Internationally awarded ‘Vishama Bhaga’ in cinemas
Internationally awarded and nominated Lalith Ratnayake’s maiden film ‘Vishama Bhaga’ (The Other Half) is now being screened on EAP circuit cinemas around the country.
Presented by Shraddha films, ‘Vihama Bhaga’ won three awards at Druk International Film Festival (DIFF) in Bhutan held in August. The film won the Best Supporting Actor award for Jackson Anthony and Winner of the Best Educational Film for Lalith Ratnayake. The film also won one of the five Outstanding Achievement Awards.
Earlier the film was nominated for the Best Script Writer Award in the Asia New Talent Awards at the 22nd Shanghai International Film festival.
‘Vishama Bhaga’ revolves around a young boy who lives with the pain of a poisoned environment and a society that doesn’t understand the value of an individual.
Druk International Film Festival is held in the land of natural paradise Paro in Bhutan. DIFF showcased an outstanding presentation of independent filmmaking, while also building a strong sense of community around the art of visual storytelling.
In a rural village in Sri Lanka, the family well becomes poisoned by agricultural chemicals. This subsequently leads to the untimely death of Ruwansiri’s father who develops chronic kidney disease, leaving his mother works to support the family. At school, he struggles to understand his lessons in a rigid educational system that cannot go beyond rote learning. As an escape from the toxic environment around him, Ruwansiri finds solace in music. Can his passion help him overcome his circumstances?
‘Filmmaker Laith Ratnayake is well-known for his earlier directions on mini screen and many of his dramas have won awards at a number of teleaward ceremonies. They include ‘Thaththa’, ‘Awarna’, ‘Sonduru Waanthaya’, ‘One way’, ‘Arungal’ and ‘Wet and Dry’.
The film stars Kaushalya Fernando, Jackson Anthony, Hemasiri Liyanage, Pansilu Wicckremaratne, Pankaja Wickremaratne, Priyantha Sirikumara and Thilakshani Ratnayake.
The film is cinematographed by Palitha Perera and its musical score is written by C. Ruwanthilake and edited by Tissa Surendra.
