A ‘Doosra’ from Director of Photography
View(s):By Susitha Fernando
Internationally awarded cinematographer, Channa Deshapriya’s second film direciton ‘Doosra’ represented Sri Lanka at the recently concluded 28th Kolkata International Film Festival.
Started filmmaking with ‘U- turn’, a remake of an Indian movie, Channa’s newest film is scheduled to compete at several international film festivals.
Lakshan Abeynayake, a renowned actor in France has joined ‘Doosra’ as one of the producers while he also plays a lead role in the film.
Producer and actor Lakshan Abeynayake
The story revolves around young ‘Rathi’ together with her lover Anil resort to an unconventional profession to earn a living. The young girl pretends to be a prostitute and offers her service to rich customers. But as soon Rathi is escorted to a room, Anil gate-crashes there and robs the customer while taking his photos to blackmail him later. The practice continues until one day their ploy is failed and Anil is beaten up mercilessly and Rathi is abducted by a gang of thugs. They arrange to sell Rathi as a prostitute but one of the gang members runs away with her.
Now the young girl is hunted by the gang as well as Anil.
“This is a story that had been toiling in my mine for so many years. I was filming the development of Samanalawewa project 35 years ago and was visiting the rural areas. We saw how the children in these rural villages grew up and how their lives were changed. So what I saw had been in my mind for years and when I got the first opportunity to make a my own film I decided to do it,” said Channa who is ranked as one of the leading cameramen in the country. His long list of films as cinematographer include ‘Aswesuma’ (2001) , ‘Thani Thatuwen Piyambanna’ (2002), ‘Sulang Kirilli’ (2003), ‘The Forsaken Land’ (2005), ‘Aksharaya’ (2005), ‘Ahasin Wetei’ (2009), ‘Kusa-Paba’, ‘Him, Here, After’ (2012), ‘Miles of a Dream’ (2013), ‘The Singing Pond’ (2015), ‘Let Her Cry’ (2015), ‘Nimnayaka Hudakalawa’ (2016), ‘Yashodhara’ (2018), ‘Vijayaba Kollaya’ (2019) and ‘Alborada’ (2021).
According to Channa, Sri Lanka cinema needs a major attitudinal changes on the part of artistes. “We have been complaining about lack of latest technology and facilities earlier. But world’s latest camera is available in the country but have the quality in our cinema improved,” Channa who had international awards questioned.
‘Doosra’ is played by Thilakshani Rathnayake, Lakshan Abeynayake, Sajitha Anthony, Shyam Fernando, Steve Dela Silva, Wasanthi Ranwala, Ruwan Madanayake, Jayanath Bodhahandi, Nadheeshani Peliarachchi, Tharindu Kavinda Gamage, Samantha Parna Liyanage, Vishaka Siriwardhana and Rohith Mannage.
Behind the screen co-produced by Hashani Kithalagama, cinematographed by Dhammika Rathnayake, edited and colour grading by Thissa Surendra, make up by Samarasiri Kadhanage and art director is Lucky Wijewardena. Sound designer of the film is Sasika Ruwan Marasinghe, while the musical score is written byChinthaka Jayakody.
To the lyrics of Ashoka Handagama, playback songs are sung by Nipuni Sharadha, Sajitha Anuththara and Rohitha Jayanath.Sharadha, Sajitha Anuththara andRohitha Jayanath.
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- Producer and actor Lakshan Abeynayake
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