BIRTH CENTENARY SPECIAL!

SRILANKAN CINEMA LEGEND..LESTER JAMES PERIES.

Srilankan legendary filmmaker Lester James Peries.

Birth Centenary of Srilankan legendary filmmaker Lester James Peries.. just happened!

Srilankan filmmaker Lester James Peries with camera & script!

Born in Roman Catholic family in Colombo..Lester James Peries at teenage first got introduction of 8mm Kodascope projector which his father gifted him! While studying in 
'St. Peter's College', Colombo at the age of 17 he decided to go in Journalism and started working in Daily News! In 1939 he joined 'The Times of Ceylon'..and reviewed books in programmes on 'Radio Ceylon'!

Then Lester Peries joined theatre group there.. 'Drama Circle' and looked after production of modern English plays. In 1947 he travelled to England and during his stay he experienced film clubs in UK..and his interest in cinema developed! There was one more Srilankan with same interest..Hereward Jans whom he met and two decided to make films! First in 1949 they tried short film 'Soliloquy'..For this Peries wrote the script & took the responsibility of direction too..And Hereward did cinematography!

Legendary Lester James Peries made Srilankan film 'Gamperaliya' (1963).

After making such three experimental films L. J. Peries decided to make his career in film making..and in 1952 returned to Srilanka! Then 
he first joined the 'Government Film Unit' at Ceylon. There he helped in the production of important documentaries like 'Heritage of Lanka'. In 1955 he left that job and formed his own film company 'Chitra Lanka Limited' to produce Sinhala films! His colleagues in GFI.. cameraman William Blake and editor Titus Thotawatte also joined him and they together made first Sinhalese feature film 'Rekava'!

Lester James Peries made Srilankan film 'Nidhanaya' (1972).
Famous Gamini Fonseka & Malini Fonseka in lead roles!

Focusing the village life and mythical beliefs.. 'Rekava' (1956) was also the first Srilankan film without the influence of South-Indian cinema! 
It got success and international recognition too. It was the first Srilankan film which was shown in the competition section of 'Cannes Film Festival'! After that Peries directed film 'Sandesava' (1960) was with the backdrop of war between Sinhalese & Portuguese. It was a request of.. Indian filmmaker-actor Raj Kapoor!

Then Peries made Srilankan drama film 'Gamperaliya' (1963) was an adaptation of the novel of same name by Martin Wickramasinghe. This path breaking Sinhala film shot entirely outdoor. It was a focus on family tensions with social scenario! This film won 'Golden Peacock' at our 'International Film Festival of India'!..And screened at international film festivals like Cannes & Moscow! Meanwhile in 1964 he married to Sumitra Gunawardena (Peries) who is also a filmmaker and known as 'Poetess of Sinhala Cinema'!

With Srilankan legendary filmmaker Lester James Peries & Mrs. Sumitra Peries 

..I am at our 'International Film Festival of India' held at New Delhi in 2000.

Like focusing rural life..Peries also covered the subjects of urban rich society like in film 'Delovak Athara' (1966). Then his film 'Ran Salu' (1967) was with the theme of Buddhism..and won 'Gandhi Award' at Delhi! He also handled popular genre like romantic 'Golu Hadawatha' (1968) and revenge drama 'Nidhanaya' (1972)..Famous Gamini Fonseka & Malini Fonseka acted this film won 'Silver Lion' at 'Venice International Film Festival'! Then his film 'Madol Duwa' (1976) showed rebellious youth!

Peries directed epic biographical film 'Veera Puran Appu' (1978) was a box office hit. Former cabinet minister of that country...Tyronne Fernando produced in this film more than 1,500 artists contributed! Then he made 'Yuganthaya' (1983) focused the issues of working class there! For this he won 'Sri Lanka's Presidential Award'!

Srilankan legendary filmmaker Lester James Peries with print of his films!

Then with gaps of few years..he made films focusing on changing modern life in Srilanka..like 'Awaragira' (1990) and 'Wekande Walauwa' (2002) which won 'Golden Felini' award from 'UNESCO' & that was country's first ever submission for the 'Oscar'! He made last film was 'Ammawarune' (2006) for which veteran musician Premasiri Khemadasa composed the music!

I remember meeting this great filmmaker of Srilanka..Lester James Peries with his filmmaker wife Smt. Sumitra Peries..at our 'International Film Festival of India' held at New Delhi in 2000. He was honoured for his contribution to cinema in it!

