2009-01-29T06:42:00.000-08:00

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.
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.
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.

After the great success of ‘Parliament Jokes’ and ‘One Shot One’, Director and Lead Actor, Ranjan Ramanayaka is ready to release his newest movie “The Leader” this year (2008). The Producer, Bevan Perera said that this will be released in India at end of May fall.
Bevan Perera, London-based businessman who was taking a major part in this event, is willing to promote Sri Lankan local cinema across the globe.
More than a massive 2 million has been spent to direct movie and dubbed with 30 other foreign languages including Tamil and Telegu copies. Several other copies will also be released across the middle east countries including Dubai, UAE, Lebanon, Oman , Kuwait.
Ranjan said that he will re-shoot the movie, adding some comedy sequence with some of the lead comedians in India, promoting the asian countries internationally.
The producer Bevan said that the film industry is a very competitive business, and in this, commercial cinema or films for entertainment plays a pivotal role.

A group of desperate slum dwellers, living on the margins of society under impossible pressures,find an invitation to a handball tournament in Bavaria to be the answer to their prayers, a one way ticket to the West and the wealth that will solve all their problems.
Manoj and Stanley console themselves after their latest visa application is rejected. For barman Manoj, the recurrent denial of his ultimate dream to live and work in the beautiful West is taking a serious toll, whilst his lifelong friend Stanley, fruit seller in the streets of Colombo, is losing his fight against overwhelming debt, looking after crazy aunts and a young brother on the way to a criminal life.
With their spirits at an all time low the chance discovery of an invitation to a handball toul'nament in Bavaria appears to them like a present from the Gods. Even if nobody knows what handball is, a bogus application to the tournament is submitted and soon a mismatched collection of friends and colleagues, creditors and policemen, join together in the unlikely Sri Lanka National HandballTeam.
With little thought to the tournament that awaits them on the other side of the world, "trainingsessions" are understandably minimalist and any excess energy ploughed into internal skirmishing. As the tournament invitation arrives, handball rules and regulations are side-lined; dreams of leaving poverty behind and a better life take centre stage as they march to the German Embassy for that magical visa...
Rejected again! Who the hell mentioned Ministry letters? Why should you need permission fromyour own government if you've had an invitation from another? Does this mean the end of thedream?
There's always master forger and all-round crook Ruan of course, but you'd have to seriously bescraping the barrel to go to him for help.
A trade off sees the reluctant last minute inclusion of a bunch of stranded foreigners. The team,now swollen to capacity, finally gets its much agonised visa and, after painful good byes to families and friends, is on the way to the West and a bright future.
But the planned quick getaway on arrival is crushed by the welcoming organisers and a change of schedule sees them confronted by an arena full of sport fans eager to applaud the prowess of the Sri Lanka National Handball Team.
70-0. And now? Do they run before the inevitable arrest and an inglorious return home? Or should they fight on to defend personal and national pride at the cost of risking the end of their dream?

Sri lankan Films