The Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) and the Independent Television Network (ITN) have commenced telecasting popular films from yesteryear, according to a concept of Minister of Transport, Highways and Mass Media Dr. Bandula Gunawardena to uplift the Sri Lankan film industry.
According to the Chairman of the SLRC, W.B. Ganegala, the program initiated under the guidance of the Minister, will telecast a brief discussion on the film every Friday at 9.30 p.m. together with the surviving artistes featured in them and a film critic before telecasting the film at 10 p.m. on the same day. He said the aim is to bring Sinhala cinema closer to the country’s youth and to inspire them to create similar works of art.
ITN Chairman, Attorney-at-Law Sudarshana Gunawardane said the Minister on his appointment had proposed that steps must be taken to uplift the Sinhala film industry. Three types of programs were produced in response to the Minister’s request, he said.
Broad discourse
In addition to the telecasting of films, the channel has also organised a broad discourse on the topic. At 11 p.m. on Sundays ITN will discuss future Sinhala films and provide updates to the public on their production thus giving the films a much needed promotion. He said steps are also being taken to enter into agreements to telecast these new films via television (ITN and SLRC) once the theatrical run ends. The first phase has now commenced while the second and third phases are also in the pipeline.
The program will aim to rekindle the memories of commercial and artistic cinema from the 1960s, 70s and 80s. ITN had taken steps to telecast several long forgotten films of Vijaya Kumaratunga to mark his death anniversary that fell on February 16. The ‘Cinema Wasanthaya’ (Cinema Spring) began on February 17 by telecasting ‘Sandeshaya’ (Missive) directed by the late Lester James Peiries. This film was first released islandwide on March 30, 1960.
Politician
The next film to be telecast will be ‘Sagarayak Meda’ (Amidst an Ocean) released on July 24, 1980 directed by veteran actor and director Gamini Fonseka. The film at the time drew much public interest due to an attempt by a well-known politician to obtain an injunction order from the Courts against it.
On March 3, the SLRC will telecast ‘Bambaru Awith’ (1978) starring Vijaya Kumaratunga while ITN will telecast ‘Sikuruliya’ at 1 p.m. on March 11.
Following this more films such as ‘Susi’ (1974), ‘Suriyakantha’ (1981) and ‘Kristhu Charithaya’ (Life of Christ 1990) will also be telecast on the two television channels as part of the program.
Young generation
All films have been digitally remastered to provide a better audiovisual experience for the viewers. Most young generation viewers will see these seminal movies for the first time under the new initiative.
In the early days of ITN, the 9.30 p.m. belt was reserved on Fridays for telecasting Sinhala films. It imported one of the most advanced telecine machines of the time to convert movies to the television medium.
Later, the SLRC also began to telecast local movies on weekends. The new program initiated by Minister Dr. Gunawardena revives this tradition.
Incidentally, the Sinhala film industry marks its 75th anniversary this year, having started in 1948 (the same year that Sri Lanka obtained Independence) with the movie “Kadawuna Poronduwa” (Broken Promise). Most Sinhala films were produced in indoor studios in Chennai until Lester James Piries created a revolution with his “Rekawa” (Line of Destiny, 1956) which was shot outdoors in Sri Lanka. It also had totally localised songs.
