V. Vamadevan

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Vairamuthu Vamadevan
වෛරමුත්තු වාමදේවන්
வைரமுத்து வ���மதேவன்
Born
Vairamuthu Vamadevan

(1935-05-22)May 22, 1935
Achchuveli, Sri Lanka
DiedFebruary 14, 2019(2019-02-14) (aged 83)
Colombo, Sri Lanka
NationalitySri Lankan
Other namesVaama
EducationKopay Christian College
OccupationActor, cinematographer
Years active1957–2017
Spouse(s)Siththima
Children4
AwardsBest Cinematographer

Vairamuthu Vamadevan (22 May 1935 – 14 February 2019 වෛරමුත්තු වාමදේවන්, Tamil: வைரமுத்து வாமதேவன்), popularly known as V. Vamadevan was a prolific cinematographer in Sri Lankan cinema.[1] Considered as one of the pioneer cinematographers in Sinhala cinema,[2] Vamadevan made several critically acclaimed films in a career spanned for more than six decades.[3]

Personal life[]

Vamadevan was born on September 16, 1916 at the in Achchuveli, Jaffna, Sri Lanka.[3] He completed education from Kopay Christian College, Jaffna.[4]

He was married to his longtime partner, Siththima. The couple had one son: Darshan, three daughters: Priyatharshini, Indumathi and Vasuki. He was survived by his family at his residence No. 86, Muhandiram Road, Kollupitiya, Colombo 03.[5]

He died on 14 February 2019 at the age of 83 while receiving treatments at Colombo National Hospital.[3][6][7] Funeral was held on 17 February 2019.[8]

Career[]

He was obsessed with cinema while in college, where he used to keep film magazines in his textbooks and was beaten more than once.[7] Eventually, he ran away from home to somehow go to India and contribute to the film industry in Madras.[6] However in 1957, he joined with Ceylon Studio on Kirula Road in Colombo as an assistant technician. A group of Indian technicians worked hard to start a laboratory at the Ceylon Art Gallery.[5] where Vamadevan also got a job as a laboratory assistant under the guidance of P. Mahendran.[3] During this period, Ceylon Studio has been working on the film Daskama. Then in B. A. W. Jayamanne's film Vanaliya allowed him to work as an assistant cameraman for the first time. In the film, he worked under M. D. Sumanasekara, the first Sinhala cinematographer in Ceylon cinema. Then Vamadevan was the assistant cameraman of Oba Dutu Daa, Hadisi Vivahaya and Kawata Andarae.[2] During this period, he met the friend Gamini Fonseka.[4] He first met Gamini when the film Sri 296 was made in Ceylon Studios. He then worked as an assistant cameraman and assisted in the completion of the film Seegiri Kashyapa. Meanwhile, Vamadevan trained as an assistant cameraman under renowned cinematographer M. S. Ananda.[3]

Ataweni Pudumaya Opening in 1968 Wijaya Studios, (Vamadevan is third from right)

At that time, Vamadevan met Shivanandan, the advertising manager of Cinemas Limited and was able to make his intentions to work with V. Rameshwaram who was the Managing Director of Cinemas Limited, India.[3] But by then, Cinemas had also stopped making films in India and was building a huge studio, Vijaya Studio in Hendala, Wattala in Sri Lanka.[7] Although Vamadevan was an assistant cameraman, he assisted with everything in the Vijaya studio in 1960.[2] When at Vijaya Studio, his friendship with Gamini Fonseka blossomed at the Vijaya studio.[6] As a request from Gamini, Vamadevan made his maiden cinematography in the film Oba Dutu Da directed by Shivanandan. Then, Vamadevan joined with the filmmaker Masthan and Gamini forced Masthan to give cinematography of the film Sura Chauraya in 1967.[4]

Since then, Vamadevan has excelled in a number of films including;[7] Aatma Pooja, Edath Sūrayā Adath Sūrayā, Sūrayangeth Sūrayā, Hondama Welāva, Hondai Narakai, Hita Honda Minihek, Kavuda Rajā, Deviyani Oba Kohida, Apsarā, Chin Chin Nōnā, Uthumāṇeni, Sabeethā, Mayurigē Kathāva, Bāndurā Mal, Sakviti Suvaya, Sāgarayak Mæda, Koṭi Valigaya, Satyagrahaṇaya and Nomiyena Minisun.[9] He has also contributed to several foreign films such as Rampage, The Further Adventures of Tennessee Buck, and Mother Teresa: In the Name of God's Poor.[3] He is the first cinematographer to win the award for the Best Cinematographer at first Presidential Awards Ceremony for the film Rampage.[6][5]

