Award-winning film actor turned director Sanath Gunathilake has not been in the thick of things in the recent past, but he appears to be enjoying life. Impulse spoke to him on his birthday last Saturday.

 

You seem to be enjoying a peaceful phase in life these days...?

Well, your guess is just right.. probably you feel so because I am not involved in politics now. I am an independent person now but at the same time as a citizen of this country I also like to know what’s happening around me, especially in the film industry because it’s so close to my heart.

However I am not going to react to each and every situation, unless my conscience tells me not be silent on certain issues. Then I react.

Why do you opt to stay mum on issues regarding the film industry?

Staying mum only upto a certain limit. As you know I am one of the few people in the industry who is keen about the upliftment of the movie industry and mostly about its day to day issues.

I have given interviews, written letters and stressed that we must have a proper national film policy, which won’t change from government to government or ruler to ruler.

I need to emphasize the pivotal role played by the late NFC Chairman Sumitta Amarasinghe, who tried to introduce a lot of positive aspects for the upliftment of the film industry. He was forcing the government to establish a proper film policy, but unfortunately he had to leave this world before he could do so.

I think all the producers, exhibitors, actors and technicians should get together with the NFC, discuss matters and forward a proper policy that would be fair by all stakeholders.

Now only a few people from a few sectors get together and they appear to be concerned only about themselves. At the same time we must not forget the most important factor called the viewer. Most of our film halls don't have proper projectors and no one appears to be bothered to know about it.

 

Is there any point in making good movies when it cannot be projected properly?

We must be thankful to our viewers for still patronizing cinema halls, many which cannot even project proper colours. If we don't address these issues, we will soon find no one going to the cinema halls. But on the other hand we have to be thankful to the film exhibitors, especially those in the rural areas.

Some of these theatre owners are still maintaining their theatres to the best of their abilities, despite obstacles they face. According to them, the situation was thriving during 1970 and 1977. But after that they were not protected by the state.

When the government policy was changed in the late 70s although it benefited some industries, it didn't help the local film industry as a whole. The1983 disturbances also triggered a huge blow to our film industry. So many good theaters were destroyed during the disturbances.

Theatre owners were facing various problems prompting small theatre owners to demand and join private sector exhibitors early in 2000. But now they say even it hasn’t done much good. This struggle is still going on. This is the reason why I insist on a national film policy, which will suit and benefit all stakeholders. It should not be a dominating policy but one that accommodates the concerns of all parties involved.

There is an allegation that the previous government had blundered by privatising the film distribution. Your comments?

I wish to reserve my comments, but I know that there are mixed reactions over the move. However, I wish to ask the authorities, as to why they are still clinging on to the same system if they think it’s wrong. If there were flaws, it should have been rectified long time ago.

There are so many things that President Mahinda Rajapksa has changed. The best example is the approach towards the war with the LTTE and issues like the privatization of Air Lanka. If our film personalities think or believe that there were some wrong decisions taken in the past, why can’t they explain matters to the higher ups and go in for a change.

The President is willing to listen to us, but we should brief him properly. Having given so many concessions to the film industry the President might be wondering why we are still stuck in the same position.

Any government can make mistakes, knowingly or unknowingly. My next question is whether our "industry" is aware of what kind of change it needs. I think we are still clueless even about the transition to the digital projection. Sectors from the film industry are still discussing it but have failed to take a firm decision yet. Every body knows that our industry thrived in the seventies. Can we go back to that era? Then who has to take that decision?

 

 

Next week: Greed for power is rampant today