Anchal Singh and Gagan Malik

Sri Siddhartha Gautama cast take a bow

Ruwini JAYAWARDANA

One of the most anticipated movies of the year, Sri Siddhartha Gautama began unspooling at Liberty cinema and other EAP circuits last month. Directed by the former General Manager of National Film Corporation Saman Weeraman and produced by The Light of Asia Foundation Chairman Navin Guneratne and prominent hotelier and former consul general of Sri Lanka to Los Angeles, Venezuela and Colombia Jeff Goonewardena, the movie stars a stellar cast of Sri Lankan and Indian actors.

The stars made their presence in the country on the days prior to the event.

Gagan plays the title role of Prince Siddhartha in the movie.

The Delhi born actor had previously portrayed the role of Lord Ram in Zee TV's epic retelling of Ramayan.

Speaking about the project Gagan had stated that he is excited about being cast in such a colossal role.

"I worked really hard to be a part of it and I am thrilled about the outcome. It will be dubbed in other languages as well and released across the world," said the actor who was also a former Mr India contestant.

He noted that his inclination towards period drama made him grab such opportunities with both hands.

He had committed himself to the roles via acts like quitting non-vegetarian food and engaging in yoga to get the right body for the role.

Wilson Gunaratne as Sage Asitha

Sri Siddhartha Gautama is an epic film based on the life story of Prince Siddhartha up to his enlightenment. It chronicles the efforts undertaken by the prince for the betterment of all beings to end suffering and sorrow. It captures the spirit of the lay life and the reasons for the noble prince's change of thought.

The script had been approved by the supreme council of the Maha Sangha before shooting commenced. The team of consultants to the production of the film includes Ven. Prof. Bellanwila Wimalaratana Thera, Kalashuri Edwin Ariyadasa, Chandran Rutnam and Prof. Nimal de Silva.

"The production included a specially developed set, in line with the research done, specially selected cast to match every role, props and costumes, music, choreography, make up to create an authentic experience. All in all it was an enormous creation which is ready for unveiling today. The selected audiences who have been exposed to the preview were very expressive, they were emotionally connected, and the cinematic experience was valued and appreciated by each and every one of them," said producer Guneratne.

"The film Sri Siddhartha Gautama supersedes the finances expended in production of any other film so far in Sri Lanka. Can proudly proclaim, Sri Siddhartha Gautama is the first cinematic production anywhere in the world which is complete in all aspects, from the birth to attainment of Buddha hood.

The films, Little Buddha (Hollywood) nor Siddhartha (India) fulfill the expectations of the Buddhist community in the world.

Furthermore it is a blessing this film could be produced in Sri Lanka: the pioneer seat of Theravada Buddhism.

This is not a Buddhist film, even though 70% of population of Sri Lanka is Buddhist, this story can be appreciated by anybody, and it's about supremely sagacious person and embodies a subtle love story: after which he spends 40 years in the way to end suffering for all humankind," he added.

Anjali Perera and Gagan Malik

Dushyanth Weeraman

"We are confident that the movie will be the most watched Sri Lankan production in the history of the industry," director Weeraman said at the pre launch celebrations of the movie.

The international version of the movie is due to take off nearing the Vesak.

Pictures by Ranjith Asanka

Witch hunters on the loose

Fans are anxious to see Famke Janssen as the witch in the upcoming film Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters. The star recently opened up about her role in the film.

Janssen says she was drawn to the script because of its "Tarantino-esque feel" twisting things up with the well-known tale. She adds that she was looking for a character she hadn't done before, and one with a story that could hold its own.

"There are a lot of factors that go into a decision about what to do. But, the main factor at the time was money because I took three years off from acting. In the end, it wasn't meant to be three years, but I needed that time to write and direct my own movie and it ended up having so many false starts. It wound up being a five-year window, but three of those years I couldn't go back to acting," she said.

She also added, "That time was up and I was like, 'What do I do?' This came along and I thought it was pretty cool. It was a young European filmmaker with his own take on a fairy tale that people are familiar with and has a specific meaning to children and adults. And he gave it a different spin and the cast was another big factor. Jeremy couldn't have been hotter coming straight off of Kathryn Bigelow's movie."

Janssen as a witch is a new twist on her typical style, and the film has gotten a solid amount of buzz. The Tommy Wirkola film also stars Jeremy Renner as Hansel and Gemma Arterton as Gretel.

This film is no ordinary children's tale, however. Trailers for the movie show plenty of blood and gore, and Hansel and Gretel are clearly not innocent children any longer. The film picks up 15 years after the original tale, and Hansel and Gretel are now vigilantes. However, they also are being hunted and it sounds like they have a fair number of foes.

Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters is screening at Savoy 3D cinema and Liberty Lite cinema.