Don’t treat filmmakers in a shoddy manner

Award-winning filmmaker Prasanna Jayakody made an impassioned appeal to the state film authorities of this country not to unjustly remove his newest movie ‘Sansare Dadayakkaraya’ from theatres, to suit the whims and fancies of elements with vested interests. Taking part in the popular ‘Thaala Baashana’ live programme on state television Rupavahini on Saturday night, Prasanna said he made films for passion and the themes of his movies offered great insight, helping people to understand the world around us and eventually make it a better place to live in.

Sansare Dadayakkaraya is based on a novel by renowned author Simon Navagaththegama.

“Films normally take around two weeks to pick up. My film was originally lined up for release through a private film circuit, but suddenly due to a legal encounter between the National Film Corporation (NFC) and the film circuits I was deprived of bringing out the film in that distribution circuit. Ultimately I had to come through the Film Corporation which has now undertaken film distribution tasks. But the NFC is acting in an illogical manner. It is now threatening to pull out my new film from theatres, without considering the hard work, dedication and commitment we had put in to make this film, leave alone the investments made by my producer. How unfair is it to treat filmmakers so shabbily? Why aren’t the authorities not considering the impacts that films can make in motivating and shaping up positive mind sets of the people. At least consider this humane aspect,” Prasanna told Thaala Baashana host Thanuja Jayawardana.