An award winning film director who helped me dream big

His credentials and accomplishments are long: From award winning Director of Films, to pioneer in Sri Lankan television, the first to be appointed Professor in Cinema and Television, and more recently instrumental in creating the first degree course in cinema and television. To me, Dr. D.B. Nihalsinghe was the man who influenced me to take up a career in film and television.

I was out of school when I met him and his family. His father, the late D.B. Dhanapala, was my mother’s ‘boss’ at the Dawasa Group of Newspapers. It was through this association that our two families came to know each other. D.B. Dhanapala, his wife, Rathi Dhanapala (teacher, poet and artist) their two sons, D.B. Nihalsinghe and the well-known photographer the late D.B Suranimala, and their sister Sumitha: they are a kind, gentle and warm family, each one always willing to share every bit of knowledge they have with anyone who is willing to learn.

Like my mother, I was leaning towards a career in communications. I was keen on learning about television production despite the lack of television technology in Sri Lanka and no career opportunities at the time. He knew that one day television would and had to be introduced.Nihalsinghe was a visionary in every way.

Nihalsinghe understood my thirst for this career and suggested that I watch him at work.If I remember right, it was Sath Samudura. He was doing what he loved best - being cameraman. The way he held his camera, with such precision, the artistry in the camera angles and his command to interpret the story through the lens was inspirational. The whole idea of movie making fascinated me through this one man’s talent. It was at such a moment that I was convinced to be a part of the moving image. I pay tribute to a man who encouraged me to follow my dream, for which I continue to be eternally grateful. It was Nihalsinghe who convinced my mother to send me overseas to study television production as it was not a subject taught at the time in Sri Lanka. This was the start of my career and I ended up in Berlin, Germany to study film and TV with camera as my focus.

I was happy to have had the opportunity to meet Nihalsinghe very recently at the Sybil Wettasinghe Kuda Hora exhibition, where we chatted about our grandchildren. I not only thank you, Nihal, for my own journey in television which gave me such an enriched life but for what you have contributed to our beloved country’s film industry.

May your soul rest in peace.