FATED FOR FILM

Dulen Dissanayake

Being called ‘the icon, the giant or the pioneer’ is by no means sufficient to describe Dr. Lester James Peries’s definitive contribution to the Sri Lankan Cinema.

His life partner for 49 years, Sumitra Peries, too, has flourished under his wings to become the nation’s most renowned female director.

Born in 1919, Dr. Peries embarked on his first cinematic adventure directing Rekava in 1956, which still remain the only Sri Lankan film to be nominated for the prestigious Palme d’Or award-the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival for the best film. Some definitive gems that followed Rekava are, Sandeshayaa (1960), Gamperaliya (1963), Golu Hadawatha (1968), Nidhanaya (1970)— considered to be best film produced thus far by Sri Lankan Cinema, and Madol Duwa (1976). Dr. Peries is a recipient of Sri Lankabhimanya, the highest National Honour conferred in Sri Lanka. His wife, Sumitra Peries’s notable contributions include Ganga Addara (1981) and Loku Duwa (1989).

To facilitate the duo’s peerless contribution to the cinema sprawling over 57 years and educate the fans on some aspects of film making, the third Lester James Peries Oration was held at BMICH on June 15. The event was organised by the Lester James Peries and Sumitra Peries Foundation (LJPSPF) and was held for the third consecutive year.

After escorting Dr. Peries and Mrs. Peries ceremoniously to their seats, Yadamini Gunawardena, a member of the Board of Directors of LJPSPF, delivered the welcome speech. He spoke of the universality of the pair’s work, service rendered to the cinema and especially emphasised on the timeliness of Dr. Peries’s long unmaterialised request to have a national film archive in Sri Lanka. He also introduced the theme of this year’s oration, music, which was suggested by Dr. Peries himself.

The first of the speeches was delivered by Professor Sunil Ariyaratne who focused on film songs in Lester-Sumitra movies. He also spoke on entertaining aspects of Lester-Sumitra relationship connecting them to their cinema.

The heavy influence that the contemporary song-oriented cinema had on young Peries in Rekava and Sandeshaya, and his gradual emancipation from the convention was observed with critical eye. The appropriate use of songs in different situations to colour the films, the directors’ aptness to rely on then relatively unknown lyricists and composers to receive the best effect for the movies were also noted by Professor Ariyaratne. His speech was interposed with the singing of definitive songs that featured in Lester-Sumitra films

Composer, musician and artistic director of The Chamber Music Society of Colombo, Lakshman Joseph de Saram, delivered the second speech on the theme ‘Music for the Moving Image’. Describing music as the third dimension in the film, de Saram went on to analyse the complex process of applying appropriate music to otherwise a bland set of images. Taking examples from both local and foreign acclaimed movies such as ‘Psycho’, ‘Ahasin Wetei’, ‘Machan’ and ‘Bel Ami’ to which de Saram jointly composed music. How music contributes to evoke different feelings, establish a dramatic timeline and communicate the unverbalised plot by subtly adding sense and meaning came under his scrutiny.

De Saram extensively explained how he had to compose music for ‘Bel Ami’ in accordance with the protagonist’s transformation from innocence to horror, evoking the spirit of the era at the same time. Nimal Mendis, Victor Silva, Nirasha Gomez, Pundit W. D. Amaradeva and Lakshman Joseph de Saram were presented a token of appreciation each for their services rendered by Dr. Peries himself. Governor of Western Province Alavi Moulana, was the Chief Guest. French Ambassador in Sri Lanka Christine Robichon was the Guest of Honour. Many famous artists, academics and politicians also graced the event. Manabharana Randeniya delivered the Vote of Thanks.