DR. AROSHA EYEING GUINNESS TITLE FOR ‘GURU GEETHAYA’
Renowned film producer and MPI Circuit Director Dr. Arosha Fernando is known for his positive contributions towards the welfare of the local film industry. He has proved it beyond doubt by producing 16 films within a short span of five years. While five of those movies have already been released, 11 more are in the pipeline. But today we focus on a Guinness World Record title that is in the pipeline for Dr. Arosha Fernando. “We are awaiting the Guinness Record sanction for my movie production ‘GURU GEETHAYA’, which has been shot in the highest altitude in the Himalayan mountain range, thus setting a world record. The film was also selected for the ‘World Premiere’ at the Eurasia International Film Festival in Kazakhstan last year and also at the Moscow International Film Festival,” said a confident Dr. Arosha Fernando. ‘The First Teacher’ by award-winning author Chingiz Aitmatov who had also been awarded the Lenin Prize for literature and the Arts in 1963, has been translated to Sinhala as ‘Guru Geethaya’. It is a widely read book by the Sinhala readership. Its political theme and the love story caught the hearts of Sri Lankan youth.
WAS GURU GEETHAYA PRODUCED WITH THE INTENTION OF SETTING THIS WORLD RECORD?
Never. This high budget movie based on a popular novel was directed by debutant Upali Gamlath. It is he who chose this location as it resembled the most suitable setting as depicted in the novel. We had to undergo a lot of hassles to shoot at this high altitude. We had to carry all our film equipment on the backs of donkeys covering some 90 kilometers up the mountain. It was so tedious but our objective was to make a credible and fascinating movie. The movie has come out well and it is awaiting release.
WERE YOU AWARE OF THE WORLD RECORD WHEN YOU SHOT THE FILM?
No, that was never in my mind. It was the Nepalese Film Board that informed us about this status and motivated us to seek Guinness recognition for it. I am thankful to the hard working director Upali Gamlath and his dedicated team for doing a fine job.
WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER 11 FILMS OF YOURS AWAITING RELEASE?
I hope Guru Geethaya will release early next year and I am also hopeful of the release of ‘Breaking News’ produced by me and directed by Lucky Dias. It is the last film that featured the late popular actor Vijaya Nandasiri. Even his wife, veteran actress Devika Mihirani and children are eagerly looking forward to the film’s release. My other films will also release soon as the crisis in the film industry subsides.
BESIDES FILM PRODUCTION, YOU ARE A DIRECTOR AND SHAREHOLDER OF THE MPI FILM CIRCUIT AND ALSO PLANNING NEW CINEMA HALLS?
I am proud to say that I am probably the only new entrant to the film circuit business, largely because of my commitment towards uplifting our local film industry. I am also working on a big budget project to initiate 60 cinema halls in the country. I hope the political situation will be conducive soon to make those projects a reality.
“The film was also selected for the ‘World Premiere’ at the Eurasia International Film Festival in Kazakhstan last year and also at the Moscow International Film Festival”