Stars in jail shocker as Nisala Gira takes to the screen

Ruwini Jayawardana

CINEMA: News flashed that a whole group of celebrities found themselves shifted to jail. We rushed to the scene and much to our surprise the stars were quite at home in their new background.

There was merriment, entertainment and friendship as they conformed themselves to a whole new lifestyle. No Paris Hilton-chaos for this group. But hold that thought... Cameras start rolling and the director watches the scenes unfolding. We are at the sets of Nisala Gira (Silent honour), directed by Thanuj Anawaratne and produced by Nita Fernando along with the National Film Development Fund, Sri Lanka.

Time had flown by since that scene took place. Now the production is complete and is ready to roll on the big screen during the end of this month or early October. Nisala Gira is a moving portrait of a woman, Radha, an Asian high society politician's wife.

Her world collapses in one blink of an eye as she is faced with the tragic death of her only child, Arjuna, who would have had a promising world in the music scene had he survived.

We trace the emotions of a mother to the dismal tale of how she found her solace. Trapped in a hidden web of drugs and a victim of the dealers she finds an escape from the depressions of her life.

Radha's husband, Saliya, is exhilarated by his discovery of his wife's situation. In his vendetta against the underworld drug kings the crime is unforgivable.

Radha is a pawn in an international drug cartel, betrayed by her own innocence and framed by her close family friend, Cynthia Nelson, an ambiguous character connected with an international Mafia gang.

Her only daughter, Nichole, follows her path. Beautiful, sensuous, rich and famous she hides a deep dark secret. Marko Richards Casanova, handsome, persuasive and daring is out to destroy everything that Radha holds dear.

Humiliated and abandoned, Radha is sent to jail where she gives birth to her daughter, Devindi. Radha needs to rebuild her life and whether she likes it or not it is in prison that she should find the means of discovering the right path.

She meets Nanditha, a young woman who has the beauty to match her earthly manner. She was a pawn of her drug addict father and is now facing the death rope. Can she help Radha before she faces her sentence?

The script is written by Yolanda Weerasinghe and Thanuj Anawaratne. It will be subtitled in English and the cinematography is by Suminda Weerasinghe. Aruna Lian is the music director and the costumes are designed by Rozanne Diasz. Kalinga Perera handles the sound while Channa Wijewardena is the choreographer.

The cast includes Nita Fernando, Ravindra Randeniya, Iranganie Serasinghe, Angela Seneviratne, Saumya Liyanage, Nimmi Harasgama, Chandra Kaluarachchi, Damitha Abeyratne, Kanchana Mendis, Rozanne Diasz, Sharon Riemers, Wichintha Ilankoon, Jayani Senanayake and Fathima Rasheeda. The film will be introducing child actor Pansilu Sannasgala and child actress Sasindi Senanayake.

"This is a story based on a real life incident. The message we hope to convey is to say no to drugs. Parents should keep an eye on their children because drugs had become a social threat to the youth today," said Nita Fernando, the producer.

"We also hope to shed light on children born in prisons, the way they are treated and their plight. We had to engage in a lot of background research to build this story.

The result is our creation, a moving story which flows in tragedy to realisation with a touch of humour to make it a memorable cinematic experience for the viewers."

For further details about the film log on to www.nisala-gira.com and www.silent-honour.com.