Surrealism and Prosthetic in ‘Antharjana Minisa’

Compaigning to promote "surrealism" in Sri Lankan arts and "prosthetic" in the art of makeup, internationally qualified make up artist, actor, painter, poet, playwright, lecture and now a teledrama maker, Jayantha Ranawaka is to bring a novel experience to television audiences with his maiden miniplay ‘Antharjana Minisa’. The teledrama with a novel theme touches on a variety of areas like intellectual piracy and the difficulties faced by innovative directors specially those who attempt new approaches to the arts.

A scene from the movie Antharjana Minisa

The dictionary defines 'surrealism' as a 20th-century literary and artistic movement that attempts to express the workings of the subconscious and is characterized by fantastic imagery and incongruous juxtaposition of subject matter. "Surrealism is not something new to us. In Buddhist literature we are taught that Lord Buddha walked as soon as he was born and seven lotuses blossomed along his path. Jathaka Katha is full of surrealistic stories and surrealism exists in our own literature though we haven't identified it," Jayantha Ranawaka said giving an introduction to our talk with him.

Having excelled in his chosen fields like painting and makeup art, Ranawaka's journey in search of knowledge found him a new approach to arts with 'surrealism'. "It changed my outlook on life and art and I became a changed man," says Ranawaka contented with his discovery. And his first attempt on moving visual art is a 27 episode teledrama, "Antharjana Minisa".

First steps in Prosthetic

Ajantha came across the idea about "Antharjana Minisa" in the early 1980s and he made the blueprint for the silver screen titled 'Adisi Minisa' or 'Ex-Man'. A group of friends including late Vijaya Kumaratnge were beside him by then but unfortunately he failed in his initial attempt for the mere reason that he did not know how to create the characters representing the four stages of prehistoric man.

'So I decided to study the art of prosthetic' he said. Graduating from the Academy of Makeup Art and Technology in the United States, Ranawaka also got an opportunity to work in the lab where prosthetic characters of prehistoric animals were created for Steven Spielberg's 'Jurassic Park'.

Returning to Sri Lanka Jayantha joined in creative works in both stage and cinema including one episode teledram series "Baawana" (1998), Thumindu Dodenthenna's play "Rhinoceros" (2003) and film "Rankevita" (2005) in which he created 'Pansal Yaka" using prosthetic. "In all these instances I was able to use what I studied creatively," says Jayantha who won awards for his mastery in makeup-art.

Speaking about the problems in the medium of arts Ranawaka says, "The biggest paralysis in our medium of arts is that artists fail to be creative and reluctant to study what they do. The result of this is stagnation and worst is that they dish out low quality products for the market which have no depth at all,".

For example this prosthetic make up art which was introduced to the world in 1930 to create the character of Frankenstein is not studied even today. 'Television is not merely a medium of cheap entertainment or a medium to sell viewers precious time for advertisement. 'Television has to play a more important role and it has a more responsible role to play in leading society to develop its own culture and tradition, Ranawaka says.

Multi roles of Jayantha

Born in Ratnapura and educated at Ellagawa government school, Jayantha joined Isipathana College after he passed the Grade 5 scholarship examination. He was the best painter in school. Having studied Marine Engineering science he started his life as an engineer. Due to the deep interest in arts, Jayantha gave up his profession and joined Lionel Wendt to study drama and theatre. Director Jayantha Starting with ‘Minihek Kiyana Kathawak’ in 1971 and by the year 1977 Jayantha acted in nearly 50 stage plays including the famous role of ‘Diyonis' in Gunasena Galappaththi's ‘Muhudu Puththu’. He shifted to cinema acting in 'Sikuru Dasawa', 'God King' and 'Thisaravi' and a number of teledramas. As a painter Jayantha has held painting exhibitions locally and internationally (In West Germany and USA) since 1981. He was fortunate to master his talent under the tutelage of Mahipala Karunatilake, Mudalindu Amerasekera and Peter Stoff. Irene Sarachchandra's 'Kanda Walalu' (1973) introduced Jayantha Ranawka as a makeup artist and art director and he worked in nearly 30 stage plays, nearly 30 teledramas (including Kinnara Damanaya and Sanda Gomman Re which are now being screened) and a number of films. In Udayakantha Warnasuriya's 'Ran Kevita', Jayantha Ranawaka introduced 'prosthetic' to Sri Lankan cinema. He has contributed academically to the university subject theatre and drama and it was Jayantha who first introduced the principles of 'makeup art'. In addition he has taken up the task of training a group of youngsters and is a lecturer at University of Kelaniya, National Drama School attached to Tower Hall Theater Foundation and is the founder and the head of Makeup Art and Technology Institute, the only institution for education of make up artists.

All about ‘Antharjana Minisa’

As a result of an unusual genetical experiment secretly carried out by a scientist, Jackie Weeratunga, an extra ordinary creature is born. His brother-in-law Stephan Lankeshwara tries to steal the results of the experiment carried out by Jackie. He makes various attempts to get the credit for the discovery. Ranjan Ramanayake as ‘Hara But Harah, the result of the experiment has escaped from the laboratory and the scientist Jackie is hospitalized in a critically ill condition. His young daughter, Anne and wife are trying to get him cured. They are supported by a number of people including specialist doctors trying to save the life of this remarkable scientist. The ape - featured animal who escapes from the Jackie's laboratory lives in the jungle and it undergoes rapid changes in the human evolution process due to hormone reactions. Harah wanders from village to village as a spontaneous Semi homosapien, interacting with different levels of society and is somewhat relieved when he receives hospitality from the village folk. Harah - who is improving by gaining human qualities surrenders to the Army for rehabilitation.

‘Sikuru Hathe’ reaches 75th day of success

Giriraj Kaushalya's box office record maiden film 'Sikuru Hathe' is to complete its 75th screening with a record collection. The film has made a record collection of Rs. 50 million with 500,000 patrons while October 30 completes its 75th day. The screening of the first twenty five centres will be over and the film would go to the outstations. 'Sikuru Hathe' is the first production of New Imperial Talkies the well known film distributor. The film, an action comedy which revolves around a Kapuwa, the traditional matchmaker who faces a dilemma in finding a partner for his own daughter was acclaimed as a real family comedy that won the heart of a large number of filmgoers. Produced by Hans Anton Vanstarex for NIT, it stars Wijaya Nandasiri, Susila Kottage, Rodney Warnakula, Anton Jude, Priyantha Seneviratne, Anaraklli Aakarssha and Hemantha Eeriyagama. The film also has veteran names like Tony Ranasinghe and Iranganie Serasinghe and other talented stars like Veena Jayakody, Himali Sayurangi, Suraj Mapa, Lalith Janakantha, Wasantha Vittachchi, Sarath Chandrasiri, Sarath Kothelawela, Lakshmi Damayanthi, Nimini Kottegoda and Somasiri Alakolanga.