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Sinhala Film Kusa Paba by Sunil Ariyaratne

By sandeshaya on May 22nd, 2011

Hot on the heels of a historic movie comes another historic project based on a Buddhist theme. This time it is from the Jathaka tales and one of the most popular among the lot. This is the story of one of Prince Siddhartha’s previous births, one in which he was born with a disfigured face and had to woo the most beautiful princess in the land. Renowned art personality Prof Sunil Ariyaratne will bring the story to the wide screen. The script which is penned by Dr Tissa Abeysekara is believed to be the last film script he had worked on before passing away. “Making a movie based on Kusa Jathaka had been my dream. Though Jathaka tales had been related by the Buddha there are some stories similar to those in Greek, Arabian and European folktales. The public like to listen to stories. They would enjoy watching such stories unfolding on screen even more,” Prof Ariyaratne said. The Kusa Jathaka is the 523th Jathaka story in the 550 Jathaka book. Indian folktales came to Sri Lankan with Arahant Mahinda Thera’s visit. Many temple murals and poems were influenced by them. Works like Kav Silumina and Kusa Jathaka Kavya were based on Kusa Jathaka. In 1870 Kusa Nadagama was brought to light by John Marthanius Paulas Peiris Samarasinghe. A nurthi creation named Kusa Jathaka Dhrushya Kavya was produced by John de Silva while Dr Eidirweera Sarachchandra brought Pabavathi to stage. Versatile artiste Jackson Anthony will be portraying King Kusa’s role. “Kusa Jathaka had often been confused with the Ummaga Jataka. Some even confuse King Kusa’s appearance with Kala Gola’s outlook. There is a difference between these characters’ appearances. Kala Gola who is dark and short had set off a comical atmosphere while King Kusa’s face was disfigured in such a way that it resembled a devil,” Anthony explained. The beautiful and charming Pooja Umarshanker will ignite the screen again with her luminous presence in Kusa Paba. “I don’t know how they convinced my father to let me act again but he granted me permission to work in this film. I am so excited to be a part of this beautiful tale,” an enthusiastic Pooja said. Shooting will begin in July. The locations are in Ranminithanna Tele Cinema Village. Kusa Paba will also be the first Sri Lankan film to be shot in Ranminithanna.

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Tags: Boodi Keerthisena, Chandana Wickramasinghe, Editor Ravindra Guruge, Jackson Anthony, Kusa Paba, Music Director Rohana Weerasinghe, Pooja Umashanker, Ravindra Randeniya, Renuka Balasoriya, Sanath Gunatilake, Somaratne Dissanayake, Sunil Ariyaratne, Tissa Abeysekara, Veena Jayakodi, Velegedara Ranasinghe, Vishwa Balasooriya