All eyes on Damith: The breakout face of Clarence

The soul behing the strings

- BY ZANITA CAREEM

A scene from the movie, Rhythm of the Guitar

The story of Clarence Wijewardena, who rewrote the flow of Sinhala music with use of the electric guitar in the 60s. Produced by Thusitha Wijayasena, this musical drama is more than just a tribute, it's a verse of generational nostalgia.

The lights dimmed, the screen flickered and a familiar melody floored through the theatre. For a moment, the audience forget they were watching a film. People felt as if Clarence Wijewardena himself had returned to sing. But on screen it was Damith Wijayathunga, a young actor and model stepping into the golden era of Sri Lankan music. This is his first cinematic role.

Damith had already built a name as Mister Sri Lanka in 2017 and Man of the World 2017 pageant in the Philippines, where he impressed judges with his physique, charisma and stage presence. These victories gave him a platform to build his reputation as one of the top models in the country.

Soon he became a TV presenter and also the face of fashion campaigns.

Yet taking onthe film,