The legend unfolds…:
Dutugemunu wins Anuradhapura again!
Thumindu Dodamthanna |
Ruwini Jayawardana
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. |