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PROJECTOR
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It is said to be the largest financial investment made on a film
in the history of Sri Lankan cinema.
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Sajitha Anuttara in a scene from Aba. |
Ganga PRADEEPA
Art is more philosophical than history. Thus the epic film Aba,
portraying the story of a prince of life delivered with the pledge of
death directed by winner of the people’s award for the best artist
Jackson Anthony’s effort will be yet another milestone in the history of
Sinhala cinema. Can Aba change the history of our film industry?
Who is Aba? Let’s trace our history. After falling in love with
prince Digagamini, Ummada Chithra became pregnant. The royal astrologers
predicted, if a son is born to Chithra he would slay his 10 uncles and
ascend the throne. Chithra’s brothers note these signs which foretell
the beginning the terrible prophesy.
They conspire to murder their pregnant sister. However, Queen
Bhaddakachchayana, who is the mother of Chithra asks her sons to wait
until their sister delivers the baby, requesting them to kill the child
only if it is a boy.
Justin Belagamage and Rajindra Jayasinghe are the producers of this
epic movie.
They have invested a large sum on the making of this movie. It is
said to be the largest financial investment made on a film in the
history of Sri Lankan cinema.
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Sabeetha Perera (Ummada Chithra) |
The main character of this movie is Aba. Sajitha Anuttara, Jackson
Anthony’s son plays his role to perfection. Malani Fonseka (Baddakachchayana),
Sabeetha Perera (Chithra), Ravindra Randeniya (Pandula), Sriyantha
Mendis, Irangani Serasinghe, Kanchana Kodituwakku, Dulani Anuradha and
others also star in the movie.
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Malani Fonseka (Baddakachchayana) |
Suminda Weerasinghe is the director of photography and Anura
Wijesinghe is the assistant director. Samanpriya Marasinghe is the
Production Manager, Udeni Subodi the art director, Vasantha Vittachchi
the make up artist, Ravindra Guruge the editor, Nilhan Seneviratne the
costume director, Vasantha Srinath the costume designer and Lalith
Dharmawardena is the hairdresser.
Chandana Wickramasinghe is the dancing director, while Guru G.
Karunapala is the stunt director. The assistant editor is Ajith
Ramanayake and Chamath is the graphics designer. Nadeeka Guruge is the
music director and lyrics of Prof. Sunil Ariyarathna.
Aba will unspool at theatres and film buffs can get more information
through their web site www.aba.lk.
Siri Raja Siri
on the large screen:
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Somaratne |
Renuka |
Somaratne Dissanayake and Renuka Balasooriya have always given
prominence to the letter “S” in their movies like Saroja, Punchi
Suranganavi, Samanala Thatu, and Sooriya Arana. Siri Raja Siri is the
newest production to join their “S” clan.
They introduced many child actors such as Nithyawani Kandasami,
Pramudhi Karunaratne, Tharaka Hettiarachchi, Dasun Madusanka, Sajitha
Anuththara and others to cinema. In Siri Raja Siri they have introduced
Kokila Jayasuriya and Sharanya Jayakody, daughter of Edward Jayakody and
Charitha Priyadarshani Peiris with 35 other children selected from among
hundreds of children.
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Jayalath Manoratna as the drama teacher |
Siri Raja Siri expresses the story of a poor family in a remote
village, whose child obtains the highest marks from the year five
scholarship exams, and enters a star college in Colombo. While mingling
with mates from rich and affluent families Sirimal encounters a lot of
social and financial challenges.
He faces many incidents. However he emerges a popular character in
school within a few days as he was able to stand up to the class bully.
He is selected to play the lead role as the king in a school stage
drama, and now, his biggest problem is finding money to make the royal
costume. It is the milestone of his life.
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Kokila in the role of Sirimal |
Jayalath Manoratna (Drama teacher), Mahendra Perera (Father), Dilhani
Ekanayaka (mother), Sanath Gunatilaka (principal), Chandrasoma Binduhewa,
Giriraj Kaushalya, Prasannajith Abesuriya, Rohana Beddage, Rathna Lalani,
Sampath Tennakoon and others do justice to their roles in this movie.
