Sunil Mihindukula

Mihindukulasuriya Sunil Kaithan Fernando (Sinhala: සුනිල් මිහිඳුකුල; 22 September 1960 – 30 May 2017), commonly known as Sunil Mihindukula, was a Sri Lankan journalist, film critic, and author. He wrote extensively on cinema, literature, drama, and music.^[1][2]

Sunil Mihindukula සුනිල් මිහිඳුකුල
Born	Mihindukulasuriya Sunil Kaithan Fernando (1960-09-22)22 September 1960 Negombo, Sri Lanka
Died	30 May 2017(2017-05-30) (aged 56) Colombo, Sri Lanka
Nationality	Sri Lankan
Education	Maris Stella College
Occupation(s)	Journalist, scriptwriter, researcher, author, columnist, film critic, film & drama art archivist
Years active	1978–2016
Spouse	Suraji Karunathilake
Children	4 Sachindra Mihindukula, Shehan Mihindukula, Shanaka Mihindukula, Sanjula Mihindukula
Awards	President's Award

Biography

Sunil Mihindukula was born on 22 September 1960 in Negombo to a Catholic family.^[3] He was educated at Maris Stella College in Negombo.^[2]

He was married to Suraji Karunathilake,^[4] an officer who worked with the Information Department, and they had four sons:^[5] Sachindra, Shehan, Shanaka, and Sanjula Mihindukula.^[6]

Mihindukula died on 30 May 2017 at the age of 56,^[7] and was cremated on 1 June 2017 at the Rukmalgama General Cemetery.^[8]

Career

His interest in films began while attending Maris Stella College. After graduating, he worked with several media personalities such as Gunasiri Silva, Jayantha Chandrasiri, and Prem Dissanayake.^[2] He began his journalism career by writing articles on art for the Navaliya magazine, edited by Jayantha Chandrasiri. In 1978, he began his career in film journalism with an article for Sakura Magazine, edited by Gunasiri Silva.^[9] He continued to work with Silva on his publications and later contributed to 'Vichithra' publications compiled by Prem Dissanayake in 1987.^[3] He joined the Lankadeepa newspaper in 1979 as a feature writer. In the same year, he joined the national political newspaper 'Sathdina', where he wrote articles on literature. At the invitation of editor Wimalendra Wathuregama, Mihindukula also joined the film newspaper 'Piyakaru' to write film critiques.^[10]

He also wrote articles as a freelance journalist for magazines such as 'Sinesith'.^[1] In 1981, he wrote his first film review for 'Lankadeepa', covering Sugathapala Senarath Yapa's film Induta Mal Mitak. In the same year, he joined the editorial staff of 'Desathiya', published by the Government Information Department.^[1] In 1984, he wrote articles for the periodicals 'Kalpana' and 'Peramaga'.^[10]

In 1988, he joined the film newspaper 'Kala'. In 1990, he joined the 'Ravaya' newspaper, edited by Victor Ivan, as editor of the cinema page. In 1991, he held the post of Publication Assistant at the Social and Peace Center. He worked as a film writer for Udaya Tennakoon's 'Thira Tharu' starting in 1990 and for the film newspaper 'Rasa', edited by Ernest Waduge, in 1994. Mihindukula joined Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited (Lake House or ANCL) as a full-time journalist in the mid-90s and was appointed sub-editor of the 'Dinamina' newspaper in 1995.^[11] He then became the deputy editor of the 'Sarasaviya' newspaper.^[12] Subsequently, he became the chief editor of 'Sarasaviya' in 2009.^[9] During his tenure, he introduced supplements for literature, stage drama, and music.^[10]

While chief editor of 'Sarasaviya', he also joined Silumina in 2007 as editor of the 'Rasaduna' tabloid anthology, published with the 'Silumina' weekend newspaper and compiled by Dharmasiri Gamage.^[2] His column 'Paryalokaya' for the Silumina Literary Supplement also covered drama. Mihindukula compiled 'Rasaduna' for over a decade and concurrently served as co-editor of 'Silumina'. At the invitation of 'Sarasaviya' editor Aruna Gunaratne, he started writing a series of articles entitled 'Dramatists and Their Creations' in mid-2016.^[3] He worked at Lake House until his retirement in 2016.^[10]

