Sri Lankan cinema lost yet another legend as veteran cinematographer Donald Karunarathna passed away on Sunday in Los Angeles, USA, at the age of 77.
Karunarathna has worked as a cinematographer on over 60 films, including productions by directors like Lester James Peiris, Dharmasena Pathiraja, Vasantha Obeysekera, Sumitra Peiris, and Tissa Abeysekara.
Some of his notable works are Ahas Gauwa (1974), Ahasin Polawata (1978), Karumakkarayo (1980), Ganga Addara (1980), and Kaliyugaya (1981). Karunarathna also worked on Dadayama (1983), Golu Muhude Kunatuwa (1991), and Ponmani (1993). His more recent movies include Sakkarang (2016), Vaishnawi (2017), and Sikuru Yogaya (2019).
Karunarathna’s work as a cinematographer hasn’t gone unnoticed, and in 2017, he received the President’s Lifetime Award in recognition of it. He has also won 19 best cinematographer awards. This includes recognition for his work in Ahasin Polovata, Ganga Addara, Malata Noena Bambaru, Yahalu Yeheli, Dadayama, and Maya.
Tribute was paid by many in the film industry, with filmmaker Boodee Keerthisena saying Karunarathna’s passing has left him with sadness, as he was the first professional cinematographer Keerthisena worked with. “It was somewhere in 1988/89 during the height of Insurgency. He shot my short film Redeem, written by Kamal Addararachchi (approximately 39 minutes). Then again in 2010, he collaborated with me in my film Matha.”
Keerthisena added: “He was also a great teacher of cinema.”
Chathurangi Rasikala Pathirage who is attached to Thrii Productions and has worked on movies like Matha (2012), Nimnayaka Hudakalawa (2016), and Vijayaba Kollaya (2019), shared memories of Karunarathna, who was her grandfather’s friend when they lived in the same neighbourhood at one point.
“Later, I had the opportunity of working with [Karunarathna], who was one of the three main cinematographers of the first movie I worked on. For this reason, he is special to me,” she said, going into detail about her experience as part of the Matha crew.
“Operating the camera in a war movie is no easy task, but [Karunarathna] never remembered his age once he had his camera in hand. He was that active. I still remember him speedily walking backwards while sinking in the sand, just to shoot one of the war scenes. These moments took me by surprise, since he was my grandfather’s age.”
Meanwhile, Namal Dantanarayana, who is credited as a visual effects artist on Matha, paid tribute to the cinematographer, saying he was fortunate to meet Karunarathna and learn from him at the very start of his career in cinema.
Pubudu Chathuranga, who starred in Sakkarang, shared that he was lucky to work with Karunarathna on the movie. “He was a work perfectionist and a great human being who made an enormous contribution towards Sri Lankan cinema as a director of photography,” Pubudu Chathuranga said.
Film producer, director, and cinematographer Pravin Jayaratne also said farewell to Donald Karunarathna. “The first time I met you was while you were working as the cameraman for the feature film Awaragira, directed by late Leister James Peiris, which was produced by my father late Dilman Jayaratne in around 1988,” he said, adding this the final release prints printed at their very own laboratory at Dil Films in Sri Lanka produced wonderful colours with lovely contrast all thanks to his talent. “Exposing a 64 ASA negative is no easy task, but you did a great job!”
Jayaratne added: “I will always remember you as a jolly gentleman with a smile-full face.”
