‘Yashodhara’ to be released for Vesak
Veteran filmmaker Prof. Sunil Ariyaratne’s much awaited movie ‘Yashodhara’ will be released for the Vesak festival this year.
‘Bimbhadevi’ alias ‘Yashodhara’ is the 22nd film directed by Prof. Ariyaratne who is famed for his earlier directions like ‘Sarungale’, ‘Anupama’, ‘Siribo Aiya’, ‘Uppalawanna’ and ‘Sudu Sevanali’.
The new film story woven around the beloved wife of Siddhartha will be released in 70 EAP circuit theatres in last week of April in simultaneous to the 2018 Vesak festival.
The main roles of Siddhartha and Yashodhara are played by two Indian stars A. Chowdhury and Pallavi Subash and the film is produced by H. D. Premasiri.
Even though there is a lot of literature on the real life of Siddhartha, one can hardly find on ‘Yashodara’. The most available piece of literature on Yashodara is ‘Lady of the Lotus’ written by William Edmund Barrett was released in 1975. Yet it is only a fictionalised biography of the wife of Buddha.
However Prof. Ariyaratne made his film based on ‘Yashodharawa’ written by Ven. Ganegama Saranankara thera.
The title role ‘Yashodara’ played by Pallavi Subash hails from Maharashtra Province has performed in more than 12 Marathi films. However she became one of the most sort after stars following her role as Dharma in ‘Chakrawarthi Ashoka’ tele series. Rukmini the character she played in mythological series ‘Mahabarat’ was also highly acclaimed by the TV audience.
A. Chowdhury who plays the role of Siddhartha has won accolades for his acting in the Indian cinema. He played a main role in the British Asian feature film ‘The Anglistanis’ and has played roles in several movies and short films.
The other roles are played by Dineth De Silva (Devdath) Sangeetha Thedani (Mahamaya) Ajith Weerasinghe (Suddhodana) Udari Perera (Nanda) Heshan Manula (Nanda) Shammu Kasun (Channa) Kamal Deshapriya (Supprabuddha) Thumindu Dodanthenna (Kavvyakkaraya) Ruvi Lakmali (Radhitha) Wilson Gunaratne (Asitha) Anesta Gray (Uththara) and Nethsuka Muluthenrala (Rahula).
The technical crew include Channa Deshapriya as cinematographer, Bimal Dushmantha as art director, Wimal Deshapriya as assistant director and Manohari Hewawasam as production manager. Makeup is handled by Priyantha Dissanayake, costume designing by Thilina Hettigamage, music direction by Rohana Weerasinghe, choreography by Chandana Wickramasinghe, visual effects supervisor is Chathra Weeraman and vocalists are Nanda Malani, Ravindra Karunarathne, Asanka Dhananjaya and the production coordinator is A.D. Ranjith Kumara
The advisors for the film are Professor Bellanwila Wimalaratane thero, Professor Medagoda Abhayatissa thero, Professor Agalakada Sirisumena thero, Professor Chandima Wijebandara, Professor Sumanapala Galmangoda, Professor Asanga Thilakaratne, Senior Lecturer Nawalapitiya Anuradha and Suddhammika Bikkhuni.
The film was entirely shot in a massive set at Ranminitenna cinema village in Hambantota and the filming took 45 days.
