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Lester
returns with a 'Mother' The Muhurath ceremony was held at his residence at Dickmans Road amidst a distinguished gathering and the director is busy preparing to go for location shooting with his cast which includes a number of new faces. Dr. Peries, the man who always believed in his cast and who was always brave in selecting new faces has invited a number of new faces who had not worked with him earlier. Among them are Roshan Pilapitiya, Gayani Gisanthika, Palitha Silva, Pradeep Dharmadasa, Ashoka de Zoysa, Manjula Kumari, Sarath Kotalawala and child actor Thasriq Ameen. The veteran actress Malani Fonseka plays the lead as the mother, the central character in this story while Sanath Gunatilake, Tony Ranasinghe, Daya Tennekoon, Ranjith Rubasinghe who had taken part in his earlier direction too had joined him. Once again Malani had got the opportunity to play the lead in Lester's film as a mother. The experienced actress earlier played a role of a middle-aged mother in the last film of Lester, Wekanda Walawwa, which is waiting for the local release. There she played Sujatha Jayasuriya, a character of a woman hailing from a traditional rich background and who returns to Sri Lanka with her daughter after a long stay in London. Mother
on the Director "When I think that I am being given a role again I feel that how fortunate I am. I was fortunate to get roles in almost all the films Dr. Peries directed’ Malani said Queried as to what she thinks about working with this experienced director, Malani said “there is a vast difference between doing films with Dr. Peries and other directors. He is a national treasure to our cinema and it is a great opportunity to take part in his direction as there are a lot of things to learn from him. The patience that he has as a director and the subtle sense to identify the rare abilities of artistes is a very distinctive quality that we don't find in other directors”. "I myself had played the role of the director in teledramas and films and the most important lesson that I learnt from Dr. Peries is that the director should understand that an artiste is a very sensitive person. He taught me the art of handling such a person and also how the director should get along with them patiently. Dr. Peries has the ability to assess the inner ability of any artiste from his first look. Recalling an unforgettable incident while working with Dr. Peries, Malani said it was while we working for Nidhanaya. ‘There was one scene where Gamini Aiya (Gamini Fonseka) scolded me. But I was not informed during the rehearsal that he was going to scold so harshly. While doing it very softly durind the rehearsal at the take he shouted from bottom of his voice and that was the most natural acting I ever had. And it was so interesting and feel affectionate to work like that. This was actually done by Dr. Peries. You never feel tired working with Mr. Peries. His way of handling things makes us to sacrifice everything and dedicate our selves. Among Lester's latest find is young Palitha Perera who has got to play a role of an AGA. Palitha, who had become jubilant and also bit nervous about the offer. ‘I have got a minor role here but I feel like doing a major role in the film and I am so got exited about this role’ said Palitha. ‘This is because may be the international status he had received. I felt this when I had to go abroad on a scholarship on films. Whenever I introduced about myself and my country to other film personalities, what they wanted to know was what Mr. Peries was doing these days. This was specially among those who are involved in the artistic cinema. So it's a big responsibility to be even in a minor role in a film directed by him. I acted under him in 'Golu Hadawatha' about thirteen years ago’ Palitha said. “The exposure I got from cinema was very little. With his backdrop I should be thankful for Dr. Peries for selecting me. This is anyway a opportunity for me Palitha added. Scriptwriter
on Lester Having written two scripts ‘Giraya’ teledrama and ‘Wekande Walalwwa’, Senananayake's third script for Lester is Ammawarune. Writing scripts since 1975 with the film Pethigomara and written scripts for mor than 10 films including some of the popular directions like Sathweni Dawasa, Mihidum Sihina and Aradhana. Speaking about his latest, Somaweera Senanayake said it is a script I wrote with limited characters; four roles with mother being the central character. The others the monk, soldier who disappeared in action and the fourth is daughter who had got married on her own wishes. “The plot is by Dr, Peries himself but it is a theme that is very close to me also. We took nearly one year to complete the script after developing it step by step during which he had to cut, add and change” he said. ‘The characters mother and monk are very close to me. They are the two characters that I respected most. Earlier I wrote a novel on the concept of mother, Mawakage Geethaya and this was awarded the State Award in 1972 and the books that I wrote during the last few years are on the concept of Buddhism and the monks. It is not very difficult to work with him but only thing is that you cant do anything in a hurry. Developing step by step we come to an understanding and it needs lot of dedication and this itself becomes a training for me. Anyway I consider it as a privilege as well as a challenge to write a script to one of the main leading film directors in the world. I take the all the lessons from Lester himself and I consider him as my unofficial Professor” Somaweera said. The
story line of "Ammawarune" Daughter Premalatha has alienated herself by marrying a man of her choice, a man who practices the occult much to the discomfiture of the family. Saliya, the youngest son, an unemployed youth joins the Army by force of circumstances. Bewildered by the tragic events that follow, Sumanawathie's world begins to collapse. Gradually and inevitably she retreats into a world of solitude and silence. Behind the screen, Make up by Hemantha Gamage, editor Ravindra Guruge, art director Mani Mendis and photography by K.A. Dharmasena. Chandima Ranatunge is the production secretary and Upali Perera and Ranjit Rubasinghe are assistant directors. Janak Mayadunne handles still photography while production manager is Sarath Wijesekara. Asoka Rodrigo play the role of personal assistant to the director. To the original story of Lester James Peries and Somaweera Senanayaka, screenplay is written by Somaweera Senanayake. To the production of Jagath Wijenayake, Ammawarune is directed by Lester James Peries. |
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