Purahanda Kaluwara: A rare honour to a director
When are we going to see Prasanna Vitanage's award winning film 'Purahanda
Kaluwara'? Or are we going to see it at all? This is the talking point
in film circles from the day news of the film winning the International
Film Critics Award at the Fribourg (Switzerland) International Film Festival
reached us. The Defence Ministry was not happy with the script of the film
which is set in war torn Raja Rata. They did not approve the script when
Prasanna showed it to them. Yet he went ahead and made the film. It has
not been seen by the Censor Board yet. But it has been shown at eight international
film festivals so far. It's among the best films from Asia picked up for
screening in universities in ten cities in America. We hope the National
Film Corporation will take action, sooner than later, to implement the
President's directive to have the film screened early. No sooner the film
won accolades at Fribourg facing severe competition from 11 other films,
it was selected for screening in 35 cities in Switzerland. The film will
also be featured in two more festivals - in France and Austria within the
next two or three months. NHK had sub-titled the film in French and German.
That helped these selections.
'Purahanda Kaluwara' was made on invitation from NHK of Japan, Prasanna
being one of four Asian directors selected under NHK's programme of getting
talented directors to make films. It was nearly ten months ago that the
film had its premiere in Japan and started doing the rounds at international
festivals. Wherever it was shown it was highly appreciated.
"Sri Lanka is too small a place for Prasanna. He is so talented,"
says veteran actor Joe Abeywickrema. Joe plays the lead in 'Purahanda Kaluwara'
and claims it is one of the most challenging and satisfying roles he has
ever played in his 40 year career as an actor. "I was most impressed
with the way Prasanna directed me."
"Joe Abeywickrema (playing the role of a blind villager in Raja
Rata) turns out a fine performance. In a war stricken country where people
lose their self respect, he proves there remains here and there at least
a few with self respect. His is a lesson for humanity," says Prasanna.
"The way he portrays the role is so convincing." While 'Pavuru
Valalu' is getting a positive response from filmgoers and is continuing
to be screened having passed the fifty day mark, another is in the queue.
It's 'Anantha Rathriya' which has been screened at 16 international festivals
so far.
It's indeed a rare honour for a film director - a relatively newcomer
at that - to have three of his creations being selected for prestigious
festivals throughout the world virtually concurrently.
In fact, Prasanna had been in and out of the country attending these
festivals and collecting awards.
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