Guy Gunaratne


Guy Gunaratne is a British journalist, filmmaker and novelist. In 2019 his first novel, In Our Mad and Furious City, won the Dylan Thomas Prize, the Jhalak Prize and the Authors' Club Best First Novel Award. He is based between London and Malmö, Sweden.

Early life and education

Gunaratne was born and grew up in Neasden, north west London. His father had immigrated from Sri Lanka in 1951. He studied for a film and television degree at Brunel University London in London, then studied current affairs journalism at City, University of London.

Career

With fellow student and girlfriend, Heidi Lindvall, he set up a film production company. They made a film about suppression of the media in Sri Lanka a week after the civil war ended, the success of which allowed them to work in television. Though based in London, the couple followed their work in post-conflict areas around the world, living in a number of places, including Berlin.
During this period of making work for television, Gunaratne wrote his first novel, In Our Mad and Furious City. Its story is set in and around a north west London council estate, in the 48 hours following a killing reminiscent of the 2013 murder of Lee Rigby. It is narrated by five main characters in turn, in first-person voices. In Our Mad and Furious City deals with "questions about Britain’s divided society and capturing the nuances of urban life".
As of 2019, Gunaratne is based between London and Malmö, Sweden.

Publications