LIGHTS! CAMERA! THANUJA!
Television icon makes acting debut with ‘Podu’
In this 21st century which is a decisive era towards creating a life sustaining culture through constructive dialogues with modern mindsets, Sri Lanka’s television heartthrob Thanuja Jayawardana has always taken up challenges fearlessly to fulfil her primary objective of using her skills as a strategic communicator, to influence and create a positive impact on the people’s perceptions and thinking patterns. This luminous and charismatic personality has constantly worked within a humanistic framework, willing to grasp new know-how and realising the reality of her uniqueness.
In her newest mission, this award-winning television icon is making her debut as an actress in the youth-centric mini tele series ‘Podu’ which is now being telecast at 8.30 pm every Saturday and Sunday.
Q: THE SPOTLIGHTS AND CAMERAS ARE NOT ALIEN TO YOU AS A SEASONED AND RENOWNED TELEVISION PERSONALITY OF THIS COUNTRY. BUT HOW CHALLENGING WAS IT DONNING A NEW ROLE AS A TELEDRAMA ACTRESS? HOW DID YOU ADAPT YOURSELF TO THIS ROLE AS AN ACTRESS?
Well, for that matter any role is challenging because we have to maintain a degree of integrity with the audience. But I feel what matters most is your level of selfconfidence when you are before the camera, be it in the role of a
TV host or actress. So this was not something new to me.
Q: CHANGING FROM THE ROLE OF TV HOST TO ACTRESS. WHAT PARALLELS DID YOU EXPERIENCE?
If you ask me to differentiate between the two roles, I must initially say that as a TV presenter or host you really have to be your own personality before the camera. You must be authentic. But as an actress you have to get your real personality out of you and get into the shoes of another character as per the script. Talking of parallels, the TV host must be well aware of what you are going to talk and how skillfully you are managing things on-air despite the earpiece prompts. As an actress too you have to scrutinise the role, understand the scenario, remember and deliver your dialogues in an authentic, natural manner to build that vital trust with the audience.
Q: THERE IS THIS CURRENT GLOBAL TREND INCLUDING OUR COUNTRY WHERE POPULAR ACTORS AND ACTRESSES AT SOME POINT OF TIME SWITCH TO TELEVISION PRESENTING OR HOSTING. BUT YOU ARE A RARE PERSONALITY
WHO HAS MADE IT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. WHICH IS MORE ADVANTAGEOUS? TRANSITION FROM ACTING TO PRESENTING OR PRESENTING TO ACTING?
Either way it is certainly a challenge. But here I feel, what matters most is the popularity factor and how well you are trusted and adored by the masses. Needless to say that, both professions require a high degree of professionalism and it all depends how comfortable and flawless you are before the camera.
We need not invent adjectives to describe Thanuja’s level of confidence and professionalism in her field because her name itself is an adjective.
At a time when there is debate over development and social change, this unique communicator is using all her prowess, skills and influence to fulfil that need, exploring the potential of communication – using it as a tool to empower people, especially the children, youth and women and influence their day to day lives for a better tomorrow.
Thanuja has today become a household name with the Saturday night hit programme ‘Thaala Baashana’ and ‘Ape Sinduwa’.
Podu director Sharmila Dharmarasa Fonseka who commented on Thanuja’s maiden role as an actress said she never directed her but just let her play her natural self.
“Working in different television channels we have known each other on general terms, but after her contribution to Podu it was a great opportunity for me to become her friend. I really enjoyed working with this lovely character and I appreciate her professionalism before and behind the camera. That’s an exceptional trait and she did justice to her character in Podu. She played the character called Vasugi in her own way,” said Sharmila. Thanuja, talking about her director Sharmila Dharmarasa said she was overwhelmed by the dignified treatment and respect she was given on the sets of ‘Podu’ right from the beginning to the end.
“Being treated with dignity is so vital for an artiste. I think Sharmila ensured that I was always made comfortable. It was indeed a pleasure working with the highly gifted first time director who was so professional and amply skilled. I must thank the entire cast and crew for their support too and for their spirit of commitment, especially to camera director Nilantha Kumara who added a lot of colourful treatment to Podu. I am generally a strong believer of team spirit and as a team player of Podu, I trust I must attribute teamwork, commitment and dedication to the success of the whole project,” said Thanuja. Thanuja Jayawardana has always used her skills, education, credibility, experience and charisma to establish her niche to generate the trust and love of the small screen audiences. Her newest role as Vasugi in TV Derana’s Podu is certainly going to amplify the celebrity status of this multitalented girl.
“What matters most is your level of self confidence when you are before the camera”