TV Times

TV Times

Sudath takes ferry ride to India
By Susitha R. Fernando
Sudath Devapriya’s ‘Udugan Yamaya’- (Against the Tide) is chosen as the official Sri Lankan representation at the 38th Indian International Film festival in New Delhi.

The film will be competing for the ‘Golden Peacock’ award at the festival to be held from December 3-10. Earlier Dr. Lester James Peries’ ‘Gamperaliya’ and D. B. Nihalsinghe’s ‘Maldeniye Simeon’ had been nominated for this festival.

‘Udugan Yamaya’ earlier represented at 48th London Film Festival and Sudath has left to India for the film festival. His earlier film ‘Tharanaya’ (The Crossing) represented at the Faja International Film Festival in Iran and at the Sao Paulo IFF in Brazil. It also won two awards at the Sri Lanka Film Critics Forum Awards 1991. Produced in 2003, Udugan Yamaya is Sudath’s third Film.

His latest film revolves around the bloody civil strife which raged in Sri Lanka in 1989 between the young left-wing insurgents and the State forces resulting in the death and disappearence of about 60,000 mainly young people.

Set in a remote village during that period this is the story of Sirimal, a nine-year-old boy who lives with his parents in this village. Sirimal’s father is the village ferryman. The suspicious activities of some rebel youth in the area and the occasional sound of gunshots do not go unnoticed. The Army visits the village looking for these youths and threaten the villagers about giving protection to rebels. The idyllic life “of the village is slowly torn apart by the threat of sudden abductions and disappearances as the violence worsens.

One day Sirimal’s father goes missing with the ferryboat. Sirimal is shocked and ends up in a withdrawn mental state. Udugan Yamaya stars Mauli Ferdinando, Tisuri Uwanika, Chandani Senaviratne, Suminda Sirisena, Richard Weerakkodi, Saumya Liyanage , Giriraj Kaushalya and Duleeka Marapana. M.D. Mahindapala as the cinematographer, Rohan Samaradivakera as art Director, Kumara Karandeniya as Costume Designer joined Sudath Devapriya who wrote the story and script.

Vasantha Vittachchi did make up, Kalinga Gihan Perera was the sound controller, Ravindra Guruge edited while Sarath Fernando composed the musical score. Enoka Fernado was the executive Producer. Udugan Yamaya was produced with the Film development fund given by National Film Corporation.

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