A Proud director of around 40 feature films and someone who strongly believes that cinema goers need entertainment after a hard days work –he is non other than presidential award winner for most popular director in 1993 for the film “Sooraweera Chandiyo”,Hemasiri Sellaperuma.
While some of his films include “Chandiyangeth Chandiya”,”Nava Gilunath Baan Chooon, Soorayo, No: 17, and Uthura Dakuna it all started out with his very first film “Jeevanthi” which ran for 200 days successfully.
"I have managed to film in both India and Bangkok in order to give viewer a different backdrop in scenes” Hemasiri says.
He was the assistant director for such films as “Asaranaya,Gami kollla,Samaja sevaya,Aparadaya saha Daduvama,Baisical hora,Kathuru Muwath and Lokuma hinawa”.
He was worked in the Serendib as an assistant director,assistant cameraman and clapper boy and assistant editor in Tissa Liyanasuriya's Narilatha and Punchi Baba.Hemasiri has not followed any courses in cinematography here or abroad, which makes his talent somewhat special. He says his very grateful to his two masters Tissa Liyanasuriya and K.A.W Perera who toughs him all he needed to know about the film industry.
“The film industry is in a bad state today and continues to get worse everyday. the film location service in Pitakotte owned by Chandra Rathnam brings down film stars from abroad and it is because of this company the film industry is surviving .he commented.
Amithab Bachchan was brought down by the film location service. Even the latest camera equipment and other machines that are being used were all brought down by the film location service. The film corporation has detonated to such an extent that exclusive films brought down from foreign countries are not in cinema halls. If the films corporation takes an interest and give some priority in producing good sinhala films the industry will definitely progress.
Hemasiri continued in saying.” The understanding among people is that a film has a complicated story that one cannot understand it is considered good. on the other hand a film with a simple story drowns a large crowd to cinema halls then it is considered a film of no value. Apart from Colombo ,70 cinema halls have closed down due to poor mismanagement and business.”
According to Hemasiri's views Cricket matches and films should be given equal publicity which will be benefits to the country too.
“But as things are today it is only cricket that gets most publicity. Please don't misunderstand me I am a strong cricket fan myself but at the same time the film industry should not be forgotten either. To me film artistes are being used like “Karapincha leaves where after it is used for cooking and having given whatever the curry maybe a definite difference in taste and goodness the leaves are not even given a second thought to and is finally thrown away,” he said. Hemasiri Sellaperuma concluded in saying “ My personal view is that even though Indian film stars like Maduri Dixit and Amithab Bachchan are brought to SriLanka the people here will always be very found of local stars like Geetha Kumarasingha and Gamine Fonseka.Film goers will always remain interested in watching a good sinhala film and if the necessary steps are taken the Sri Lankan film industry will surely thrive in abundance”.
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