Screen writing, eh?

Channa Bandara Wijekoon

A writer’s true temperament is best measured through the material written by him over the decades. If he had associated with diverse topics in his literary career, it will add more meaning.

Piyasena Wickramage. Picture by Ranjith Asanka

On the verge of launching his newest book ‘Bioscope Unmaadaya’ (Film Crazy) which revolves around his memories of the film-culture during the 1950s, 60s and 70s; the seasoned author, publisher cum film-journalist Piyasena Wickramage shares a few ideas with Daily News Artscope.

Wickramage, the film buff, spent his teenage watching films in the vicinity of Nugegoda, where three film halls: Quinlon, Metro and Lavinia functioned in the late 1960s. Two film halls, except for Lavinia, function to this date.

Films such as 'Seedevi', 'Sangawuna Pilithura', 'Rekhawa', 'Parashakthi', 'Nadodi Mannan' (Tamil), 'Shane', 'Ten Commandments', 'Dr. Zhivago', 'My Fair Lady' and Hindi films in the fame of 'Barsaat', 'Mother India' and 'Madhumati' shown at the time had aroused interest towards cinema in young Wickramage’s mind.

Wickramage’s journalistic career popped up when he was an undergrad at the Kelaniya University in the latter part of 1960. He was among the breed of young enthusiasts at the time who had a strong urge to share with the society the knowledge they had gathered through reading literary pieces and watching stage dramas and films of an emerging ‘new world’.

Nandasena Sooriyarachchi, who was his colleague at the University, had helped Wickramage to meet ‘Sarasaviya’ editor Wimalasiri Perera at the Lake House. This encounter opened doors for young Wickramage to work closely with Perera as well as his deputies Lakshman Wickramasinghe and Somaweera Senanayake as a freelance journalist of ‘Sarasaviya’.

“This was the turning point in my writing career,” says Wickramage.

That was a transition period of the local cinema. A breed of young film-makers was exploring into the depths of film making and so were the budding film-journalists.

Wickramage, with the blessings of Lakshman Wickramasinghe, was also able to initiate writing features for Sarasaviya such as ‘Ada Apey Prashna’ (Current Conflicts) and ‘Heta Ovunage Dawasai (The Youth of Tomorrow). He also penned a series of articles on film-veterans such as Lester James Peiris, Gamini Fonseka, Titus Thotawatte, Sugathapala Senerath Yapa and Sumiththa Amarasinghe.

In 1973 Wickramage and Bandula Padmakumara published a film magazine called ‘Sithuwili’. “We at the time had an urge to do a magazine although without long-term plans,” says Wickramage with a smile.

‘Lester James Peries collected works’, a compilation of selected English articles on cinema, and ‘Cinemawe Panas Wasarak’ (Fifty years in the cinema), a compilation of the interviews and related articles by Prof. Sarachchandra and Ashley Ratnavibhuushana done by Wickramage have truly rich substance.

In the first book, the topics raised on the subjects such as the dire need for a ‘national film archives’ and the latest developments in world cinema and the answers given by Dr Peiris is food for thought for both the authorities and filmgoers.

Wickramage with the film legend Dr Lester James Peries

Association with Gamini Fonseka opened new vistas in Wickramage’s mind towards appreciating and exploring cinema medium.

“I had to interview a bare bodied Gamini on the very first occasion. He gave me a book titled, ‘Film as an industry and as an Art form.’ Gamini’s reading of cinema had a more in depth philosophy. He was a man bigger than life,” says Wickramage.

Wickramage also recalls with contentment, the association with the literary greats such as Martin Wickramasinghe, Dr Sarachchandra and Prof. Senarath Paranavithana. He had contributed towards the special supplement in Sarasaviya on Martin Wickramasibghe’s seventieth birthday by writing the main set of articles with interviews of some eminent literary personalities: Prof Paranavithana and Prof A J Gunawardana.

Wickramage mentions, gratefully, the encounter with the book trade pioneer, Sarasavi Bookshop chief H D Premasiri, in 1970 and his association with the late H D Sugathapala former headmaster of Royal Primary and literary giant of the seventies.

Wickrmage’s literary and publishing careers had progressed hand-in hand with film journalism.

He has already authored five books on cinema, five books on children’s’ literature, one book of eminent Sri Lankan personalities’ childhood and a book on Sinhala women’s dress and ornaments.

The first ever book launch in Sri Lanka with authorities’ proofs was a concept of Piyasena Wickramage. H. D. Premasiri and Ranjan Perera were partners of the event.

Wickramage is the convener of the Sri Lanka Book Publishers’ Association (SLBPA) first meeting in 1984 and the second pioneer member of the SLBPA.

The first ever film-script published in book form, 'Sathara Diganthaya' by veteran journalist Rohana Wettesinghe was initiated by Wickramage followed by two other scripts: Ajith Tilakasena’s 'Para Dige' (directed by Dharmasena Pathiraja) and 'Hansa Vilak' (Dharmasiri Bandaranayake).

A writing career spanning over 45 years had induced maturity into Wickramage’s literary work and he is now more eager than ever to share with the society the knowledge in his kitty.

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