Sumitra Peries facts for kids

Kala Keerthi Sumitra Peries (born 24 March 1935 – died 19 January 2023) was a famous filmmaker from Sri Lanka. She was the very first woman to direct films in Sri Lanka. People often called her the "Poetess of Sinhala Cinema" because of her beautiful storytelling.

Besides making movies, she also worked as Sri Lanka's ambassador to countries like France and Spain, and even to the United Nations, in the late 1990s. Some of her most popular films include Gehenu Lamai, Ganga Addara, and Yahaluvo. She was married to another very famous Sri Lankan film director, Dr. Lester James Peries.

Early Life and Education

Sumitra Peries was born Sumitra Gunawardena on 24 March 1935. Her family, known as the "Boralugoda Gunewardene's," lived in Avissawella. Her father, Henry Gunawardena, was a lawyer in Avissawella. He was also the brother of well-known politicians Philip Gunawardena and Robert Gunawardena. Her mother, Harriette Wickramasinghe, came from a middle-class family.

Sumitra's mother passed away when Sumitra was only 14 years old. She had an older brother, Gamini, and an older sister, Chandralatha. She also had a younger brother named Ranjith. After their mother's death, Gamini went to live in France.

Schooling and Film Studies

Sumitra started her schooling in Avissawella. Later, she went to Visakha Vidyalaya in Colombo. She then studied at Aquinas College Colombo to prepare for her advanced level exams.

When she was 20, Sumitra traveled to Europe by ship to meet her brother Gamini. It was there that she began to build her career. She studied filmmaking at the London School of Film Technique from 1957 to 1959. She earned a special diploma in film direction and production. At that time, she was the only woman studying filmmaking there.

After finishing her studies, she worked for a short time at a subtitling company. Soon after, she returned to Sri Lanka. Before she left London, she met Lester James Peries through a friend.

When Sumitra arrived back in Sri Lanka, her brother Gamini asked Lester if Sumitra could work with him. Lester agreed, and Sumitra became an assistant director for his second film, Sandesaya. In 1963, a filmmaking company called Cinelanka was started. Lester, Sumitra, and Anton Wickramasinghe were the main owners.

Film Career and Other Work

Sumitra Peries began her journey as a film director with her first movie, Gehenu Lamai. This film introduced a new young actress, Vasanthi Chathurani. Gehenu Lamai was very successful and won many awards. Her next film, Ganga Addara, also starred Vasanthi Chathurani, along with Vijaya Kumaratunge and Sanath Gunathileke. It was another big hit. She went on to direct many more films that were praised around the world.

Sumitra Peries' Films

Other Important Roles

In the 1980s, Sumitra was part of a special government group for two years. This group looked into all parts of Sri Lanka's film industry, including its problems and what could be improved.

From 1988 to 1990, Peries was in charge of production for Worldview International in Sri Lanka. She was also a member of the Board of Management for the Institute of Aesthetic Studies at Kelaniya University.

Later, from 1996 to 1999, Sumitra Peries served as Sri Lanka's ambassador to France and Spain. She was also chosen by President Chandrika Bandaranayake Kumaratunge to be Sri Lanka's ambassador to the United Nations. She was in France when "FILM" celebrated its 200th birthday in its home country. This allowed her to join in all the celebrations with her husband, Lester James Peries.

Sumitra Peries won an award for being the best film director in fifty years of Sri Lankan cinema.

Later Years

Sumitra Peries' last film was Vaishnavee, which was filmed in 2012. For this movie, she was the first director to use the very new Red Epic camera. This helped set the stage for the next generation of digital cinema in Sri Lanka.

Sumitra and Lester Peries celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary on 19 June 2014. They lived happily in their home on the road named after Dr. Lester James Peries.

Two books have been written about her life and work. One is called Sumitra Peries by Vilasnee Tampoe-Hautin (in English), and the other is Sumitra by Ajith Galappaththi (in Sinhala).

Personal Life and Passing

Sumitra married Lester James Peries (1919–2018) on 19 June 1964. Their wedding was held at All Saints Church in Borella.

Sumitra Peries passed away on 19 January 2023, at the age of 87.

The Lester James Peries and Sumitra Peries Foundation

The Lester James Peries and Sumitra Peries Foundation was officially started on 9 June 2011. It was launched with a speech by the famous Indian filmmaker Dr. Adoor Gopalakrishnan. The Speaker of Parliament, Chamal Rajapakse, was also a special guest. This Foundation was created through a special law passed by the Parliament of Sri Lanka.

Honours and Awards

Sumitra Peries received many special honours and awards for her work.

Honours

• She received the title of Kala Keerthi from the Government of Sri Lanka in 2005. This is a high honour for people who have done great things in arts and culture.
• She was given the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays by the Government of Japan in 2021. This is a very important award from Japan.
• The University of Kelaniya gave her an Honorary Doctorate. This was to recognize her amazing contributions to local cinema.

International Awards

• Carthage International Film Festival – Gehenu Lamai – Diploma of Merit (1978). She shared a special jury award with Mirinal Sen from India.
• London Film Festival – Gehenu Lamai – Outstanding Film of the Year (1978).
• South Asian Film Festival in Tokyo, Japan – Ganga Addara – Diploma.
• Moscow International Film Festival – Yahalu Yeheli – Diploma (1984). A German TV channel bought this film in 1986.
• Filmex International Film Festival, Los Angeles – Yahalu Yeheli – Diploma (1985).
• International Film Festival, Tokyo – Sagara Jalaya – Named one of the Ten Best Films. A Japanese TV station bought it.
• Nantes International Film Festival – Loku Duwa – Diploma (1993).
• Fukuoka International Film Festival – Loku Duwa (1994).
• London Film Festival – Duwata Mawaka Misa – Diploma (1998).
• International Film Festival, India – Duwata Mawaka Misa (1998).
• Fukuoka International Film Festival – Duwata Mawaka Misa (1998).
• Golden Lotus – Deauville Award for "Contribution to Asian Cinema" (2001).

National Awards

Best Editor:

• Gamperaliya – Sarasaviya Film Awards (1964)
• Delovak Athara – Sarasaviya Film Awards (1967)
• Ahasin Polawata – Presidential Awards (1979) & OCIC Awards (1979)
• Bakmaha Deege – Critics Awards (1971)

Best Director:

• Ganga Addara – Sarasaviya Film Awards (1981) & Presidential Awards (1981)
• Yahalu Yeheli – Presidential Awards (1983) & OCIC Awards (1983)
• Maya – Sarasaviya Film Awards (1984) & National Award for Best Film and Best Director (1986)
• Sagara Jalaya – OCIC Awards (1989) & Swarna Sanka Awards (1988)
• Loku Duwa – Presidential Awards (1989) & Sarasaviya Silver Jubilee Awards (1988)
• Duwata Mawaka Misa – Presidential Awards (1996)
• Zonta Arthur C Clark Award for Communication (1988)
• Rana Thisara Lifetime Achievement Award (1993)

See also

• Sri Lankan Non Career Diplomats