‘Asai Mang Piyabanna’ takes wings

Director Udayakantha Warnasuriya

"Asai Mang Piyabanna" Udayakantha Warnasuriya's latest film is now being screened at Savoy-Wellawatte and other EAP circuit cinemas around the country. Thirteenth directorial venture of Udayakantha the film revolves around a village damsel who happens to come to town due to unavoidable circumstances and undergoes complete change.

With film stars Puja Umashankar, Roshan Ranawana, Sanath Gunatillake and Hasantha Gunasekere in the main cast it is produced by Dhammika Siriwardena for Alankulama Films. Ranmalee is a young girl living in a remote village and her father is a traditional dancer. Ranmalee too joins him in training children for dancing.

Praveen, a young man from the town comes with his family to the village. They come in search of a land to build a hotel. Praveen who meets Ranmalee falls in love with her. But Praveen's family objects to this. Unable to find a suitable land for the hotel they return to the town.

On a later day Ranmalee, her father and her brother-in-law Sarath needed to meet Praveen's father who is an influential person. The purpose of the meeting is to get an official letter from him for an interview Ranmalee is to attend. But there ensues a clash between Sarath and the security officials at Praveen's father's house. Disheartened by what happened they return. During this time, Ranmalee meets Suresh, a photographer and through him she gets to know Sapumal Senadeera, who is involved in music and entertainment business. Realising Ranamalee talent for singing and dancing, Sapumal enrols her in his dancing troupe.

Teaching Ranmalee the western style of dancing and singing, Sapumal makes her a popular dancer and singer. He even changes her name to "Maleesha". Meanwhile Praveen who still keeps his hopes in Ranmalee comes to know about her and tries to renew their affair. But Ranmalee turned Malisha down.

A Scene of Asai Mang Piyabanna

The film was shot in and around Colombo, Kandy, Matale and Kothmale and camera was handled by Jayanath Gunawardena.

Rohana Weerasinghe, Bathiya-Santhush, Iraj Weeraratne, Centigrade, Mahesh Dehipitiya and Nawaratne Gamage rendered a number of songs and Superstar singer Amila Perera enters as a playback singer.

Having started as a comic strip writer attached to Lake House newspaper, Udayakantha Warnasuriya started his career with the one episodic miniplay 'Menik Ketayama' later directed teleserials 'Humalaya', 'Ekagei Kurullo'. Diya Suliya', 'Sagaraya Parada' and 'Senehase Geethaya'.

Entering cinema in 1996 his maiden film was 'Mahamera Usata' and it followed 'Gini Avi Saha Gini Keli', 'Bahu Barya', 'Rajya Sevaya Pinisai' 'Yakada Pihatu', 'Diyayata Gindara', Randiya Dahara' and 'Rankevita'.