The news of the end of Sri Lankan cinema is not new to our country. Similarly, to write about that bitter news from the beginning or to weave magnificent stories about why it happened or to search for who is responsible for it is an empty task because everyone knows that our artists, the rulers of the country, the film corporation and the actors’ associations are at a loss. (Sri Lanka Latest News)
Is there really no way to recuperate Sinhala cinema?
Almost no one knows who to ask that question. Even if one asks it from a responsible person, the belief that one will get a clear answer for it is also half-baked. In the past, a veteran film maker who spoke about cinema in a national newspaper said, ‘today we are in a place where we are not even given a bank loan to make a film…’ he said with great frustration.
There are filmmakers among us who have even mortgaged their houses to make high quality films…’ was the painful voice of another veteran film director. He said so in a program aired on media where artists unite. To tell you the truth, as many film makers had said ten thousand times over the years, Sinhala cinema has unexpectedly suffered a severe collapse and ended.
‘Who says that Sinhala cinema has crushed on its all fours? I don’t think that happened. There is some consequence. That’s right. But in the near future, there will be a time when commercial films will be made that will fill the cinemas with box office hit high-quality films …”
When the Corona was on the decline, a veteran film actress who was honoured with international awards, in a conversation with ‘Mawrata’ newspaper said that there will be a better time for Sinhala Cinema Will the lucky time that the veteran artist said come?
It is impossible to predict about it right now.
The news that Lyca Mobile Company is to venture into Sinhala film production is rumoured from four corners.
Yes, with such news, there is a big whisper, spreading .
Does that mean that Subhaskaran Aliraja, the owner of Swarnavahini, felt sorry for our artists and venture into save Sinhala cinema, which has collapsed?
The music is played to that tune. Not only has that, Tambugala, the owner of Aura Lanka Company, also joined hands with our experts to participate in this time-honoured charity. The other day, a group of artists led by veteran actor Mahendra Perera held a press conference and fired the first shot in this regard. Similarly, the talk of this is spreading through the electronic and print media.
Did, Mahendra Perera appeared in a press conference to tell the world about this good deed that Subaskaran and Thambugala are volunteering and to join hands with good intentions?
That could be the underlying purpose of Mahendra’s words. But he had primarily come to talk about that the Rajangana police stopping the 20-day festival under the sponsorships of the Aura Lanka Company through Tambugala’s direction.
In Mahendra’s own words, he had clearly said publicly that he was hurt that a great music concert, which was supposed to be held as a great charity in accordance with the law, organised for the entertainment of the villagers not to earn profits and to attract the tourists coming to our country was stopped abruptly by the police.
Renowned actor Mahendra further said at the press conference that the Aura Lanka Company led by Tambugala planes to venture into big mission for Sinhala cinema, and is planning a number of projects towards that purpose, and a big workshop is already being held as a start to that plan. In the middle of that press briefing, he said that he was being paid well by Tambugala for leading the aforementioned workshop, and he went on to publicly expressed the idea that ‘We were struggling without a way to live…’
Let alone the musical show or the carnival. The reasons for holding it are also irrelevant here. What is important is the content of the story of Subaskaran, the owner of Leica Mobile Company, and Tambugala, the owner of Aura Lanka Company, whom has come forward to rescue the collapsed Sinhala cinema.
According to the information, these two famous businessmen have dabbled in film production. It is said that the names of Jayantha Chandrasiri, Ranjan Ramanayake, Ashoka Handagama, Prasanna Vithanage, Priyantha Colombage and Channa Perera are among the high level and commercial level directors who are lining up to work together with them.
It is important to talk about Thambugala and Subhaskaran. Is this effort of theirs is really to help to improve Sinhala cinema?
According to reports, they are ready to contribute. On the other hand, Subhaskaran’s Leica Mobile Company produced the first part of the film ‘Ponniyan Selvan’, which set box office records in Madras and other states of India. Therefore, film production is not new for him. On the other hand, Subbaskaran and Tambugala are also in as they are involved in some mission for the sake of Sinhala cinema or artists.
These two does not match together and will not pair together.
Why do you say that?
Listen then. Who is Swarnavahini owner Subhaskaran Aliraja?
Wimal Weerawansla branded him a terrorist. Subhaskaran, who befriends with recently released terrorists and dances with them in luxury hotels, he is someone who pumped money LTTE. He was also arrested by the police in India some time ago for a fake currency note scam. What’s the latest news? This guy is going to grab Sri Lanka Telecom as well.
How’s that…?
Yes, he who owns a television media network and gets the right of telecom along with a 5G network means that the power to handle politics just falls in to his lap.
Wiranjith Tambugala? It has been alleged that the man is beyond Subaskaran.
This owner of Aura Lanka, known as ‘Viranjith Tambugala’, bought 100,000 acres from Anuradhapura for a large-scale aloe Vera project. But it said, there is no aloe Vera project. It is also said that the CID’s Illegal Assets Investigation Division has started an investigation into the allegation that he is engaging in illegal activities under the guise of it.
‘My fortune is fifteen billion dollars. I can pay off half of this country’s debt. I will hold my next carnival not in Sri Lanka but abroad….’
This is Tambugala’s Pedigree and Aura Lanka Company.
What were mentioned earlier were Subaskaran Aliraja’s credentials, what is already known. There may be more unknown.
While noting all those things, ponder for a moment, will two such champion businessmen finish breaking a beehive, give it to someone else, and lick their hand and just go home? On the other hand, is it possible to think that two people like this start film production in Sri Lanka hiding behind the theory that there is a need there? Couldn’t it be a strange game of hide-and-seek by these two merchants getting close to the artists?
Under the pretence of winning the war, Mahinda Rajapaksa and his son and brother company used it as a license and dragged the country into a big abyss.
Did Subhaskaran and Tambugala feel for our artistes or did they melt with pure sense? How can you not think that there could be some sinister notion behind all this? Maybe Subaskaran and Thambugala are drafting a good plan to make it a license free for almost all the games that have been made and would be made under the guise of the proud Sinhala cinema.
It is impossible to say for sure that anything is correct except for guesswork. Just as it is said that what is imagined does not happen, there are times when the unexpected happens.
Perhaps some people even come to a press conference for Tambugala’s twenty days festival and artists can’t be blamed for making such a note about them.
At a time when no bank loan is given to make a film, how much of a chance is this opportunity for the producers who strive for good production?
‘Whoever they may be? If they revive the collapsed Sinhala cinema…’
‘If everyone joins hands and works for the advancement of Sinhala cinema in a way that is good for the economy of the country, even he is a devil at times…?’
Experts like Mahendra Perera, who often struggled without a way to live, can express such views here.
Yes, on the one hand, the efforts of these two great businessmen can be the cause of breaking the locks of the closed film halls that are covered with cob webs , cleaning them hang the ‘House Full’ boards on the iron doors.
However, it is good to be alert as it is better to prepare for the imminent risk first.
Not only because the next moment is uncertain, but because disguised potters and ghosts also come to capitulate us.
Damayanti Renuka Fernando
