New Delhi: Sri Lankan filmmaker Prasanna Vithanage understands the importance of Bollywood in Sri Lanka and the impact it has left on him. Prasanna, whose latest film 'With You, Without You', based on Fyodor Dostoyevsky's novella, 'The Meek One', is set against the backdrop of Sri Lankan civil war and revolves around a Tamilian girl Selvi (Anjali Patil) and Sri Lankan man Sarathsiri (Shyam Fernando), speaks to us about the disastrous impact which the civil war left on him, the popularity of Bollywood back home and a lot more. Excerpts from an interview:
You have witnessed war, and also experienced its catastrophic impact. Has that experience seeped in fear, angst and a great sense of insecurity in your life?
I have spent more than half of my life between a 30-year-old civil war. I witnessed how youth for generations were wasted. As a person, who comes from a middle class family and lives in Colombo, I wasn't directly inflicted by war. Though I have been anti-war, we have been ineffective, so I believe my films come as a result of my inability as a civilian to do anything to stop that carnage.
Since you have made two films on war, has cinema been the sole medium to vent out your emotions and feelings?
If it is war or any other aspect of life, I have knowingly used cinema to express myself in what I believe. I prefer to create my cinema to portray the life as lived rather than life as thought.
Your film 'With You, Without You' is based on 'The Meek One'; have you incorporated any changes?
Yes, as an art work it is complete. I have tried to keep the essence of Dostoyevsky because these are two different mediums. While keeping essence of the original novella I transformed it into Sri Lankan post war backdrop. But I believe I was truthful to the essence of the original story.
What message does your film put across?
When relationships are challenged by things beyond their control, love's limits are tested.
You have roped in National Award winning Indian actress Anjali Patil as the female lead in your film. Are plans underway to also direct Bollywood films?
I have been observing an emerging new wave of independent Bollywood filmmakers such as Anurag Kashyap, Vikramaditya Motwane, Ashim Ahluwalia and some other contemporary young filmmakers who have expanded horizons for independent filmmakers to enter Bollywood and still be successful. If I can still use film medium as a mode of expression without bounds, as I have used before, then of course, I will be more than happy to work.
Bollywood has found a huge fan following abroad with international filmmakers and actors showing interest in coming down to India and taking up projects. How many takers do Hindi films find in Sri Lanka?
All the major Bollywood films are screened in Sri Lanka. They are hugely popular. Most of other films come on TV and pirated DVDs. It is a sub-culture of Sri Lanka.
In one of your recent interviews, you said that being associated with Indian filmmakers and technicians has been a boon to you...
I have collaborated with A. Sreekar Prasad for the fourth time. He has a keen eye for details and I always trusted his judgment when it came to editing. For sound editing, I worked with Lakshminarayan and Tapas Nayak. They were able to get the soundscape not only relying on the ambience, but of the mindscape of the character.
Any Indian actor in particular you want to work with?
There are many major talents in India who I would love to work with. I can't single out anybody in particular without planning my future projects. The actors will depend on them.
Is there any Indian film that has left an indelible impact on you?
There are so many. Films by Guru Dutt, Bimal Roy, Shyam Benegal left a great impact on me. If you ask me to single out one, I would say Pathar Panchali by Satyajit Ray.
####
Comments
0 comment