From hero to zero: the climax scene
My dear Actor,
I know that as I write this you might be in hot water but I thought I would write to you nevertheless, just to find out what it is like to go from hero to zero within a few months.

Actor, with your charming good looks you were never cast in the role of the villain on the silver screen. You were always the good guy who won in the end; unfortunately though real life is a little bit different, isn't it?

What is troubling me, however, is that most of these allegations against you are from fellow artistes - actresses and singers with whom you have even shared the same set and same stage. But I'm sure you have your version of the events that you are accused of and we are all awaiting it eagerly, especially to see whether you would confess to these offences and then say that somebody asked you to commit them!

But then, Actor, you didn't dabble only in films and that was perhaps your problem. You chose to become a media advisor and after that you were even charting the destinies of our Selalihinya, weren't you? Do you think all these "achievements" made others jealous of you and that all this is a result of that?

You were also never one to fight shy of controversy, were you? We remember the incidents related to a television network that you were accused of promoting and more incidents relating to the game of cricket about which your only knowledge I presume was on how to bowl a maiden over!

And then there was that famous incident where the self-styled 'Chakravarthi' of Sinhala cinema accused you of eavesdropping behind a closed door when he had a discussion with the Queen. Now, you may say that all these are mere allegations and I agree they are just that but it seems there is one too many for all of them to be unfounded!

What we don't want, however, is to see you being tried in another kangaroo court because you happened to be loyal to the wrong people. You know how that is done, don't you, what with all that experience with Batalanda?

On the other hand, Actor, I'm sure you will be the first to agree that if you have really done what they say you have done, then you deserve some kind of punishment!
Anyway, Actor, this would be a good time to test the loyalties of people. After all, you are known to have friends in high places and I think this is a good time to ask for their help. But if I were you, I wouldn't worry too much about what everybody is saying about you - after all, even in a worse case scenario, you could always be pardoned.

It seems a tragedy of Sinhala cinema that when one heart-throb is finally acquitted of all the horrible charges against him, another one takes his place in the dock. But then, this country has seen worse and we'll learn to live with it!
Yours truly,
Punchi Putha

PS- It is somewhat strange but your screen roles and real lives seem to have some similarity: you began your movie career with "Ganga Addara" with your loyalties firmly with the Mahaveli man. Then you built bridges with the other side, as in "Paalama Yata", and then you finally crossed over with your "Deveni Gamana". Unfortunately though, now it seems like "Sisila Gini Gani", isn't it?


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