of my best known films), has
triggered off many pleasant and creatively important memories.
Remembering them has been painful sometimes, but often deeply
satisfying. A final word - if not for Kumar de Silva’s persistence over
five long years this book would never have been published.” The
publisher Vijitha Yapa speaks about Lester thus: “He was famous but he
was very humble. Popularity had not led to a swelling of his head. He
was easily approachable, friendly and in no hurry to chase you out
because he was busy. Since then, each film he made exposed the talent of
an amazing film maker.”
Kumar de Silva, as everybody in the local media world knows, is an
electronic and print media journalist proficient in both English and
French. He is currently a Public Relations and Media Consultant and
possesses a major degree in English and French. He worked for the
Cultural Service of the Embassy of France in Colombo and became popular
with his presentation of the very popular television programme
‘Bonsoir’.
A versatile artiste at his comparatively young age, he was recently
conferred with the honour of ‘Chevalier in the Order of Arts and
Letters’ by the Government of France in recognition of his significant
contribution to promoting French culture in Sri Lanka for more than
quarter of a century.
Humane qualities
Let me conclude this review with my own little appreciation of Lester
James Peries. I wrote an article in the Daily News in the 1970s on
“Money Making Thamil Cinema”. It was Lester on the phone congratulating
me for my writing. And ever since then he encourages me to continue
writing whenever he reads a piece of mine in the English press.
When I attended the International Film Festival of India in Kolkatta,
I felt sick with an upset stomach eating too much sugary items for which
the Banglas were famous for. Staying in the same hotel as Lester and
Sumithra were, I came to be noticed by them and they were very concerned
about my poor health condition.
I could see the humane qualities of both of them in trying to comfort
me. Lester and Sumitra too brought fame and laurels to Lanka. I bow and
salute Lester on his 94th birthday which falls today, and wish him all
good health.
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