Stage set to make comeback after 17 years

For all-rounder Preethiraj Weeraratne, 17 has indeed been a lucky number. It has been tried and tested. The seasoned all-rounder who was also born on a17th, shot to fame with his box office hit ‘Nommara 17’ which shattered all revenue records in 1988. It ran for 210 days at five cinemas and that is still perhaps an unbreakable record. And now after 17 long years, – (17 mind you !) - he is making a comeback to the glamour scene with a bang.

Preethiraj took a break from the entertainment field in 1995 to focus his attention on his two children – music icon Iraj Weeraratne and distinguished events coordinator Rishini Weeraratne who is also no stranger to the glamour world.

“Nommara 17 became a super hit in 1988. It grossed 20 to 30 million rupees despite the disturbances, the curfews and all hurdles that existed then. It was screened for 210 days in 5 theatres and mind you a balcony ticket was only Rs. 25 then,” said Preethiraj who wrote his first novel as a 10-year-old student at Ananda College, Colombo.

The first novel was called ‘Inspector’ and then he wrote a book called ‘Punchi Lamai’ the following year. He wrote his first love story ‘Aiyai Malliy’ as a 16-year-old. He was just 19 when he scripted his first stage play ‘Ran Dedunna’ featuring Jayasekara Aponso and Somi Rathnayake. The very next year he made ‘Ran Sevana’ featuring Miyuri Samarasinghe and Jayasekara Aponso.

The Nommara 17 script was also written by Preethiraj himself and it won the Sarasaviya Most Popular film award in 1988. Prior to writing Nommara 17, Preethiraj published three children’s stories – Dadayakkaraya, Duwanapala and Manju Saha Amuththa. In addition he published the comprehensive Sinhala Business Consultancy Book on how to maximize on one’s business venture. He also published several educational magazines on overseas education and in 2004 published the first and only education consultancy book in Sri Lanka – ‘How to obtain a student visa to UK, USA and Australia’.

Basically, Preethiraj Weeraratne is a UK qualified professional in Management and Accountancy who pioneered in 1983 the consultancy service institution ‘Weeraratne and Co.’ for student recruitment to overseas universities in the UK, US, Australia and New Zealand.

“Though professionally qualified in some other field, my passion for arts ha always been  an undying one. I always respect arts and artistes and I would love to describe myself as an artiste. I believe that the artiste in me has emerged as a result of inborn talents. The same could be said about my son and daughter too. Iraj Weeraratne possesses a UK Degree in Accountancy but he is proving his prowess in Music. My daughter Rishini possesses an LLB and LLM from the London University, but she has chosen events management instead of practicing law,” said Preethiraj describing details about his comeback ventures.

“I have written two movie scripts and a 30-episode tele drama script called ‘Rashmi’.

Rashmi is indeed a different and gripping story revolving around a married beautician. I have written the story, dialogues and screenplay of Rashmi. I will be producing and directing it too. I always believe that any creation should cater to the mass audiences. I wrote the script of Rashmi with some artistes in mind and I will be pencilling in them to the project.

I also hope to introduce new faces through Rashmi that has some 60 inter-linking characters. I am in the process of selecting newcomers of any age group or gender for Rashmi and other upcoming film projects.

Those interested can send in their photos, address, details and phone contact numbers to: Preethiraj Productions, No. 65, Jawatte Road, Colombo 5. I will assure that all of them will get at least one small role to play in my tele drama or films. Iraj will be the music director in all my projects and he is already in the process of composing music.  He is now working on his fifth Tamil film music direction in India.

My daughter who is a director of a renowned events promotion company will be the co-producer of all my future tele drama and film projects,” said Preethiraj who is eagerly looking forward to begin his second innings soon with Rashmi.

By Ramesh Uvais