‘Aloko Udapadi’ An effort to capture a dramatic and disturbing period of Lankan history
Uddika as King Valagamba
Debut direction of Chathra Weeraman with co-direction by Baratha Hettiarachchi, film ‘Aloko Udapadi’ (Light Arose) is an attempt to depict yet another historical character, King Walagamba. The film is now being screened at cinemas around the country.
While the main story of Valagamba–his kingship, rebellion by a Brahmin Tissa or Theeha and invasion of seven Chola or Tamil leaders from South India occupies the main plot, starting the writing down of 84,000-part dispensation of the Buddha or the tripitakaya-the three parts of the Buddha’s doctrine are presented as a subplot.
Scripted by Saman Weeraman, the film is a commendable effort to rewrite and recreate one of the most dramatic and disturbing periods of Sri Lanka’s history. Even though the main historical storyline is distracted by the characters like Brahamin Theeha’s wife who according to the film betrays her own husband to a South Indian king and subsequently plays a crucial role to divide seven Tamil kings to kill each other, the historical story is kept intact as much as possible. The script gives the foremost place to highlight the patriotism, valour and bravery of Valagamba and his army comprising ordinary village folk. This undermines the much more important role played by monks to transfer Tripitakaya from oral to written tradition.
With regard to acting, the character of Valagamba (played by Uddika Premaratne) lacks the required stature. Uddika a talented actor seemed not to have been best used or that was not the character for him. However the rest of cast do a satisfactory job with Roshan Ravindra playing the scheemy Theeha Brahmin, his ambitious wife Menaka Peiris and Buddadhasa Vithanachchi as usual portraying Ven. Kupikkalatissa thera who gives protection to the king hunted by his enemies. Dharshan Dharmaraj who plays Dhatheeya the last surviving Tamil king who confronts Valagama is best suited for the role and displays the necessary cruelty and brutality that his role requires.
The art direction by Sunil Wijerathne and costume design by Kumara Karawdeniya have added the colour and impact that the historical story required.
Major flop of ‘Aloka Udapadi’ is lack of action specially in the battle scenes. This had been a major problem in most of the ‘historical’ films that were made over the recent past. These films are made as massive and gigantic productions with hundreds and hundreds in the cast and extras. Some of the battle and fighting scenes are still in the primary stages with lack of training and competence. We live in an age where most filmgoers have witnessed the real fighting in Hollywood films like ‘Gladiator’ and ‘Troy’ or even in Bollywood films like ‘Asoka’. It’s a tragedy that Sri Lankan filmmakers are trying to show what they cannot properly enact.
Menaka Peiris and Roshan Ravindra as Brahmin Theeha and his wife
The film is mainly made by a young group most of whom are trained abroad and trying their skills for the first time. Music director Milinda Tennakone is one such and at some points it sounds like that music is overused and over played.
The rest of the cast is played by Dilhani Ekanayake, Nirosha Thalagala, Nihal Fernando, Kapila Sigera, Dilip Manohara, Cletus Mendis, Janak Premalal, W. Jayasiri, Sammu Kashun, Dineth de Silva, Ajith Kumara, Rajasinghe Loluwagoda, Sirisena Pallewatta and child stars Mauli Metheesha and Nayana Manjujitha.
‘Aloka Udapadi’ is produced by Thusitha Wijayasena.
