As author of novel ‘Amma’ i had not viewed it when produced as a Tele drama - Sannasgala
Does ‘Amma’ suit the small screen?
“From the script of novel ‘Amma’ a film also
could be made as well as a Tele drama or even as a picture story. The ownership of them would be for the respective producers of them”.
In order to produce the ‘Amma’ Tele drama did the producer take your permission?
As you mentioned would the producers of the Tele drama, film or a picture story need to take your permission when taking the story as the ‘theme’ for them?.
“I have the ownership for the novel ‘Amma’ only. That is only my right and ownership. The production of a Tele drama is as a result of a joint endeavour. For the production of a Tele drama it needs a producer, a director, actors and actresses, a Tele scrip writer and several others and hence it is a collective exercise. But a novel is classified as an individual creation media where I own it totally. But if a collective endeavour is made they bring it to my attention. The book was given for an art creation but not sold as an individual media creation owned by me.”
“The tele drama telecast by the Derana television channel commences saying that ‘Amma’ is Sannasgala’s mother. But the mother’s character depicted in the novel ‘Amma’ was not seen in the tele drama. The character of the ‘Amma’ in the tele drama is very different from that of the character portrayed in the book of mine. Hence I had not said that the character of ‘Amma’ portrayed in the book was not seen when the Tele drama was viewed”.
However the producers of the Tele drama emphasised this from the very beginning?.
The director and the producer could tell the television channel that the mother of this tele creation is Upul Shantha Sannasgala’s mother. I do not like to tell that no one else could write a similar book of this calibre. Deviating from the theme of this novel any one could make tele drama or a film like production. What I think is this is the manner the director of the tele drama Thilina Borelessa had seen the qualities of some other mother and not in the manner I described my mother. It is not only those who have read the book watches the tele drama. I had met several among, lakhs who had watched the tele drama who had not read the novel. They try to visualise mother from the manner she portrays in the tele drama. Those who read the book visualise the mother from that perspective. The producer should find something in between to show in his creation.”
What you say is that you had given permission for producing the tele drama and that you had not interfered in the creation?
Yes I did intervene, but not in the sense of a feeling it as a monopoly. As a creator of art one cannot challenge the creation of another is my fervent hope and view. When they aired their views I conveyed mine to them. It was in very cordial and friendly manner. It is normal that in such an interview of this kind what the media personnel always try to do is to instigate the producer, director and an actress to have a dispute with the author of the novel and make him angry with them. Hence it not should be made to happen.
In the novel there are six children. But in the tele drama there are only four children. For that I expressed my displeasure.”
Did you view it?
“ I had not seen a drama for 15 years. My last experience was ‘Kadulla’ and Handagama’s ‘synthetic sihinaya’.I had viewed only the first episode of ‘Amma’ tele creation.”
You had publicly praised actress Nilmini Tennakoon for portraying the role of mother remarkably in the tele drama?.
“ Nilmini Tennakoon is one the best actresses who could portray character roles. When she acts what comes to mind is Swarna Mallawarachchi portraying such character roles. This is appreciating human talents, do not cross examine by asking intervening questions and deprive her credit she deserves and what is due to her.”
How could you tell that Nilmini has portrayed the role of mother excellently seen only the first episode?.
“After I saw her in the first episode I could easily visualise the manner she may have acted later. That is why I praised her.”
They say the ratings were lowered for the tele drama as the script writer was changed?
“I do not know of such ratings. As the author of the novel as I did not see the tele drama I just cannot comment on it.”
There are unprecedented accolades for the book written by you. If the Tele drama was created on the basis of this story one could question as to why the tele drama could not become that popular and not receive such unprecedented accolades is a question that needs to be asked?.
“For that question a relevant answer has to be given by the producer and not by me.”
During the time of the presidential election there was a rumour that the tele drama was to be stopped. For that you had got excited?.”
“If at all I got excited it would not be not for that reason but only if the news that the former president was to be re elected. Hence in that context for me the stoppage of ‘Amma’ tele drama would not be a matter to which I should get excited at all.”