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MOVIE: It created a 'storm' while it was being filmed in India. Five years after its production, it is now creating 'waves' in the international film circuit.
After receiving an overwhelming response since it opened at the 2005 Toronto Film Festival in Canada, Deepa Mehta's "Water" has been riding on a popular wave.
The film which was entirely shot in Sri Lanka is now being screened at the Majestic Cinema. The locations were in Ginthupitiya, Kalutara and the Bolgoda lake.
"Water" as a highly acclaimed international film has propelled Sri Lanka as an ideal destination among 'movie hunters' for their film setting. Not only that it also paved the way to discover a 'little gem' in the form of Sarala Kariyawasam the main star in the movie.
"I was really impressed with scenes here (Sri Lanka) and it was a wonderful experience we had in Sri Lanka. I was also really impressed with Chandran Rutnam's team at the Film Location Services. They were real professionals.
I know that it was not an easy job for them, but they lived upto expectations. I was also impressed with the talent in Sri Lanka. I was amazed by the talent of little Sarala from Galle who played the most important role in 'Water'.
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I selected her after auditioning several young girls that were brought to me by the casting director of the Film Location Services. She is a natural actress and she was wonderful. She had a 'star' quality in her.
She was one of the brilliant actresses that I have come across during my career," the film director Deepa Mehta said.
"I have received so many congratulatory messages and international fame with 'Water'. There are so many invitations for me from other foreign countries to take up an acting career or to simply come and live a comfortable life in those countries.
But I will not go against my mother Lanka. I want to stay in my country as long as I do", says little Sarala in an interview with the Daily News - Stage and Screen.
Sarala Kariyawasam, who played the role of Chuyia in the film "Water" hails from Unawatuna in Galle and is a grade six student of Sangamitta College.
She was selected from out of fifty girls and auditioned by Mehta for this challenging role. She was eight years when she acted but proved to be the most suitable to take up the lead role of the film according to Mehta.
Before taking up her role in 'Water', she has acted in several stage plays in school and had recently won first place in an all island dancing, singing and speech competition.
Talking of her experience on working on a 'set' and how she was fortunate for being selected, Sarala says: "I got this opportunity because of Asoka uncle and Rutnam uncle. They came to our home in Galle with Deepa aunty.
Deepa aunty asked me to perform a small scene taking my place of a child abandoned by her mother. I did it well and was selected. I was glad when she announced that I had been selected.
Even on the 'set', it wasn't difficult for me to act. Deepa aunty was like a friend. All were very friendly so I didn't experience any difficulty."
When her inborn talent was recognised, she knew neither English nor Hindi but she was able to pick up both the languages within a few weeks to the amazement of the director. So they were able to start work soon and finish the film within three months.
The biggest task Sarala had to face with accepting the role was to shave her head. She was prettier with her long hair which she grew from her childhood. But she agreed to shave her head to suit her character for 'Water'.
"I was a little bit sad over it. But it was nothing much when I thought of my character. It is a rare opportunity that one get in a life time. I knew that my hair would grow later, she said with a smile.
Sarala was recognised internationally when she was welcomed on a red carpet by the Prime Minister of Canada when she attended the Toronto Film Festival in Canada. 'Water' has won three awards in Canada and the Best Picture Award in Thailand too.
While acting she managed to give priority to her school work. "I was able to balance my studies and I passed my scholarship exam while I was acting in the film.
She also said that a teacher helped her to catch up with the syllabus while staying at a hotel in Colombo, where the whole family stayed during the shooting of the film. This was also a new experience for little Sarala.
Sarala is the monitor in her class and the president of the school Media Unit as well. She has also participated in speech competitions, winning many awards. Sarala is the youngest in her family and has a sister and brother, elder to her.
She says that she wants to concentrate on her studies, so has turned down many offers of acting. This young star wants to be a doctor when she grows up.
The Cast: Sarala Kariyawasam, John Abraham, Seema Biswas, Lisa Ray, Iranganie Serasinghe and Buddhi Wickrema
Plot Summary
Chuyia (Sarala) is a young girl who has just lost her husband. She is deposited in the house of Hindu widows (an ashram) to spend the rest of her life in renunciation. There are 14 women who live in the house for Hindu widows, a small, dilapidated two-storey house built around a central courtyard.
The women are sent here to expiate bad karma, but more often than not, to relieve their families of financial and emotional burden. The ashram is ruled by Madhumati, a fat and pompous lady in her 70s.
Her only friend is the pimp, Gulabi (Raghuvir Yadav), a sprightly hijra (eunuch) and also a hermaphrodite, who not only keeps Madhumati supplied with ganja, but also with the latest gossip.
The two also have a side business; Gulabi helps Madhumati to prostitute Kalyani (Lisa Ray). Kalyani is breathtaking, and the only widow whose hair - as a nod to her profession - is not shorn.
