Way back in 1954 - 56 years ago - he collected five rupees each from his friends to produce a play. He formed a drama group and staged the play. Ten years later he decided to do a film. The problem again was finance. He had Rs. 250 with him collected from fellow members of the drama group. But he had the guts to start. And, of course, he had talent in abundance.
When he pioneered these activities, he was an energetic young man. At 75, G.D.L. Perera is still quite active. His mission is to build up a band of talented youth who will continue to promote the arts, just as he did 55 years ago. Many youngsters joined him when he formed the Kala Pela. After his return from England where he spent around three decades, he moved to the hill capital and formed the Meda Dumbara Kalagaaraya at Karalliyedda.
To demonstrate their gratitude, the students of this outfit have planned a three-day festival of GDL's films and tele creations at the Namel Malini Punchi Theatre from October 1-3. It coincides with GDL's 75th birth year and the completion of eight years of the Kalagaaraya. The festival affords an opportunity especially for today's filmgoers to get a taste of creations of yesteryear.
The festival opens on Friday, October 1 with 'Saama', GDL's maiden cinematic creation in 1965. He had earlier produced it as a play in 1955. The play introduced Denawaka Hamine to the stage and later to the big screen. That itself was a great contribution by GDL to the local theatre and cinema. What a fine natural actress she turned out to be!
After the morning show, 'Hora Polis' (2000), a film which faced many a battle with the authorities and the Censor Board, will be screened at 2.30 in the afternoon.
GDL's much acclaimed 'Dahasak Sithuvili' is billed to be screened at 6.30 that evening. "Perhaps the most adventurous and interesting commercial feature film made in this country", was how critic and the then Chairman of the Arts Council, L.O. de Silva described the film which was screened in 1968. The film won several awards at the annual Sarasaviya Fim Festival including Best Direction (G.D.L. Perera), Best Cinematography (D.B.Nihalsinghe), Best Editing (S. M. Nisar) & Best Actor (Henry Jayasena). It also won a commendation in the Best Production category.
Saturday 2nd is devoted to screenings of three television productions that GDL has done. One is 'Ratagiya Aththo' (1982) - a tele serial produced around the life of Sri Lankans abroad. Its sequel 'Dinanno Paradinno' (1986) produced as a tele-film and an experimental creation using students from Meda Dumbara titled 'Samanala Gamanak' (2004) are the other two.
Admission is free for all the screenings. Complimentary tickets have to be obtained in advance from the Punchi Theatre.
GDL's latest creation 'Lakshmi Maya saha Sugath' - a tele-film, marks the climax of the festival on Sunday. This show will be for invitees only.
The script of GDL's highly successful play, 'Totupola' staged in 1964 is also being launched as a publication on the same day. The publication carries a number of features relating to 'Totupola' as well as a look-back by GDL on his career as a dramatist.
The backdrop to this play was the language riots and GDL handled a sensitive theme intelligently. Written and produced by him, the play was adjudged the year's Best Production (Realistic category) at the State Drama Festival. It also won the award for Best Décor (Gamini Wickremasuriya) and two players - Gamini Wijesuriya and Denawaka Hamine - won certificates of merit. In fact, there were just six players in the drama - the others being Leoni Weerasinghe, Felix Premawardena, Buddhi Wickrema and M. D. Amarasinghe. GDL revived the play recently after 45 years.
While there were at least nine stage productions by Kala Pela before moving into cinema production, GDL built up a team of talented and committed set of actors and actresses who soon became regulars first on stage and later in cinema. They became drama producers too.
Just as Henry Jayasena got interested in theatre while being a clerical hand in a government department, GDL was also involved in the bureaucratic set- up. It was in disgust at being transferred from one place to another that he decided to quit and devote himself to the arts. |
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