Film review:

Prathiroo: battlefield inspiration

Jayantha de Silva

Co-produced by Dr. Kapila Suriyaarachi who had also written the script in addition to portraying the role of a commanding officer, the film portrays the transformation of rural youth chosen for university. At his mother's pleading, he changes his mind to become a soldier.

'Prathiroo' represents a powerful screen presence of a patriotic mother and her son whose courageous deeds are an iconic inspiration of the mothers who sent their sons to bring the 30-year old war to a victorious end.

Co-produced by Dr. Kapila Suriyaarachi who had also written the script in addition to portraying the role of a commanding officer, the film portrays the transformation of rural youth chosen for university. At his mother's pleading, he changes his mind to become a soldier.

Learning his mother is sick, the soldier returns from the battlefront. The army's rule applies and he is court-marshaled for his delay in reporting to duty.

The opening scene goes back to the era of kings with the protagonist played by Matinee Idol Jagath Benaragama facing court martial in the enclosure of an ancient castle.

The camera captures an attack by LTTE on a village and the resultant human toll.

The producer's stint as an army physician is evident in hospital scenes. The projection of wounds sustained by villagers is realistic.

Besides, in the arid battlefields where the protagonist's leg is severely wounded by a deadly Johny Batta type anti personal mine struggles to reach safety in the process kisses the land remembering his mother's words that whenever he kisses the soil she would be beside him. True to her words a hovering helicopter rescues him.

However an anticlimax is reached, not in the battlefield but in the army hospital ward where a swirling whirlpool of romance involving the soldier with an amputated leg and the nurse caring for him portrayed by Himali Sayurangie who is an admirer of his poems.

Visharada Nanda Malini's rendition of the song 'your face shines through the flames of war' evokes a sense patriotism. The galaxy of stars includes Wijeratne Warakagoda, late Joe Abeywickrama and veteran actress Veena Jayakody.