Akasa Kusum
Movie with a difference:
The latest Sinhala film by Prasanna Vithanage starring Malini Fonseka,
Nimmi Harasgama and Dilhani Ekanayake in the key roles is more a 'living
in' tale so realistic, that it could be compared to a thought provoking
narration of famous Russian writers, our own Martin Wickremasingha or a
film directed by none other than Indian Director Sathyajith Rai.
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A scene from Akasa Kusum |
The magic is the absence of a hero in the main lead, or a villain,
not the attractive female form in all its glamour and sophistication
failing to leave a black mark in the plot.
Malini in the lead role of a woman going through her post celestial
years as a celebrity in the star struck past lives the role rather than
act. Only in one instance does she let go of her emotions when she
candidly blames her younger sister played by Kaushalya Fernando for the
life she is leading now having made many sacrifices, specially
financially for many years for the family, until her sister's siblings
have grown up to the year of marriage.
She lives her life to a pattern not regretting but adjusting to
finding her own source of income, yet enjoying the celluloid life she
led in reminiscence, helping young fellow artists.
Knowledge of her daughter's existence, and taking over the
responsibility as a grandmother to reconcile for what she had forgotten
and buried in the past, surfaces with the call of her lost daughter.
Malini's maturity in acting in the role of once a celebrated woman
who found no anchor in marriage as a woman, or accepting maternal
responsibilities is justified by her father's desire to make her an idol
and the film producer's ambition to bring out a 'virgin' face in a brand
of her own in the industry for his gain.
The contrast of 'Love-full' and Love-less' life of an artist engaged
in momentary pleasure and resulting psychological stress is well
portrayed in the role of Priya and Samanmali played by Nimmi Harasgama
and Samanali Fonseka, and not to be forgotten Dilhani Ekanayake.
Not crowded with melodies or clashes and duels, Akasa Kusum unveils
the story through none other than Malini the queen of the silver screen,
after Rukmani Devi who will be remembered on the 28th for her
contribution to the cinema.
May Akasa Kusum be more rewarding a Malini Fonseka than she imagined
as another milestone in her career as a character artiste, who deserves
the commendation without reservation.
- Neetha S. Ratnapala |