Daminda Madawala is the Assistant Director, Lal Harendranath is the
Art Director and Channa Deshapriya is the Cinematographer of this movie.
Rohana Weerasingha had composed the music and the sound is supplied by
Kalinga Perera. Ravindra Guruge is the editor of Siri Raja Siri.
The film was released on March 6, in 36 cinemas around the island
including “Savoy” Wellawatta. Siri Raja Siri is a movie which can
enjoyed by both the young and old.
- GP
New Latin American Films
K.S. SIVAKUMARAN
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XXY
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I am lucky that I was able to see some outstanding films from other
parts of the globe at International Film Festivals held in India. With
stringent censorship in the country, our readers would not have the
chance to see them at public theatres.
It’s not that the films border on pornography but it is the themes
that our viewers are not accustomed to that may be objectionable. Slices
of contemporary life in other parts of the world are boldly pasteurised
in these films.
So, it is pointless my giving a description and analyses of such
films. Therefore as a way of information I shall give you a few details
of a few films in these columns.
This week let me give some notes on a few Latin American Films for
your information. La Ultima Luna (The Last Moon) is a film by the famous
Chilean director Miguel Littin. He is in his 60s and says that each of
his movies corresponds to a moment in Chilean political life.
El Rey de San Gregorio (The King of San Gregorio) is by another
Chilean, Alfonso Gazitua. We learn that the film is based on personal
experience gained as a volunteer in a center for the physically and
mentally disabled.
Familia Tortuga (Turtle Family) is directed by Riben Imaz Castro, a
Mexican. XXY is by the Argentinean woman filmmaker Lucia Puenzo. It won
the Cannes International Critics Week Grand Prize last year. We were
told that the director has written three novels and a scholar.
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Calle Santa Fe |
The film is about the struggle of a young girl who hopes to change
her gender. Calle Santa Fe is a film by another woman director, Carmen
Castillo, an actress from Chile. It is a film about the dictator
Pinochet’s rule. Cobrador (In God We Trust) is by the Mexican director
Paul Leduc. It is a story of a former Brazilian mine worker and his
murderous activities.
Extrangera (Foreigner) is by another Argentinean woman director, Ines
de Olivieira Cezar. It is based on Euripides’ play. Maroa is by a Sweden
born Venezuelan woman director, Solveig Hoogestijn. The film is about a
juvenile criminal. El Laberinto del Fauno (Pan’s Labyrinth) is directed
by Guillermo Del Toro, a Mexican director. This is a film about a young
girl who lives in a fantasy.
La Cascara (The Rind) is directed by Uruguayan director Carlos Ameglo
The film is described as enigmatic. Upa Una Peticula Argentina (Upa an
Argentinean Film) is directed by Tamae Garateguy, Santiago Giralt and
Camila Toker.
These films were shown at the Kerala International Film Festival in
December last year. I could see only a few of them due to my option of
choosing the films I wanted to see and yet I am sharing the information
I gathered for your reading.
sivakumaranks@yahoo.com
Jumper
A thrilling epic adventure:
 The science fiction thriller leaps into a new realm with “Jumper”,
which begins the epic adventures of a man who discovers that he
possesses the exhilarating ability to instantly teleport anywhere in the
world he can imagine.
From New York to Tokyo, from the ruins of Rome to the heart of the
Saharan Desert, anywhere is possible for David Rice (Hayden Christensen,
until he begins to see that his freedom is not total, that he’s not
alone... but part of an ongoing, global war that threatens the very
survival of his rare and extraordinary kind.
The screenplay is by David S. Goyer, Jim Uhls and Simon Kinberg based
on the novel by Steven Gould.
The producers are Arnon Milchan, Lucas Foster, Jay Sanders and Simon
Kinberg. Executive producers are Stacy Maes, Kim Winther, Vince Gerardis
and Ralph M. Vicinanza.
The movie is screening at Majestic cinema. |
