Who Was Lester James Peries?

Lester James Peries (1919–2018) was the defining figure of Sri Lankan cinema. In a career spanning more than six decades, he created a body of work that established Sinhala film as a serious art form, earned international recognition, and inspired every generation of Sri Lankan filmmakers that followed. He is universally known as the "Father of Sri Lankan Cinema" — a title earned rather than bestowed.

Early Life and Influences

Born in Colombo in 1919 to a Burgher family, Peries developed a passion for film early in life. He travelled to London in the 1940s, where he worked with documentary filmmakers and immersed himself in the European cinematic tradition. He was particularly influenced by Italian neorealism — the movement led by directors such as Vittorio De Sica and Roberto Rossellini, who believed in filming in real locations with real people rather than in artificial studio settings.

This philosophy would become the cornerstone of everything Peries created when he returned to Sri Lanka.

The Breakthrough: Rekava (1956)

When Peries made Rekava in 1956, he did something radical. He refused to produce the film in Chennai studios as was standard practice. Instead, he took his camera into Sri Lankan villages, cast local non-professional actors, and told a deeply Sri Lankan story in a deeply Sri Lankan visual language. The result was unlike anything audiences had seen before — authentic, poetic, and quietly powerful.

Rekava won international acclaim and placed Sri Lanka on the world cinema map. It remains a landmark not just in Sri Lankan film history but in the history of Asian cinema more broadly.

Major Works

  • Rekava (1956) — The founding masterpiece of Sinhala cinema.
  • Gamperaliya (1963) — An adaptation of Martin Wickramasinghe's novel about social change in rural Sri Lanka.
  • Nidhanaya (1972) — A taut, atmospheric thriller widely considered one of his finest films.
  • Ahasin Polowata (1978) — A visually striking exploration of desire and consequence.
  • Akkara Paha (1969) — A moving portrayal of rural dispossession.

Awards and Recognition

Over his long career, Peries received numerous honours both at home and internationally:

  • Multiple Sri Lanka State Film Awards for Best Director.
  • Recognition at international film festivals across Asia and Europe.
  • The Ramon Magsaysay Award — often called the "Asian Nobel Prize" — for his contribution to the arts.
  • Sri Lanka's highest civilian honours in recognition of his cultural contribution.

His Philosophy of Filmmaking

Peries believed that cinema should reflect honest human experience. He was not interested in melodrama for its own sake or in borrowing conventions from other film industries. He consistently argued that Sri Lankan filmmakers should look inward — to their own landscapes, stories, and cultural traditions — for inspiration. This philosophy, articulated across decades of interviews and masterclasses, shaped how generations of Sri Lankan filmmakers understood their craft.

Legacy

Lester James Peries passed away in 2018 at the age of 98, having worked in cinema well into his later years. His passing was mourned as a national loss. His films continue to be screened, studied, and celebrated — not just as historical artefacts but as living artistic works that still have the power to move audiences. For anyone who loves Sinhala cinema, understanding Lester James Peries is not optional. He is the beginning of the story.