Lester, world renowned doyen of cinema Industry turns 97..! What a Lester‘s vision in 32 years ago

(Lanka-e-News-09.April.2016, 7.15AM)  The oldest world renowned  living legend in  cinema Industry , Dr. Lester james Peiris turned 97 years of age on last 5th. His contemporaries , Satyajit Ray, David Lean, Akira Kurosowa also  legends of  the Film Industry have all predeceased him.

On his 97 th  birthday April 05th , Prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe paid a visit to the residence of Dr. Peiris to wish him and his wife. After cutting the cake , the P.M. had a most friendly discussion with Dr. Peiris and his wife Sumithra Peiris.. Media minister Gayantha Karunathileke accompanied the P.M.

Dr. Peiris ‘s vision was so far sighted that on his 97 th birthday , Lanka e news is of the view that it will be befitting if we write about the vision of Dr. Peiris on his 97 th birthday  to honor  him in order  to inspire and benefit the youths who have a passion for the cinema, so that they can take a lesson from him.

In the year 1984 , that is 32 years ago when Dr. Peiris was 65 years old, the world was not familiar with the digital photography, because digital photography came into being  in the mid nineties.

It was the celluloid cinema that was in existence in 1984. Apart from the Industrial cinema , it was the super 8 celluloid private cinema that was there. Producing short films on super 8 celluloid tape was most expensive. At that time , Dr. Peiris when he was interviewed by the newspapers , said as follows: 

( Because of absence of library facilities and impossibility to reproduce the interview exactly , we are hereunder giving a summary of it).

 “Today’s cinema is not a classical art . It is an Industry. If it is to become  a classical art it should be a self expression. That cannot be in today’s cinema. However in the future , individuals with their own mini cameras would put their self expressions as a cinema production. That is the day cinemas will put our their classical art .”

This was what Dr. Peiris stated 32 years ago. How true it is now ! Those viewing the you tube would confirm this. A great majority of the people using their digital cameras and computers are  putting out their self expressions through mini and medium cinema productions.

An artiste  in addition to his vision in life must also  have a concept about the medium they are using - about their past , present and future . Dr. Peiris was possessed of such unique abilities.

May Lester James Peiris be blessed with health and long life !

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by     (2016-04-09 01:42:03)