• Lead actress in Prasanna Vithanage’s ‘Gaadi – Children of the Sun’, Dinara Punchihewa on women in Sri Lankan cinema

It retold a chapter of Sri Lankan history that for the most part had been erased and most know little about. Set in 1814, Prasanna Vithanage’s ‘Gaadi – Children of the Sun’ narrates a story of class, caste, dignity, beliefs, betrayal, punishment, and the strength of women in a beautifully woven and detail oriented tale that got the film numerous accolades. Premiering way back in 2019 at the Busan Film Festival in South Korea where it was listed among the ‘100 Asian films not to be missed for 2019’, it also won the Emerald Dove Award at the third Independent Film Festival in Chennai, India, the Cultural Diversity Award from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, and the Special Jury Mention for the Best Film at the 18th Dhaka International Film Festival in Bangladesh. When it had overcome Sri Lanka’s bureaucratic hurdles and was finally released this year (2023) in Sri Lanka, the spotlight fell on a little known actress who played the lead role of Tikiri with absolute magnificence. Dinara Punchihewa was picked for the role from a short list of 365 applicants and undeniably did justice to the role. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree from the Queen Mary University of London, England, acting in theatre, films and also being in production, spanning the Cities of Colombo, Mumbai in India, and London. In her relatively short span in the limelight, Punchihewa has an impressive list of accomplishments where her roles in films like ‘Gaadi’, ‘Saho’, ‘Asu’, the ‘Peacock Lament’ and ‘Raksa’ have cemented her as a budding star. Wearing many hats, Punchihewa is a drama teacher and has also founded Punchi Actors, a non-profit initiative that conducts performance art workshops for young children. She was on Kaleidoscope this week. 

Following are excerpts of the interview:

Q: What is the biggest lesson you learned while filming ‘Gaadi’?

A: It surely is how hard people work on set. We worked with an Indian and Sri Lankan production crew and not in very comfortable locations either. But, these are people who are absolutely committed, determined, and love their jobs. It was amazing to watch how the production crew made everything run like a well oiled machine behind the scenes.

Q: You worked two seasons in “The Good Karma Hospital” as an actor and production assistant. What was that like?

A: I worked as a set runner on Season Two and in a small role in Season Four. My work as a set runner meant that I had to get up very early and make sure that everything is ready to roll when we are ready to shoot. I learned so much in that stint. I urge all actors to get into production at least once in their life because you learn how things work behind the scenes and you also appreciate the hard work put in by the production team to help actors be the stars.

Q: You have directed a short film. What was it like being on the other side of the lens?

A: I directed the short film because I was interested in trying my hand at directing, to see if I could make something myself. That being said, I don’t think that I’ll be pursuing production or directing again, any time soon. I want to concentrate on my acting, at least for the time being.

Q: What made you take up acting?

A: I have wanted to be an actress from the time I was six. In my school years, I was heavily into the theatre and my father would show us all these films which naturally piqued my interest. I became very comfortable with acting and made a bold proclamation that I wanted to be an actress. There was never a plan B and my parents were fully supportive. Having won the All Island Singing Competition when I was eight, I also studied singing with Mary Anne David and Prashalini Pieris, did my Trinity Guildhall Grades One to Eight exams, and, given the best actress awards I got in school, decided to study acting professionally. I got my BA in Drama from Queen Mary University London, got my Foundation in Method Acting from the Jeff Goldberg Studio in Mumbai, and an Associate Diploma in Performance from Trinity Guildhall London. It has been a good run since then.

Q: When you look back, what has been your most challenging role?

A: I have only acted in four feature films but I’ve been in numerous theatre productions. In London, I was in “Big City Lights’’, “Women and War”, and the “Little Shop of Horrors” and in Sri Lanka, I acted in “Rag The Musical”, “Chatroom”, “Cinderella the Musical”, and my films and teleserials. The role of Tikiri in “Gaadi” was challenging because it was my first film and some of the scenes were quite scary, like the ant scene even though there were stunt doubles which I didn’t want. From a technical aspect, the most challenging has been the recent film that I completed, “Peacock Lament”, where the storyline revolves around baby farms in Sri Lanka. We worked with babies and it’s not easy to work with babies, because, as you know, when one sleeps, the other cries, so the takes were many. I also had to hold a baby minutes after it was born to shoot a scene and that was very emotional for me.

Q: What is it like for a woman in Sri Lankan cinema? 

A: There aren’t many females in production because it’s a time consuming job. Long shoots that go on for weeks or months at a time and in our culture, women are expected to be at home, being the homemaker, taking care of children. However, I wish that more production houses would do more to accommodate women with facilities for nursing babies and better toilet facilities. It is not much to ask, but it is needed. Another thing is that women artistes are judged. People think that our jobs are about glitz and glamour but it takes effort to look effortless and it takes effort to put on an effortless production. People need to not judge female artistes. On the other side, I urge female artistes to take on challenging roles; that’s what male actors do and they don’t think twice. Do not be afraid to say no. Once your film is done and it’s out there, people will contact you for promotions and interviews. Be selective about what you do because it’s your image and it’s about what you want to do. It is about striking the right balance.

Q: To those who really have that passion to embark on an acting career, what would you say?

A: There are dreamers and there are dreamers who make their dreams come true. Be someone who makes their dream come true. Study your craft. Everything is free and online now, so it’s easy. Get to know the reality of making your dreams come true. The reality in terms of acting is that Sri Lanka is a very small country and the industry is also small. You need to know that you’re not going to have a great many opportunities. So, expand your horizons, apply to other places like India or any other country, audition, be yourself and never give up. It is definitely not the destination that matters, but the journey. If you love the work you do, you’ll never work a day in your life, because you are living your dream. 

Q: What made you start your non-profit, Punchi Actors?

A: I used to work part time at an orphanage doing arts and crafts with the children. I saw the opportunity that drama brings for these children, how drama helps with self expression and confidence building. I am not a drama therapist but I teach the children basic drama exercises that I’ve learned. I have seen how different the children become, gaining confidence and even able to direct their own plays. It is such a rewarding feeling that I wanted to share my passion. 

Q: Sri Lanka is rife with talent, but rarely do we see youngsters pursuing acting professionally. Why is that?

A: This is because the industry is very challenging. Compared to Hollywood or Bollywood, because our industry is small, opportunities are few. There is also the social stigma, albeit a stigma that is changing but yet it persists, where parents want their children to be a doctor, lawyer or engineer. Acting is a risky job and I totally understand the reluctance. I would ask a young person to think about this career really hard and then draft a plan. Are you going to study the craft? Are you going to open up platforms? Are you going to apply for acting jobs overseas? Answer those questions. If you work hard, you can achieve your dream. It is about knowing if you really want it and working hard to achieve it. 

(The writer is the Host, Director, and Co-Producer of the weekly digital programme ‘Kaleidoscope with Savithri Rodrigo’ which can be viewed on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. She has over three decades of experience in print, electronic, and social media.)