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For the first time in the Sri Lankan film industry, the first screening of the movie “Bindu” directed by award winning filmmaking duo Somaratne Dissanayake and Renuka Balasuriya’s was free of charge in all cinema halls island wide.

The movie “Bindu” was released in Lankan cinema halls yesterday (23) and the show was free to all movie lovers for the first time in the Sri Lankan film industry. Large crowds were seen lined up at the cinema’s yesterday to watch the movie.

Shot on location at Sigiriya, the story focuses on a touching tale of a relationship between Bindu, a young calf elephant, and two children.
Keeping with their tradition of introducing young talent to the screen, Somaratne and Renuka have once again introduced two child actors to Lankan cinema, Sachin Chathuranga and Ruvindika Ishadini.

The movie is now screened at E A P cinema theaters from yesterday.

Jayalath Manoratne, Kumara Thirimadura, Jayani Senanayake, Athula Liyanage and a few others comprise the rest of the cast. Award winning actor of stage plays ‘Charandas’, Jayantha Muthuthanthri, debuts through ‘Bindu’.

The script is by Dissanayake and the cameraman is Suminda Weerasuriya. Rohana Weerasinghe did the music scores for a song sung by a group of children led by Madugeeth Dissanayake. The art director is Sunil Wijeratne while the makeup is done by Ebert Wijesinghe. The assistant director is Duminda Madawala. Renuka Balasuriya is the production manager and producer.

Speaking to Lankapuvath Mrs Renuka Balasuriya said that adults will be charged only half of the ticket price on Wednesdays.

Human – elephant conflict in focus
Somaratne – Renuka duo takes on jumbo project:

Ruwini Jayawardana

After the Perehara had taken to the streets of Kandy and elephants are in the news, award winning director Somaratne Dissanayake’s movie Bindu which focuses on the timely aspect of the human – elephant conflict is waiting at the helm of EAP circuit to be released.

This explicit creation of the filmmaker who had won accolades for each one of his creations was shot in the wilderness areas of Sigiriya, the real dwelling places of wild elephants, for two months.

The following are excerpts of an interview with Dissanayake on his newest cinematic venture.

“Bindu is based on a very timely concept – the human – elephant conflict. Sachin Chathuranga and Ruvindika Ishadini take on the lead roles in the film along with a baby elephant whose name denotes the title of the film.

“Both children were chosen from a series of interviews we conducted after advertising through the media. Sachin is the younger brother of Dasun Madusanka who has acted in my previous creations like Samanala Thatu and Sooriya Arana. However both children debut to cinema through the movie,” he expressed to Daily News ‘Projector’.

Sachin is a student of Prince of Wales, Moratuwa, while Ruvindika hails from Agalawatte. Around 3000 applications had been entertained during the interviews and a workshop had been held to train 50 children who had been contemplated for the roles. Both children had been chosen for the lead roles after the final interview.

Speaking on the theme of the movie, Dissanayake said that the interaction between wild elephants and human beings had existed in the country for decades.

“Wild-elephant attacks are frequently in the news. Similarly incidents in which humans have shot elephants are also on the grapevine. It is like an endless chain which is linked to each other and follows at a stretch. It many not have much of an impact on people in the suburbs but those who live near the jungle areas are constantly living in fear of wild elephant attacks,” he enlightened.

Originally it was a baby elephant which had been the protagonist of the tale. However it had taken almost two years to find the right elephant to take on the role. He says, “This script had been penned nearly three years back but since I could not find the elephant for Bindu’s role, I kept on postponing it.

I even tried to find a suitable candidate from Pinnawala and Ath Athuru Sevana, Uda Walawe, but all the attempts failed. It was a very long and tiring procedure as many misjudged my intentions. They believed that I was using the elephant for commercial purposes. My goal in the film is to project the value of the animals,” he said adding that he had finally found the baby tusker at a temple in Tissamaharama.

An elephant trainer from India had to be summoned to train little ‘Bindu’ to interact with the children. Dissanayake states that the film had been his most challenging project yet for each scene demanded a lot of patience and dedication.

“In Sooriya Arana I used some animals for the scenes but not up to this extent. We have to work with animals, especially elephants, from beginning to end in this film. It was risky because though the animals were tame and friendly you never know what would turn up at the next moment.

“ We took all the necessary precautions and the project ran smoothly,” he added with a smile of contentment.

Queried if he himself would grade his creations as ‘children’s movies’, the talented director said that he would never label his creations under that category.

“People identify them in the wrong manner. I refer to them as family films as they can be viewed even by children. They discuss common problems in the society which are serious matters. They are more relevant to adults than children, though children are the main characters,” he expressed.

Jayalath Manoratne, Kumara Thirimadura, Jayani Senanayake, Athula Liyanage and a few others make up the rest of the cast. Award winning actor of Charandas Jayantha Muthuthanthri also makes his entrance to the reel in the film.

The script is by Dissanayake and the cameraman is Suminda Weerasuriya. Rohana Weerasinghe did the music scores to a song sung by a group of children lead by Madugeeth Dissanayake.

The art director is Sunil Wijeratne while the make up is done by Ebert Wijesinghe. The assistant director was Duminda Madawala. Renuka Balasuriya is the production manager and producer. Bindu will make an entrance to the EAP circuit theatres after ‘Julia’.

Bindu film trailer

Bindu film Pictures

‘Bindu’ coming on EAP circuit
Award-winning filmmaker Somaratne Dissanayake’s latest movie ‘Bindu’ will be the next release in the EAP circuit. The story revolves around two little children and their friendship with elephants.

Sachith Chathuranga Mendis and Ruwanthika Ishadini are the two newest child stars who will be making their film debuts with ‘Bindu’. Incidentally Sajith Chathuranga Mendis is the youngest brother of Dasun Madusanka who was introduced by Somaratne Dissanayake and Renuka Balasuriya in ‘Suriya Arana’.

Jayalath Manoratne, Athula Liyanage, Jayani Senanayake, Kumara Thirimadura and Nilmini Buwaneka play the other key roles in the film while veteran Ebert Wijesinghe has handled the make-up, Suminda Weerasinghe the camera, Ravindra Guruge the editing, Sunil Wijeratne the art direction and Renuka Balasuriya the film production.

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