Vamadevan became a film producer with the film Ra Manamali. Among the films directed by Gamini Fonseka, the only film Vamadevan did not act in was Ra Manamali. The film was one of Vamadevan's excellent black and white photography films. In 2010, he was awarded the lifetime Rana Thisara Award at the Sarasaviya Awards.[4] In 2014, he was represented the film industry on the Board of Directors of the National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka.[10][11] In 2018, he was honored with Lifetime Achievement Award at the Jaffna International Film Festival.[12] At the 72nd anniversary celebrations of Sinhala cinema, Vamadevan was recognized and honored him with awards for one last time.[13] His last cinema contribution came through the film Surya which is yet to release.[5]

Filmography[]

Year Film Roles Ref.
1962 Ranmuthu Duwa Assistant cinematographer
1967 Sura Chauraya Cinematographer
1968 Ataweni Pudumaya Cinematographer
1969 Suryangeth Suraya Cinematographer
1969 Uthum Sthriya Cinematographer
1970 Aathma Pooja Cinematographer
1973 Hondama Welawa Cinematographer
1973 Hondai Narakai Cinematographer
1973 Hondata Hondai Cinematographer
1974 Sheela Cinematographer
1974 Duppathage Hithawatha Cinematographer
1976 Kawuda Raja Cinematographer
1976 Onna Mame Kella Panapi Cinematographer
1976 Adarei Man Adarei Cinematographer
1977 Neela Cinematographer
1977 Deviyani Oba Kohida Cinematographer [14]
1977 Chin Chin Nona Cinematographer [15]
1977 Aege Adara Kathawa Cinematographer
1978 Sithaka Suwanda Cinematographer
1978 Mage Ran Putha Cinematographer
1978 Apsara Cinematographer
1978 Rampage Cinematographer [16]
1979 Subhani Cinematographer
1980 Uthumaneni Cinematographer
1980 Sabeetha Cinematographer
1980 Miyurige Kathawa Cinematographer
1982 Ra Manamali Cinematographer, Producer
1982 Sagarayak Meda Cinematographer
1981 Bandura Mal Cinematographer
1982 Sakvithi Suwaya Cinematographer
1982 Jeewithayen Jeewithayak Cinematographer
1982 Paaramitha Cinematographer
1982 Miss Mallika Cinematographer
1986 Koti Waligaya Cinematographer
1987 Sathyagrahanaya Cinematographer [17]
1987 Kele Kella Cinematographer
1988 The Further Adventures of Tennessee Buck Second camera operator
1994 Pawana Ralu Viya Camera Operator
1996 Hitha Honda Geheniyak Cinematographer, Still Photographer
1997 Mother Teresa: In the Name of God's Poor Camera Operator
2001 Poronduwa Camera Operator

References[]

  1. ^ "Sinhala Cinema: V Vamadevan". National Film Corporation. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  2. ^ a b c "Camera by stealth". Daily News. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "V. Vamadevan who shaped the cinema from the camera". Divaina. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  4. ^ a b c d "Vamadevan, who saw life through a black and white image". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  5. ^ a b c d "We made stars then: Veteran cinematographer V. Leftists". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  6. ^ a b c d "Vamadevan passes away". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  7. ^ a b c d "Veteran cameraman Vamadevan passes away". mirrorarts. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  8. ^ "Cameraman Vamadevan passes away". saaravita. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  9. ^ "Veteran cameraman Vamadevan bids farewell". cinema.lk. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  10. ^ "Vamadevan - Tissa Liyanasuriya to the Board of Directors of the Corporation". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  11. ^ "Directors of the Film Corporation: Tissa and Vamadevan". Divaina. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  12. ^ "Vaama, honors from his hometown: V.Vamadevan". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  13. ^ "Vamadevan leave life cinema and life". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  14. ^ "All about the film Deviyani Oba Kohida". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  15. ^ "Chin Chin Nona, who came before Tom Pachaya". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-03-05.
  16. ^ "Rampage (1978)". IMDb. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  17. ^ "Sathyagrahanaya film". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-02-17.

External links[]

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