SRI Lanka celebrates 75 proud years of filmmaking - EDITORIAL

The Sinhala cinema celebrated 75 years this year marking a long and hard journey in moviemaking. Our minds run back to the first film-Kadawuna Porinduwa- that marked the start of the local cinema industry back in 1947. Now when we look back we have tears of joy because Sri Lanka put herself on the global cinema map with her productions; even though some might say that some of these films might not have an appreciative audience in the west. 

The first films were produced in India under the method called studio shooting. Then came ‘Rekawa’ in 1956 which broke the norms of Sri Lankan filmmaking. Scenes were shot outside the studio and the film was termed one of the best Sri Lankan productions. Then came ‘Gamperaliya’ in 1964 and all signs pointed that this little island was destined for more glories in filmmaking. 

From Eddie Jayamanne and Rukmani Devi to stars like Vijeya Kumaratunga and Gamini and Malini Fonseka the industry produced a long list of artistes who contributed immensely to sustain the industry. 

Artistes, producers and directors back then belonged to one big family; their caring nature surfacing when help was extended by Sinhalese people to their Tamil brothers and sisters to escape the wrath of mobs during the 1983 riots. Many film halls owned by Tamil businessmen were burned down. The illtreatment to Tamils in the country after that year led to a bloody civil war in the country. It reached a point where visiting cinemas was not safe because suicide Tiger rebels spared no institute which generated income and indirectly or directly propped the coffers of the government through taxes. There was a decline in the local cinema between 1983 and 1990 and the war was one reason. But filmmakers did make films about the civil war and other sensitive topics. 

Another reason for the decline in the local cinema was that ‘any individual’ was allowed to make films; thus leading to a situation where there were more than 100 films awaiting official approval for their release. Television was also coming up as a source of entertainment which showed movies made in the west and Bollywood. Though not much highlighted the CD business which gave birth to ‘home theatre’ also ate into the movie market that was associated with the leading theatres in the country. Some theatres couldn’t survive this boom in one of the businesses associated with the movie world.  

However after the dark cloud that hovered over Sri Lankan cinema came the arrival of independent filmmakers like Prasanna Vithanage and Chandran Rutnam, who were quite successful with the films they directed. Vithanagae is remembered for the film Sisila Gini Gani and Rutnam made waves here and abroad with the films ‘The Road from Elephant Pass’ and later with the creation titled ‘A Common Man’; the latter film winning as many as four awards at the Madrid International Film Festival (2013). 

Then came the ‘modern era’ (2000 up to the present) where directors like Vimukthi Jayasundara and Asoka Handagama gave birth to films that touched on sensitive issues like the war. Jayasundara’s ‘Sulanga Enu Pinisa’ won the Camera d’Or award for the best film at the 2005 Canon Film Festival. Handagama too reached a different adult audience with his films and etched his name in the cinema industry. But he ran into challenges and even saw one of his productions ‘Aksharaya’ being banned by the Government of Sri Lanka. 
The present Corona pandemic also put the breaks on the local cinema and there have been many occasions when artistes, film directors and theatre owners have voiced their concerns and requested for government support. 

In the midst of all these challenges we heard of some good news which came in the form of the present government making plans to present an insurance scheme to artistes and technical assistants who have associated themselves with the local film industry for a period of eight years or more. Those shortlisted to benefit through this programme were expected to be present at Tharangani Hall on January 21, the day that the Sri Lankan cinema marked 75 years. 
Let’s wish the local film industry and its ‘players’ long life and strength to make many more movies that will be preserved for posterity.