As a film critic, he served on the Film Jury at several film festivals, was a member of the Arts Sub-Committee under the Department of Culture, and a member of the Teledrama Pre-Monitoring Board. He was also the editor of the film magazine 'Sadisi', published by the Sri Lanka Film Corporation.^[10] Over the course of four decades, he wrote more than 1,000 articles in various newspapers on Sinhala cinema and other fields of art.^[13] Following his retirement from journalism in 2016, the series of articles entitled 'Natyakaruwo Saha Owunge Nirmana', which he began writing in mid-2016, was published weekly in 'Sarasaviya'.^[2]

Mihindukula received the Presidential Cinema Award for his contributions to cinema and journalism at the Presidential Film Festival.^[14] On 29 December 2005, he won the Cyril B. Perera Memorial Cinema Literary Award at the SIGNIS Award Ceremony held at the Elphinstone Theatre, Colombo 10.^[1][9] He also received the Cine Media Vision Film Writing Award and a Raigam Tele'es Merit Award for his screenplay for Roopawalokanaya National Television at the Raigam Tele'es.^[10][15] On 4 May 2017, Mihindukula was recognized for his contributions to cinema and cinema literature at an event held at the auditorium of the Mass Media Ministry.^[16][17] During this event, a book titled 'Sunil Mihindukula Cinema Sahithya Sampradana', edited by Prof. Samantha Herath and writer/poet Buddadasa Galappatti, was released.^[14][18]

Author works

In addition to his journalism career, Mihindukula was an author.^[19] He wrote his first book in 1989, a biography titled 'Rukmani Devi Niliya Gayikawa Ha Janapriya Sanskruthiya'. In 1991, he published a critical review of the film 'Thun Man Handiya', directed by Mahagama Sekara. In 1997, he published three books: 'Minerva Theater Group', 'Kadawunu Poronduwa', and 'Lester James Pieris Sinhala Cinemawe Jayakodi Lakuna'. He also wrote a film review on fellow film critic Jayawilal Wilegoda.^[1] In 2010, he published the book 'Cinema Sanskruthika Pragnaya' about Tissa Abeysekara.^[20] Other books he wrote include 'Sinhala Cinema Sihiawatana', 'Cinemawata Hedinweemak', 'Sri Lankeya Demala Bhashitha Cinemawa', 'Indeeya Cinemawe Dahathunweni Bhashawa', 'Uththama Purusha Eka Wachana', and 'Sinhala Cinemawe Arbudha'.^[10][21]

In 2012, he wrote the book "Picture Pissa". By 2017, he had written 22 books, 17 of which were about cinema.^[22] His books covered a wide range of topics, including film data, information on filmmakers, and film reviews.^[23] Two of his other books were on drama, and another was based on columns he had written for various newspapers.^[24] His last book was 'Ranjith Dharmakeerthi Natyavalokanaya'.^[3] Edited by Edward Chandrasiri, this book was launched in September 2020 after Mihindukula's death.^[25][26]

Author works

• Rukmani Devi Niliya Gayikawa Ha Janapriya Sanskruthiya
• Thunman Handiya Vicharaya
• Minerva Theater Group
• Kadawunu Poronduwa Vicharaya
• Lester James Pieris Sinhala Cinemawe Jayakodi Lakuna
• Jayawilal Wilegoda Cinema Wichara
• Cinema Sanskruthika Pragnaya
• Sinhala Cinema Sihiawatana
• Cinemawata Hedinweemak
• Sri Lankeya Demala Bhashitha Cinemawa
• Indeeya Cinemawe Dahathunweni Bhashawa
• Uththama Purusha Eka Wachana
• Paryaloka^[27]
• Sinhala Cinemawe Arbudha
• Ranjith Dharmakeerthi Natyavalokanaya^[28]