Bye of Srilankan legendary filmmaker Lester James Peries!

Overall 28 films L. J. Peries made and focused on the rural, urban life with family issues. Though he had his independent style of film making..his cinematic treatment was close to our Satyajit Ray! So he also known as Ray of Srilanka!!

My humble tribute to this master of Srilankan cinema!!

- Manoj Kulkarni
['Chitrasrushti', Pune, India]

BEAUTIFUL MEMORY!

I am with beautiful Allison Whitbeck in 'IFFI', 1996 at Delhi!

Just saw this more than 20 years old photo of mine with (that time) child artist Allison Whitbeck of Russian film 'Amerikanskaya Doch' (American Daughter/1995) Renowned Soviet/Russian director Karen Shakhnazarov made this film was shown in our '27th International Film Festival of India' held at New Delhi in 1996..in which I interviewed her!

Poster of Russian film 'Amerikanskaya Doch' 

('American Daughter'/1995).

This 'American Daughter' film was about a Russian man who is trying to see his daughter lives with her mother in USA! Artists Vladimir Mashkov and Mariya Shukshina acted in it with pretty gorgeous Allison Whitbeck who played her role intensely superb! 

Allison won 'Hope' award in '3rd Russian Open International Film Festival'! 
After that read she acted in Francis Ford Coppola's film 'Jack' (1996)..But no information about her latter film career!

In our India also well known child artists hardly seen as grown up big artists!

- Manoj Kulkarni

MY EXCLUSIVE RESEARCH!

FIRST FEATURE FILM WAS 'A TRIP TO THE MOON'!

- Manoj Kulkarni

Poster/Advt. of Edwin S. Porter made early..

American film 'The Great Train Robbery' (1903).

Poster/Advt. of Georges Melies made..

early French film 'A Trip To The Moon' (1902).

 















In study of cinema we read that American short silent 'The Great Train Robbery' (1903) was the first feature film which introduced narrative world cinema; but that's not believable! According to my research..1902 made French short silent 'A Trip To The Moon' was the first to introduce narrative cinema; So this film should be consider the First Feature Film made in the world!

American pioneering filmmaker Edwin S. Porter.

In 1903 'Edison Studio's cameraman Edwin S. Porter produced & directed film 'The Great Train Robbery' was early action in genre! Actually it was original a play wrote by Scott Marble with whom Porter written the screenplay of this film. Then Porter cinematographed this film with Blair Smith. In this on-location shooting happened in Milltown, New Jersey..with frequent camera movement. Porter only did it's composite editing & cross cutting in which scenes shown parallel! Artists appeared in this films were..Alfred C. Abadie, Broncho Billy Anderson, Justus D. Barnes & Walter Cameron.This film was primitive one-reeler silent picture which run in (with 18 frames) in 12 minutes only. I can say this film was like a pioneer of Hollywood popular Western!

Scene of early American Western film..'The Great Train Robbery' (1903).

French pioneering filmmaker Georges Melies.

Before that film..in 1902 French illusionist Georges Melies made adventure film 'A Trip To The Moon' ('Le Voyage Dans La Lune') which produced by his 'Star Film Company'. It was inspired from the French novelist Jules Vern's 'From The Earth To The Moon' & 'Around The Moon'! In this a group of astronomers travels to the Moon in a connon-propelled capsule and explore the Moon's surface! Georges Melies wrote the screenplay and himself acted in it..with mostly French theatre artists like Bleutte Bernon, Francois Lallement & Henri Delannoy. Cinematography done by Theophile Michault & Lucien Tainguy. It's 260 meters film run (with 12 frames) in 18 minutes, (with 14 frames) in 16 minutes & (with 24 frames) in 9 minutes!

A scene of early French ( Science Fiction) Film 'A Trip To The Moon' (1902).

'A Trip To The Moon' became internationally popular because of it's lavish production values, innovative special effects & emphasis on storytelling. And was extensively pirated by other studios especially in the US! It was influential on other filmmakers & ultimately on the development of narrative cinema as a whole! This was also pioneering Science Fiction Film which discovered in hand-coloured in 1993. This is one of the most important & influential films from the history of world cinema!

French (hand-coloured) Film 'A Trip To The Moon' (1902).

So I think 'A Trip To The Moon' should get honour of first full length feature film in the history of world cinema!

