Ira Handa Yata portrays:

Living in harmony

Despite a three decade long conflict:

Ruwini Jayawardana

The sun and moon serves human, animals and other living beings alike despite ethnicity, religion or race. Each individual benefit from the rays of the two natural

objects for they hold the power to give life by meeting up with our needs.

Globally acclaimed director Bennett Ratnayake, who won many accolades for Aswasuma and Sulanga, recently set the foundation on his third cinematic creation. Titled Ira Handa Yata the film is set in the backdrop of the country’s three decade long conflict and revolves round a young soldier and a middle aged Army Major.

It discusses the war in a human perspective and explores its impact on living beings.

Minister of Agricultural Development and Agrarian Services Development Maithripala Sirisena, UNP General Secretary and Parliamentarian Tissa Attanayake, NFC Chairman Jayantha Dharmadasa and veteran actor Ravindra Randeniya attended the Muhurath ceremony of the film which was held recently at the NFC’s Tharangani theatre.

Udara Ratnayake, Bennett’s son will take on the lead role with versatile actor Saumya Liyanage. Kaushalya Fernando, Chandani Seneviratne, Suvinitha Weerasinghe, Mahendra Perera, Palitha Silva, Veena Jayakody, Damitha Abeyratne, Jagath Beneragama, Suminda Sirisena, Roger Seneviratne, Rangana Premaratne, Ajith Lokuge, Kumara Tirimadhura, Sathishchandra Edirisinghe, Dharshan Dharmaraj, D.G. Somapala, Sampath Jayaweera and many others are included in the cast. Apart from Udhara, Sheryl Romesh Decker and Indian actress Tasha Dharshani will be introduced to the Sinhala wide screen.

Another special feature in connection with the movie is that director Bennett, his wife Samanmalee Hewamanna, son Udara and daughter Baghya Ratnayake will take up significant roles in the tale.

Shooting will take place in Batticaloa, Welikanda, Kalpitiya, Udapppuwa and Dambulla. The project is constructed in a manner so that it will cater to the local as well as international audience.

The script is a joint product between Bennett and Sarath Gamlath. Kalinga Deshapriya is the cameraman while Ranjith Priyantha is the assistant director. Ranjan Prasanna handles the make up department.

The music director is Nadeeka Gurugeand the lyrics are penned by Wasantha Kumara Kobawaka and Kalum Srimal. Sujeewa Gunaratne is the art director, Kevin Nugera is the choreographer, Kumara Karavdeniya is the costume designer and Duminda Vidhanagamachchi is the second assistant director.

Deepthi Weerasuriya and Anura Gambeeraarachchi are the production executives. Deepthi Wijethunga is the media coordinator of the project.

Ira Handa Yata is a collective production of Samanmalee Hewamanna, Oliver Fernando, Ruwan Jayasinghe, Vijitha Herath and Dilan Fernando.

The director plans to add English subtitles to the product once it is set for international screening. He also wishes to dub the movie in Tamil so that it can be catered to Tamil movie buffs.