‘5 Samath,’ a children’s film directed by talented Jayaprakash Sivagurunathan, will be released soon in Sri Lanka.
The movie, the title of which can be loosely translated as Passing the Grade Five Scholarship Exam, is based on the struggle of a poor boy who turns every obstacle in his path to stepping stones for success, finally becoming a beacon of hope for the other children in a village.
Partly shot in the scenic mountain range around Hevilikanda, close to Kandy, film’s celebrity cast includes veterans of three generations as well as new comers, led by supremely talented doyenne of four decades Iranganie Serasinghe.
The other actors are Uddika Premaratne, Dilhani Ashokamala, Semini Iddamalgoda whose impressive ’28’ was released in May, Shyam Fernando of Oba Ekka Oba Nethuwa fame and Malcolm Machado. The child stars include a host of new comers: Amiru Koralage, Shradh Koralage, Sejan Thanthrimudalige, Kavinda Kasundara, Wageesha Salgado and Obhasitha Kangaren.
After a press show at Colombo Thrangani Cinema, Sivagurunathan said that he does not want to convey messages to the audience through his films. “I don’t make films to brainwash people with messages. I am a professional director and I try to create films which can be appreciated by everybody and it is up to them to enjoy them depending on their intellect and judgement. This is a film I made to portray the hopes and dreams of the kids in an adult world”, he said.
Sivagurunathan who has made three films in different genres is one of the most prominent movie and tele drama directors. His debut was a political comedy called ‘King Hunther’ in 2011 about an ancient monarch who fell into sleep and steps into the modern world after 340 years, resulting in various humorous turns with political undertones. ‘Ko Mark No Mark ‘, his second film, is a comedy with late stage, film and TV actor Vijaya Nandasiri playing a double role.
His expert knowledge on the cinematic media has placed Sivagurunathan on a high pedestal. He dares to experiment to make his creations commercially and critically successful in the small film industry in Sri Lanka which has faced tough competition from television, and foreign films. He seems to have what most of the Sinhala directors of today lacks: sixth sense.
Sivagurunathan who began his career as a litho artist at Upali Group of Newspapers and later promoted to an editorial position of a sub editor, is multi-talented. He is a journalist, writer, photographer and director of films and television serials. He has made more than ten very popular TV dramas, most of them based on socially relevant themes.
Sri Lankan Canadian Mahesh Denipitiya contributes to music direction in ‘5 Samath’.
This is the first time Sivagurunathan is trying his hands in the genre of children cinema and judging by the favourable response in the media, this is a movie worth waiting for.
Since Dr. Lester James Peiris made ‘Madol Duwa’ and Titus Thotawatte directed ‘Handaya’ many acclaimed children’s film have been made in Sri Lanka. The most prominent director who breathed a fresh life into the this medium is Australia-based Somaratne Dissanayake who is having unmatched skills to direct children. He can be described as Sri Lanka’s version of Majid Majidi with an unerring trust in his craft. Most of Dissanayke’s films like ‘Saroja’, ‘Samanala Thatu’, ‘Sooriya Arana’ and ‘Siri Parakum’ have earned critical and box office success in addition to international honours.
One of the most successful Sinhala children’s films in the recent past is ‘Ho Gana Pokuna’ (The Singing Pond) directed by Indika Ferdinando. The film which did the festival circuit went on to win the Teacher’s Choice Prize at the 31st Chicago International Children’s Film Festival, Best Feature Film at the 38th Lucas Children’s Festival and had its world premiere at the Shanghai International Film Festival.
