"Wife, children in Kandy ... I perform while in Colombo"

"Wife, children in Kandy ...

I perform while in Colombo"

An interview which we conducted with actor of the new generation,Viraj Perera whom we see in a large number of music videos and some tele-dramas is seen below.

* Let us know how you came into this field and how long it is by now.

  Came into this field about 6 years back. If I were to mention how I came into this field ... it is great effort. There are many who gave support. When talking about the aspect of music videos ... it is Lahiru Mudalige and Eranda Wanigasekera who introduced me to this field. So I am carrying on with
the work in a normal way. 

* Short description about your family?

  I, my wife and two children. My wife is a dancing teacher. She has secured a specialist degree. She was engaged in dancing before that at Channa - Upuli institute and she was there also for 8 or 10 years. Now she is a dancing teacher at Galaha Badrawathi School advanced level classes. So they are in Kandy and I am in Colombo. 

* What reason do you see as most persons of the dancing field making changes quickly?

  No single reason can be given for it. Though it was to a large extent compatible in the past ... it care different ...it can be thought that it does not fit this period. It could be thought that it does not fit in with ideas and instructions with activities of the field concerned.That experience is different ... things thought of are different. It is difficult for me to say it exactly. 

* What do you feel about the social media in Sri Lanka?

  The social media is so very powerful. The social media is mre powerful than channels. In a short period of time it  would reach a stage where TV channels will not be viewed because social media is powerful to that extent. Not that I am talking about politics. If the government topples, though we do not think of the social media, the majority is attached to the social media. With the bomb explosion on Easter Sunday ... What'sapp, Viber -- all that comes to a halt. The social media is blocked. On and off the social media is blocked. From time to time, government blocks it. A 'nangi'or 'malli' cannot approach a channel and have a song played. There was a time like that. We are making an effort to put it right. When the situation is such, what they do is those people broadcast those songs through their social media. Iraj is a good example of that. He is a fine exponent of that. In short, his songs were not creep into other channels as such. Therefore I think, he is well ahead where social media is concerned. 

* Do you like gossip?

  It is good if gossip is created. I cannot say that I dislike it either. Gossip is alright to get popular. But we have a culture ... there is something called upbringing. If we lead an unblemished life; gossip will vanish. But even if it is so ... we live in a country where gossip flourishes. 

* What are your new developments these days?

  New developments these days ... two dramas in which I was engaged, came to a close. One is Sillara Pabalu and the other is, Neela Pabalu. There is a new drama to come. That of 

Suddi Thrishuladeepa Aiya. Apart from that I am presenting some programmes in Swarnavahini these days. 

* Are there those who feel jealous of you?

  What I think in simple terms is that if one can see one's growth and be happy about it ... that is the biggest thing. On the other hand if after seeing another's development and be jealous about it ... there is absolutely no point in it. There are so many occasions where such conflicts can be seen. Not only in this field ... it can be seen in places where we work. Just as much as all five fingers are not the same, we have to work with all types of people. So there are clashes ... there is jealousy. Let us think with pity on them. 

* Is a criterion in the field of acting no more?

  Yes, it is gone. It is difficult to expect something called a standard as such. I do not have such a big knowledge to talk about this because I still think that am an amateur in this field. As an actor ... I have still not even tread the seashore. If I am to comment with the knowledge I possess ... there is no standard. There is no accuracy from the categorization of actors - actresses down to where they are presented for an activity. I have still not embarked on the field of the cinema. I was made to understand that I have to wait in the queue for that purpose.There is a queue also in an underdeveloped country. Those are problematic issues. Good creations are in the waiting-list ... without an opportunity for being telecast. If we take the creation 'Koombiyo', it is a creation which gained very high popularity in Sri Lanka. It is a creation which provided an opportunity for some of those who engaged in acting for some time and then gained a role in acting once again. It is a creation that came to the spotlight with a number of characters. It had been produced in a manner that it is suited for this contemporary period even after 8 or 9 years. Then of course we have to think who the skilled are. Those who are in this generation. Those people are with us. There are those of the new generation ... skilled creators, there are such directors. Just as much as we in Sri Lanka have gone wrong ... there are instances where mistakes are seen in this field. 

When we talk about these things ... they say 'pandithakama'. But one should have a spine to say something like that also. I of course have a spine. According to my knowledge, there still is no standard. Even aristes do not have stability. With what difficulty are artistes living after explosions of Easter Sunday! Singers have no music shows ... we have no work. Those involved in this live in freedom. In my case, both my Megas are over. I am a person who acted in eight or ten music videos for a month. Those are of course issues in the country. Issues coming forth from politics ... from the field of administration. 

* Do you have a desire to enter the cinema?

  Yes. But they won't give a chance, no. Someone who acted in a commercial likes to do a music video. Someone who did a music video likes to do a tele-drama. Films is the apex of an artiste. It is films that is accepted and artistes are divided into various sections in that too. 

* Do you have an idea of going into politics?

  It is a big joke! An artiste has no way of living. Even leasing of our vehicles are stuck -- can't pay. There is no point. Then can we think of politics? Those of the administration ... have they given thought to these artistes? We get money if we act only. My personal belief is that ... artistes are created by god, nature ... for the purpose of another person's happiness. These are sad incidents.There is so much in the hearts of people. It is we who have the ability to change the administrative machine. The island is not 500 kilometres. This country is not 500 kilometres wide. So it is this country that these people can't develop!

* Finally, what have you got to tell the fans?

  What I have to tell the fans is that I also am with their mental or thinking level. It is the audience who keep us going like this. If not for them, we can't be like this. Popularity of the audience is different and popularity of the field is different. Only if one is popular in the field concerned, he or she would get work. But I may not be popular in the field. I am popular with my adorable fans. Responses of fans for me is more than for others. My fan-base is large. It is because of them that I am like this. I love them a lot. 

* What else have you got to say other than this?

  Social media should develop further. In the same way ... it is better if it becomes another power. We ought take this country out of the ruts.

Notes of discussion -- Janani Tharushika