Walking the red carpet with Lester

Thursday, 3 May 2018 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Chandran Rutnam

I got to know Lester when I brought MGM’s ‘Tarzan the Ape Man’ to Sri Lanka.

I had briefly met him when he did a rain scene in ‘Rekawa,’ with the help of the Special Effects and Property Master Eddie Fowlie, on the film ‘Bridge on the River Kwai’. I was Eddie’s assistant.

When I arrived in Colombo from the USA in 1979, I did not know anyone in the local film industry. I went directly to Lester, who introduced me to a production manager and other members in the industry.

We maintained our friendship throughout the years. I remember, on one of my visits to Colombo he organised a special screening of his classic film ‘Nidhanaya’ for me at the Empire cinema hall.

We had the pleasure of hosting Lester’s wife Sumitra on her visit to Hollywood after attending a film festival in Mexico.

Our friendship flourished with visits to his house where I enjoyed the discussions I had with him. More than anything I enjoyed his sense of humour.

It saddens me to remember that during his prime as a man and a filmmaker he did not have the opportunity to display his craft. A decade-and-a-half of non-productivity.

This reminds me of the great Orson Welles, who was left to wither his extraordinary, God-given talent in a wasteland.

My friend Swarna Mallawarachchi suggested that we produce a film with Lester. I thought it was a good idea. However, I had a selfish motive as well. The more I thought of it, the better it sounded.

We made the film ‘Mansion by the Lake’. My thinking was, that after 15 years, if Director Lester James Peries makes a film and presents it to the Cannes Film Festival, the film will have a good chance of being accepted and invited as an entry to the festival.

I was right! I had the honour and privilege, as the Producer, along with my wife, to attend the festival and walk the red carpet.

In Antibes, my wife and I had the good fortune of attending the presentation of the UNESCO Fellini Awards. The recipients were our own Lester and Clint Eastwood. After Lester received his award he quipped to Clint, “You made my day!” to the roar of laughter from the large audience. Clint quipped back, considering Lester’s age, “Finally I am the younger recipient.”

Thank you Lester for the wonderful time we spent with you and Sumitra in the South of France.