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The legend unfolds…:

Dutugemunu wins Anuradhapura again!


Thumindu Dodamthanna

It is doubtful whether there ever was a more respected or virtuous king in our history than King Dutugemunu. He not only reigned because of his fearless and exceptional military skills but he also earned the respect of generations for regaining the territories in the grasps of invaders and restoring unity in the country.


Dutugemunu team

The legend of King Dutugemunu seems significant indeed at a time when the country’s unity had been restored. However, as award winning director Jayantha Chandrasiri puts it, his dream to bring the tale of the heroic warrior king to celluloid had been kept in the back burner for many years.

“King Dutugemunu had always been a captivating figure for me. I used to draw sketches on him when I was a kid and his heroic pursuits never ceased to amaze me. I have been nursing the thought of bringing the age old tale of Dutugemunu as a cinematic creation for some time and it is only recently that I was able to put the dream to motion,” Chandrasiri stated.

The Muhurath ceremony or rather, to describe it in Chandrasiri’s own words, the Punya Maha Uthsavaya (meritorious ceremony) of the film was held in Anuradhapura, below the shadows of the king’s greatest gift to Buddhism, the Ruwanweli Saya, on May 31.

Buddhist monks lead a colourful procession comprising the cast and crew of the movie along with scholars, the media, school children performing traditional dances and other prominent figures to the historic site at nightfall.

All the participants were requested to dress in white to attend this meritorious ceremony which marked the beginning of the movie. Ven Pallegama Hemaratana, Ven. Athuruliyae Rathana, Prof. K.N.O. Dharmadasa and Vanni theatre artistes graced the ceremony.

Chandrasiri who had previously made movies like Agni Dahaya and Guerilla Marketing, said that the final script of Dutugemunu is a product of many years of research. Talented young actor Thumindu Dodamthanna who had made a name through his acting skills on stage will portray the figure of King Dutugemunu.


The cast and crew of Dutugamunu making their way to Ruwanweli Seya Pictures by Tennyson Edirisinghe

Jackson Anthony will take up the role of King Elara while Sriyantha Mendis will be King Kavantissa. After searching for months for a suitable actress, Kusum Renu has been cast as the courageous Vihara Maha Devi.

Yashodha Wimaladharma, Saranga Dissasekara, Buddhadasa Vithanachchi, Damitha Abeyratne, Buddhika Jayaratne, Robin Fernando, Bimal Jayakody, Rex Koddipilli, Arjun Kamalanath, Nilanthi Dias, Dharshan Dharmaraj, Dimuthu Chinthaka, Gamini Jayalath, Srinath Maddumage, Gerald Fernando, Ajith Weerasinghe and many others play significant roles in the film.

Shantha Hettiarachchi and Malee Hettiarachchi who had previously invested for Dayaratne Rategedara’s Nildiya Yahana had gotten together with Tusitha Haloluwa to produce Dutugemunu.

Eral Kelly and Sena Mabulage are the art directors, Wasantha Vitachchi the make up artist, Lalith Dharmawardena the hair dresser and Ravindra Guruge is the editor of the production.

Nadeeka Guruge is the music director while the assistant directors are Dhaminda Madawala, Nimal Francis and Sarath Senaratne. Deepal Gunaratne is the production manager of Dutugamunu.

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