While he grew up in Sri Lanka, Bhadraji Mahinda Jayatilaka was inspired by writers such as GB Senanayake and WA Silva. Senanayake and Silva were influenced by western literature. Their stories had the element of suspense. Also, the books we read as young people, though some were not considered as great classics and were titled under the genre Maraka Katha (Horror and Murder mysteries) were inspiring. But some people who read only classics called such novels trashy or pulp fiction.
Bhadraji Mahinda Jayatilaka is a novelist, vocalist, screenwriter and actor. He has written many books in Sinhala and English. Many Fiction and non-fiction work is credited to his pen.
K Lionel Perera’s Angaharu Lowen Aa Minissu (Men from Mars) made Jayatilaka think of outer space and aliens. Plus TG W de Silva’s Maha Rae Hamuwu Isthriya (The Woman Met Around Midnight) was an interesting title that aroused curiosity. Then there were many books that Demon Ananada wrote which covered lots of mystery, suspense and vampires and murder. Another inspiration for such novels was the famous one by Prime Minister SWRD Bandaranaike titled Maha Hene Reeri Yaka (The Bloody Demon of the Great Chena).
“I wanted to write something little more than a so-called trashy novel but something with more “meat” in them. With something more substantial in the story for the reader,” notes Bhadraji.
He does not like to categorize his books as horror novels. They remain as suspense novels. Ulamage Raathriya (The Night of the Wood Owl) was his first attempt at this genre. Before this, he had written radio plays for SLBC which were produced by the late great Sugathapala de Silva and Children’s Plays for Lama Ranga Peetaya produced by Mahinda Algama.
“I wrote ULAMA first as a radio play to be serialized. Then I thought, as a radio play it will be produced and broadcast perhaps once and then will dissipate into thin air. That is when I changed it into a novel,” Bhadraji recalls the good old days.
As his literary agent in Sri Lanka, I witnessed Jayatilaka’s Ulamage Raathriya going into many reprints. The story was made into a television drama as a series. Professor Nimal Senanayake wrote the script based on the book and Jayatilaka even played a role.
Of all the books, Bhadraji’s suspense trilogy: Sanda Viyaruwa (Moon Madness), Bodilimage Saapaya (Curse of the Chameleon) and Dura Kandu Matha Akunu (Lightning Upon the Distant Mountains) remains aloof. He has tried to create a different theme in each story held together by the element of suspense. These three stories all have moral values, and at the same time, enlighten the readers about werewolves, ghosts and aliens from outer space all of which create curiosity in the readers.
Horror novels are not alien to Sinhala readership. Jayatilake’s stories go beyond the horror genre. His style covers a wider ground in content. His stories are informative.
In fact, Jayatilaka is influenced by the writers of East and West. But he never dares to imitate or copy them. He wants his stories to be original and unique and be full of surprises and suspense.
“I feel my stories are beyond mere mystery or magical realism and I try to bring something new to the reader with each of my creations. Variety is the spice of life. I prefer the word suspense to mere horror.”
Horror just scares you, but suspense keeps you on the edge of the seat and makes you keep turning the pages. If it is only horror or horrific, one may be so scared to read any further. But suspense will hold the reader bound to the book and will make you wonder what happens next. Thus, it becomes a page-turner.
In his creative writing, Jayatilaka tries to write in different styles and in a different genre. He has been inspired by what happens in the world today and from long gone history and future possible events. A writer always has to go up above from his life’s sailboat and look around and see what had passed and what is yet to come and what is happening all around. This awareness connects the creative writer with the creative spirit. The word inspiration comes from being “In Spirit”. Our breath is called respiration and life is this breath. Everything is connected to the life force with breath and inspiration. If you know how to tap into the source, the energy flows creatively and endlessly. That is the secret to Bhadraji Mahida Jayatilaka's writing and composing, visualizing and creating.
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