The Complete Location
Sri Lanka’s recognition as an outstanding location for international films goes back to the early 1950s, when the island and its special features were discovered by leading names in cinema in the West. What began with “The Song of Ceylon”, a 1934 documentary, placed the island on the film location map of the world.
British filmmaker Carol Reed, who made the memorable film “Outcast of the Islands” (1952) here, when the country was known as Ceylon said: “Ceylon is the most natural and complete outdoor set.”
From then on the lure of the island has brought accolades from filmmakers and those closely associated with films.
British Director Don Boyd who made “East of Elephant Rock” in Sri Lanka said: “Entire Ceylon (Sri Lanka) Is a Movie Set” (1977).
In 2011, the Bollywood film icon Amitabh Bachchan described Sri Lanka as “an island of thousand treasures”. He said, “Be mesmerized by turquoise beautiful skies, miles of golden beaches, acres and acres of lush greenery, tea gardens, colourful wildlife, dazzling city life, explore a world of history, culture and religion.” He was speaking on the selection of Sri Lanka as the location and host for IIFA 2011.
From the early accolades to the present day, admiration of Sri Lanka as a film location destination is seen by the films made here from the time of Carol Reed’s “Outcast of the Islands” to “Elephant Walk” (William Dieterle – 1954), “The Beachcomber” (1954 – Muriel Box), “The Bridge on the River Kwai” (David Lean – 1957), “Tarzan the Ape Man” (1981 – John Derek), “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (Steven Spielberg -1984) and “The Second Jungle Book: Mowgli & Baloo (1997 – Duncan McLachlan). To this very short list of memorable names must be added the work of Sri Lanka’s own great filmmaker Lester James Peries all of whose award winning and well received films were made here along with another prominent filmmaker of Sri Lanka – Yasapalitha Nanayakkara.
Location Logistics
Sri Lanka is a compact island which offers easy access to the different parts of the island; it has varying climate and terrain all within a few hour’s drive or even less by air.
The country’s road network is fast expanding giving a choice of expressways and highways to the winding roads and the footpaths and sand tracks in the rural hinterland.
Transport is modern and quick. There are the latest vehicles and also a good collection of vintage cars among collectors which can be of great help to set the time for a period film.
Rail transport is also good and one can take the camera through very colourful terrains with a good combination of seaside landscapes and winding mountain tracks.
River and sea transport is also ready available including ships which offer a good setting for a cruise.
It is significant that Sri Lanka has been picked as the successful location for certain films where locations and shooting in other countries have been refused.
This comes from the liberal society in Sri Lanka.
As one of the most experienced and recognised film location services Sri Lanka has to offer, NKAR Film Eye is also able to speed up officialdom and obtain authority for shoots where such permission is needed.
Buildings and Architecture
The rich history of Sri Lanka dating back to more than 2300 years has an abundance of construction to suit the many and diverse needs of filmmakers. Whatever the background your script is set in, the opportunities are immense for the most suitable location to be found in Sri Lanka with the trained assistance of NKAR Film Eye.
The architecture extends from ancient and modern Buddhist temples, the ornate “gopurams” and chariots of Hindu temples, the minarets of Islam, and Christian churches showcasing diverse faiths and ages that reflect different traditions of buildings.
There is also the ancient irrigation works, pleasure gardens and palaces that still ring in the glory of the past with an easy blend to the cinema.
Lay constriction has a similar range of expression from colonial buildings dating back to the days of the Portuguese (early 16th Century) to the subsequent arrivals of the Dutch and British. There are Portuguese and Dutch forts and buildings that preserve the Dutch colonial traditions and the later British trends in architecture.
Hotel architecture is also of a rich and varied range, showing the best of Sri Lankan and foreign architects located in the most scenic places and with interiors that tempt the most discerning directors.
Sports & Entertainment
Sri Lanka is rapidly gaining notice as a centre for sports and recreation in South Asia.
From cricket – the most popular of sports, to rugby, tennis and badminton, swimming and other sports, the country has it all. Sri Lanka has good talent and many locations for sporting events that can be staged for film.
The country also has four reputed golf courses, in the city of Colombo, near Kandy in the hill country, near Trincomalee harbor & Nuwara Eliya in the central mountains that can serve the needs for colourful locations and sporting venues.
The Range on Offer
NKAR Film Eye brings you the most diverse locations in Sri Lanka – in a combination of history and culture, people and camaraderie and hospitality and warmth that draws filmmakers from the world over seeking special locations in South and South East Asia that have universal appeal.
The scenery can vary from beaches to tea draped mountains, busy city centres to village fairs and markets, serene Buddhist temples in ancient cities dating back more than 2500 years to Hindu shrines from a thousand years ago and churches that date to the Portuguese times of the 16th Century to the culture of the Islamic faith. We can take you to experience historic art and architecture, wildlife safaris on the trail of the leopard, the path of the elephant and the colours of peacock’s plumes. In fact these are easily described as ‘Gems of Locations’ as good and sparkling as the gems that Sri Lanka has been famous for throughout history.
