Lester James Peries

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Lester James Peres, a Sri Lankan film director, screenwriter, and film producer, died on April 29, 1920 (Sinhala: ; 5 April 1919 - 29 April 2018) Lester, who was considered the father of Sri Lankan cinema, worked as a filmmaker from 1949 to 2006, and he appeared in more than 28 films, including short films and documentaries.

He received critical acclaim for his directing Rekava, Gamperaliya, Nidhanaya, Golu Hadawatha, Kaliyugaya, Awaragira, and Yuganthaya. The film Wekande Walauwa, starring Ravindra Randeniya and Malini Fonseka, was Sri Lanka's first ever entry for the Academy Awards, and the Cinémathèque Française named Nidhanaya among the top 100 films of the century. Peries' films often revolve around Sri Lankan family life in rural settings and conflicted characters. He was instrumental in the creation of a true Sinhala Cinema.

Early life

Lester James Perez was born in Dehiwela, Ceylon, on April 5th, 1919. Dr. James Francis Perkins, his father, studied medicine in Scotland and was also a cricketer for a Scottish club. Ann Gertrude Winifred Jayasuria, his mother, was the first graduate of St. Bridget's Convent, Colombo. Erica, Ivan, and Noel were Perel's three siblings.

The Pers family, a devoted Roman Catholic family who had been Anglicized, had been the Persecutors. Peries were limited to English at home and celebrated Christian traditions as a child. His grandmother, who never trusted Western medicine and spoke properly Sinhalese, was his only link to Sinhala history. Perries was given a 8mm Kodascope projector by his father as a gift, which served Chaplin's silent films. When he and his brother Ivan went to the cinema to watch foreign film serials that ran day after day, he had no interest in films at that time. Perez was never involved in school dramas and had no idea he was going to be a film director, especially because British Ceylon did not have its own national film industry at that time.

He attended St Peter' College, one of Colombo's Catholic schools, as a child before deciding to pursue a career in journalism at the age of 17. He began writing for the Daily News' blue pages, which was an arts supplementation. He joined The Times of Ceylon in 1939 under Indian editor Frank Moraes. For a brief period, he also reviewed Radio Ceylon's books.

Persi Pers' first real work with theatre came when he first joined a theatre company called Drama Circle. This was a group of like-minded individuals who produced modern English plays on a daily basis. Perpetus was involved in all aspects of the productions other than acting.

Personal life

Perries married Sumitra, a film director, in Paris at the home of a mutual friend and married in 1964 at All Saints Church in Borella. Ivan Perez, Pere's brother, was a painter.

Peries died on March 29, 2018 at the age of 99.

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Career

Peries made his entry into national cinema with the internationally acclaimed Rekava, which was based on village life. At the 1957 Cannes Film Festival, it was nominated for the Palme d'Or. He revolutionized Ceylonese cinema with this film, giving it a unique identity. It was the first Ceylonese film to be shot outside. Although the event was well-received around the world, it was not a commercial success. After that, he made many award-winning films, including "Delowak Athara" in 1964 based on Martin Wickramasinghe's book, which received the Golden Peacock at the International Film Festival of India; "Deliverya" in 1966, which was selected as the best film of Sri Lanka's first 50 years; and "Wekande Walauwa" in 2002, which received the UNESCO Fellini Award. He has produced over 28 feature films.

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Awards and recognition

• Cannes International Film Festival– "Fellini Gold Medal" Awarded by Unesco for outstanding film career 2003.
• Sri Lankabhimanya The highest Civil Honour of Sri Lanka (2007).
• Recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 31st International Film Festival of India (2000)
• Commandeur (commander) in the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of Arts and Letters) from the French government (1997)
• Diploma of Honour Venice Film Festival for the film "Conquest in the Dry Zone" (1954)
• The Mini Cinema Cup for the short film "Soliloquy" for displaying the best technical proficiency by the Institute of Amateur and Experimental Film Makers Festival -Great Britain (1951)
• Amateur Cine World Silver Plaque for the experimental film "Farewell to Childhood" – ten best films of the year – Great Britain (1950)
• Issue of a National Stamp dedicated to Lester on 5 April 2002
• A hybrid orchid was named after Dr Lester James Peries on 11 March 2004 – Ascocenda Lester Peries
• April 5th was named as "National Artist Day".