Film Review:
Great cinematic creation
Daya Manamperi
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SOLACE IN MONASTERY: Sangeetha Weeraratne in a scene from
Uthpalawanna
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CINEMA: The timely cinematic creation, Uthpalawanna by Professor
Sunil Ariyaratne has made an attempt to wash away the murderous cruel
instincts of people, with feelings of compassion.
The sagacious matured artist has turned over to a supramundane vision
in Uthpalawanna, from the earlier mundane creation "Sudu Sevanali" which
was more or less based on materialistic aspect of life.
At a time when people are running a rat-race to earn money and fulfil
their voluptuous desire with materialistic things, he has opened their
eyes towards a spiritual upliftment. The duo, the director and the
script writer, have turned the tide towards a more wholesome trend.
The tactful director Sunil Ariyarathna has utilized the character of
Uthpalawanna (Sangeetha Weerarathna) from Buddhist literature to
enlighten the hearts of the pious Buddhists and makes them adhere the
Buddhist concept of compassion blended with political and social
struggle.
He has used specially two other characters to attain his objective,
the elder Silmanio (Malini Fonseka) and the younger Sil Manio- Podi
Aththi (Sandali Chathurika) The script writer too, to surface the
spiritual aspect of the protagonist Uthpalawanna has utilized all the
other characters.
Materialistic life
Uthpalawanna lays bare all the dark specks of her materialistic life
along with the finest aspects of spiritual life. In her materialistic
life she loses her worldly treasures, that is her parents and the loved
one.
Ultimately she finds solace in adhering to the ten precepts, giving
up worldly pleasures which gives way to endless suffering. She is able
to keep the audience stunned and filled with pathos.
The tactful director makes us reminisce the activities of 1989 rebels
who rose against assumingly unjust state terror. The genial director has
focused the attention of the spectators towards the fact that whatever
rebellious forces arise should have a vision based on our great
religious concepts not on the materialistic concepts of the west, or
else all these attempts will end in smoke.
The director is a visionary who has gained a lot of experience
regarding youth unrest at the university level has opened the eyes of
the youth on to what political vision they should cling onto, show their
contempt towards an unjust administrative system.
In this film the terrorist rebel can exterminate his loved friend to
attain his objective but the political vision given by the able director
shows the youth how they should launch a struggle based on the religious
and social concepts rooted in the society in which they live.
Concept of compassion
Towards the end of the film, the mother of the murdered youth (Chandani)
really symbolize the rural folk who still have the Buddhists concept of
compassion ingrained in them. Although she carries a hatchet to avenge
the death of her son, when she sees the youth gasping for his last
breath, her heart overflows with compassion and instantly she seeks
water to pour into his mouth.
Professor Sunil Ariyarathne has also hinted that rebels are not born
rebels, but environmental factors have made them so, even the rebellious
youth tries to give a helping hand to the mother of the victim when she
way about to slip and fall when she was getting down from the ferry.
Here too it relates to our cause and effect religious theory. It is
shown here the youth has turned a rebel due to the cause that he is not
given the rightful place by the administrative sector that is why they
get indoctrinated by other forces. So great artist, we hope for more eye
openers in the future endeavors.
We are also reminded about how the Buddha treats Puthigaththatissa.
Similarly, Uthpalawanna too treats the deserving wounded youth who is
later carried away by the people.
The film conveys the message instead of hatred and terror whether
state or society based should be replaced with love, kindness and
sacrifice. The great capabilities of Sangeetha Weerarathna as a first
class actress has added spice to the great cinematic creation of Sunil
Ariyarathna.
Solace in monastery
Through the final appearance of Uthpalawanna the great artist conveys
the message of compassion and righteousness which is universally
applicable to all times. The final episode which shows Uthpalawanna
coming back to find solace in the monastery where she is welcomed by the
rural folk, with chief Silmanio and Podi Aththi.
He has really proved that even according Rousseau's theory, that man
is basically good by nature, which is shown by the way the rural folk
behave ultimately, with beaming faces.
Last but not the least lulling theme song and music of Nanda Malini
too has been used to captivate the audience. In a time when films that
are shown can't get parents and their young ones to sit together and
enjoy, a film of this calibre can entertain everybody irrespective of
what age group they belong to. Even the little ones enjoyed the film
sans a hum.
The audience leave the cinema really enlightened by the message, the
tactful master wants to convey. So we have great expectations that our
most highly talented artist will have strength and vigour to do a
greater creation in the future which will convey a key message to the
administrators how to build up a just society for the youth and the
needy.
The writer is a former English Instructor at the Colombo University.
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