Unsystematic distribution delays fall off  By Susitha R. Fernando ‘Nikini Wessa’ (August Drizzle) the latest internationally acclaimed film by young filmmaker Aruna Jayawardena is the newest victim of the unsystematic distribution of films in a country where the cinema is undergoing crisis after crisis. Having completed nearly two years ago and winning international awards and [...]

The Sundaytimes Sri Lanka

‘Nikini Wessa’ Monopoly in film distribution discourages young filmmakers

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Unsystematic distribution delays fall off 

By Susitha R. Fernando

‘Nikini Wessa’ (August Drizzle) the latest internationally acclaimed film by young filmmaker Aruna Jayawardena is the newest victim of the unsystematic distribution of films in a country where the cinema is undergoing crisis after crisis.

Having completed nearly two years ago and winning international awards and acclaims, the film which is lined up in one of the circuits has been delayed on numerous occasions due to various reasons.

‘Nikini Wessa’ won the GOLDEN CYCLO Award for the Best Film and the Netpac award at the 18th Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema in France and the Special Jury award for actress Chandani Seneviratne at Dubai International Film Festival, 2011.

“Now I have realized that getting a film released in this country is far more difficult than finding a producer and making a good film,” exasperated young filmmaker Aruna Jayawardena, said.

Having completed the entire production in 2011, the film is kept in limbo as the director, producer or no one knows when their turn for the public release will come. “The film has won awards and is getting invitations for a large number of foreign film festivals and I want to show it to my country and get their feedback as well,” Jayawardena said.

“At least if I know an exact date when it is my turn I have some hope and I can start a publicity campaign which is going to cost a large sum of money,” he said in desperation. “The most pathetic situation is some of the films that were made after mine have already completed their release,” added Jayawardena explaining the unfair system that had befallen the cinema.

“There is a monopoly in the film releasing system in this country which very badly affect the new and independent filmmakers,” he said.

We need an equitable system for film distribution; Filmmakers Guild

Speaking on the issue, newly formed Sri Lanka Filmmakers Guild said that it had urged the National Film Corporation and relevant authorities to introduce a system that would be fair by the filmmakers and all other stakeholders.

“The accepted procedure was to programme the film release lineup according to the issuance of certificate by the Censor Board. This happened in our history but changed in the recent past due to various reasons,” acclaimed filmmaker and chairman of the Guild, Prasanna Vithanage said.

“Ignoring this accepted procedure some distributors started to manipulate the film release according to their wishes,” he added explaining how the problem started.

“What we are demanding is the reintroduction of this system so that it would be fair by everybody,” he said. There were two instances in history where the distribution line up was broken. That was during the release of ‘Veera Puran Appu’ and ‘Nomiyena Minissu’. But at the said instances a separate circuit called the 6th circuit was created, Vithanage explained.

However it was not only private distributors but also the National Film Corporation that had manipulated the film release lineup due on various political agendas. A cinema expert who wanted to remain anonymous said that in the recent past the NFC released films ignoring the line up just to please the political authorities.

The tale ‘Nikini Wessa’

Nikini Vassa revolves around men and women who live in the dry zone of Sri Lanka. The main character is a business woman called Somalatha. She is one of those selected few, who own a business that is deemed unsuitable for a woman by the public. She is a mortician. From the moment a person dies, she takes over. She is capable of carrying out every aspect of the process such as transportation of the body, embalming, and casketing. People regard her profession as cursed and unclean. Fellow villagers avoid her when they can. Everyone seems to have forgotten that they themselves would one day die and be handled by her.

The cast in ‘Nikini Wessa’ include Chandani senavirathan, Bimaldi jayakodi, Thumindu dodanthanna, Jagath Manuwarna, Sulochana Weerashinhe, Netahli nanayakkare, G.R. Nanayakkare, Sarath kothalawala, Sisira S. Senarathna and Vajira Kodithuwakku.

In the technical crew Channa Deshapriya handled the cinematography, Udeni Subodi Kumara costume and art direction, Jeewantha dewapriya editing, Jayntha Ranawaka make up, Harsha Karunarathna production manager, Daminda Madawala assistant director and music by Naddeka Guruge.




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