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Full Proposal to Arts Network Asia

Objective of the Project

To do a research study based on Early Sinhalese Cinema and, its association with the South Indian Film Industry. So far no research has been done how South Indian film artistes have contributed to the birth of Sri Lankan cinema.

Description of Project

The growth of cinema in all South Asian nations has followed a very unique ‘Mythical/Melodramatic’ model fusing strong contemporary criticism with very traditional mythological narrative. In such a fusion other elements such as its musicality, lyrics, costumes, make up & performance styles continue from the past into the present in unique ways. How do these elements articulate themselves within a larger nationalist narrative will be the focus for such a study. Finally, these perspectives of this history as reflected in contemporary cinema will provide us meaningful insights.

Methodology

We need to first identify a list of cineastes and film technicians who have witnessed and experienced the emergence of early Sinhalese cinema. There are also a few libraries and collectors who have valuable printed material on this period between the mid 40s and the early 60s which will be the time-frame of this study.

Duration of the Project

Six months (March – August 2011)

Outcome of the project

The memories of these various sources is certainly going to be rich in details and will be a great way to study how modern post-colonial Asian Popular Culture defines some of the key issues in help shaping the Sinhalese identity. This study will pay tribute to several unsung actors, writers and technicians, both in Sri Lanka and the South Indian Subcontinent.

We should hopefully be able to bring a short monograph on the development of early Sri Lankan cinema in Tamil side by side with the cinema in Sinhala, something that has never been attempted, with directory of artist and film technicians of this period.

Beneficiaries of the Project

The Sri Lankan people will get some new insights into a completely forgotten area of their Cinema and its subsequent development of popular culture. Film lovers in India will be made aware of the stellar contributions made by peoples on the margin like Film Lab technicians, musicians and recordists in sound studios, costumers and make-up artists and finally the visualizers who worked on the publicity promotions for all these films.

Internationally it will add to the sparse knowledge of the development of cinema in Asian countries, the cultural, social, political and financial processes which came into play. It will be valuable in leading to a greater understanding of different cultures through cinema.

How to reach the target audience

By publishing an anthology after the research completed.

Ashley Ratnavibhushana
President
Asian Film Centre
118 Dehiwala Road
Boralesgamuwa 10290
Sri Lanka

Tel: + 94 11 2519923 / + 94 11 5626502
Mobile: + 94 71 8373516
Fax: + 94 11 2509553