A Tribute!!

- Manoj Kulkarni
['Chitrasrushti']
   [Pune, India]

TAGORE AND CINEMA!

Rabindranatha Tagore in he made Bengali film 'Natir Puja' (1932).

It's a 158th Birth Anniversary of 'Nobel Prize' winner our Indian Author Rabindranatha Tagore!

Balraj Sahni & Baby Sonu in Bimal Roy's 'Kabuliwala' (1961).

On this occasion I recollecting films made on his novels and short stories. Almost 25 films made on his literature..among which 15 were in Bengali & 10 in Hindi! In these some notable are..

Aparna Sen in Ray's Bengali film 'Teen Kanya' (1961)

In 1927 film 'Sacrifice' (Balidaan) made on his literature. And in 1932 Tagore himself made Bengali film 'Natir Puja' on his own story! Then Naresh Mitra made two films 'Gora' (1938) and 'Bou Thakuranir' (1953) on Tagore's short stories in Bengali. 
After that his sensitive novel 'Kabuliwala' came on screen..
in 1957 Tapan Sinha made it in Bengali and then in 1961 Bimal Roy made it in Hindi..in which Balraj Sahni portrayed that character intensely!

Then our great filmmaker Satyajit Ray sensibly made films. In this first was 'Teen Kanya' (1961) includes three episodes of three short stories by Tagore.. 'Postmaster', 'Monihaara' and Samapti' in which Aparna Sen played the role of tomboyish teenager superbly! After that Ray's own favourite 'Charulata' (1964) which nicely portrayed by Madhabi Mukherjee. And third was 'Ghare Baire' (1985). All were in Bengali only! Then 'Rajshree's Hindi film 'Upahaar' (1971) was again on Tagore's short story 'Samapti'..which was directed by Sudhendu Roy and Jaya Bhaduri played that character..earlier Aparna did!

Prosenjit Chatterjee and Raima Sen in..

Rituparno Ghosh's Bengali film 'Noukadubi' (2011).

Meanwhile Tagore's famous novel 'Noukadubi' came on screen by his cinematographer & filmmaker Nitin Bose. In 1946 he first made Hindi film 'Milan' in which Dilip Kumar & Mira Misra acted and in 1947 remade Bengali with same name. After many years in 2011 Rituparno Ghosh made it in both the languages..first with same name in Bengali and in Hindi 'Kashmakash'! Prosenjit Chatterjee & Raima Sen acted in that film. Before that Rituparno also made Bengali 'Chokher Bali' (2003) on Tagore's novel..in which Aishwarya Rai portrayed that character!

Aishwarya Rai in Rituparno Ghosh's film 'Chokher Bali' (2003)

Gulzar's famous Hindi movie 'Lekin' (1991) was also based on Tagore's story 'Kshudhit Pashaan'. Dimple Kapadia beautifully portrayed her role in it! Then our new wave cinema fame Kumar Shahani made Hindi film 'Char Adhyay' (1997). Apart from all such films..on small screen also in 2015 Anurag Basu made TV serial 'Stories by Rabindranath Tagore'!

A Tribute!!

- Manoj Kulkarni
  ['Chitrasrushti']

TRIBUTE TO TAGORE!

Today is 158th Birth Anniversary of our great Indian Author and Poet.. Rabindranatha Thakur...famous as Tagore!

Highly respected Bengali personality who's literature like 'Geetanjali' and creation of 'Robindra Music' renowned! He contributed a lot to all forms of Indian art! Tagore became the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913. He is regarded as the outstanding creative artist of the modern Indian subcontinent!

Remembering this genius with his most famous & my favourite Bengali poem..

"Jodi tor dak shune keu na..
Ase tobe ekla chole re..!"
(If no one answers your call,
Then walk alone.!)

PRANAM!!

- Manoj Kulkarni

Remembered Charlie Chaplin on 'World Laughter Day'!

Chaplin in funny love scene!

Chaplin at his best as Dictator on screen!..Still contemporary picture!

TRIBUTE TO PRETTY AUDREY HEPBURN!

Hollywood's golden era's Beauty icon..Audrey Hepburn's 90th birth anniversary just happened! 

Here she is in her 'Oscar' winning role of princess..from more than 6 decades old classic film 'Roman Holiday'! 

A Tribute!!

- Manoj Kulkarni