Shakuntala (Seema Biswas) is perhaps the most enigmatic of the widows. She is good-looking enough, a sharp, dark person with secret black-brown eyes. Her generous mouth has an anger set to it.
Even Madhumati leaves her alone. Quiet and reserved, Shakuntala is caught between her hatred of being a widow and her fear of not being one. Shakuntala is a very devout Hindu who seeks the counsel of Sadananda (Khulbushan Kharbanda), a gentle-looking priest in his late forties who recites the scriptures to the pilgrims who throng the ghats of the holy city.
Chuyia is convinced that her mother will come to take her away. With that thought firmly tucked in her mind, she quickly adapts to her new life with the unique resilience of children. Madhumati sternly initiates her into widowhood. One day, Kalyani meets a young law graduate, Narayan (John Abraham).
Upon meeting Kalyani there is an immediate attraction, but the restriction placed on interaction with widows makes it difficult to find a way of pursuing any kind of relationship.
Kalyani, also attracted to Narayan, in deference to tradition tells him to go away as it is a sin to speak with widows. Kalyani cannot get the young man she met at the ghats out of her mind and she begins to refuse to oblige Madhumati and her 'clients.' Meanwhile Narayan ponders how he can arrange a clearly forbidden meeting.
Narayan find a way to meet with Kalyani and during a covered buggy ride through the British section of the city, declares his intent to take her away to Calcutta. Kalyani returns to the widows' house and whispers the secret of her wedding plans to Chuyia, who is thrilled at the prospect of a wedding feast where one can eat as many sweets and forbidden food as one desires.
One of Chuyia's many tasks is massaging Madhumati's fat legs. This she does by walking along their spongy length. Brimming over with the suppressed secret of the imminent marriage and all the puri that she will eat, she blurts out the couple's secret to Madhumati, and all hell breaks loose at the house for Hindu widows.
Suddenly Kalyani's resistance to being ferried across the waters by Madhumati's pimp makes sense. Not only has Madhumati lost a source of income, but also the disgrace of a widow's re-marriage will doom them all to seven lifetimes of being re-born as jackals.
Madhumati menacingly enters Kalyani's isolated hovel, throws her to the floor, shears her long black hair and locks her up until she 'comes to her senses'. Shakuntala, over the protests of the other widows, unlocks the door to Kalyani's room. It's a quiet act of rebellion that leaves everyone speechless.
A liberated Kalyani walks out of the house, Madhumati's booming voice following her. Kalyani bathes in the ghats, washing away the cruel face of her tormentor, and walks to the small deserted temple where Narayan is waiting for her. \
Narayan tenderly explores her sheen hair and in a whisper asks her once again if she will marry him. Narayan takes Kalyani to his parents house but upon reaching his father's hovel, Kalyani begins to recognize the gates of the portico and asks Narayan for the full name of his father.
He replies and is perplexed when Kalyani demands that he turn the boat around. What then follows will forever change their lives, and the life of little Chuyia.
Events at the NFC
EVENTS: The National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka has organised a line up of events to be held in the month of June.
Under this, a program to screen movies in areas without cinema halls, through a mobile Cinema will be launched.
Applications for organisers and representatives can be forwarded to 303, Bauddaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7.
Selecting new actors and actresses for the film produced by the students who completed the diploma at the Film Corporation will be held on June 03 at 9 am at the Auditorium. Actors with a training of boxing will be given preference.
"Cinema Kathikawa", will be held on June 08 at 3 pm at the Film Corporation.
Sena Thoradeniya will conduct the seminar under the theme"Our Culture and The Cinema".
Details of the above events can be obtained on 011-2585721.
A new sound system at Majestic
TECHNOLOGY: With the current trend of Sri Lankans going back to cinemas to view their movies on large screens with digital surround sound systems, the management of the Majestic Theatre has recently taken the bold step to totally change its existing sound-system, to a state-of-the-art modern surround sound system including a Dolby Ex processor.
This is in addition to the existing Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 systems already in place. The Majestic is now capable of reproducing the two most popular Digital formats, Dolby Digital-Ex and DTS.
The new sound system was supplied and installed by the local agents for JBL and Dolby.
The Hi-Fi Centre Ltd., who have a Dolby factory trained engineer to do the systems integration and alignment, which is critical for total enjoyment of a modern Dolby Digital sound track.
Monthly movies from NFC
FILMS: 'Prabodhini' a weekly programme on movies will be organised by the Film Corporation of Sri Lanka from June 05 to 10. The inauguration will take place at Ritz Cinema in Borella on June 05 at 6 pm with the participation of Cultural Affairs Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardane.
On this day Prof. Sunil Ariyaratne's "Sudu Sevanali" will be screened. "Sulan Kirilli", "Left Right Sir", "Erasma", "Sudu Kaluwara" and "Mathuyam Dawasa" will be screened on June 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 respectively.
The above movies will be screened at 10 cinema halls islandwide.
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