Kamal Addaraarachchi as the rebel leader. Inset: Real Rohana Wijeweera
Ginnen Upan Seethala (Frozen Fire), the Sinhala biopic of Rohana Wijeweera who masterminded two violent insurrections in Sri Lanka, will be screened in Toronto on March 2. The movie has made it into the long list for the Best Film Category in the forthcoming Oscar awards festival.
The violent youth rebellion of 1971 was launched by the educated unemployed youths demanding equal opportunities from Sirima Bandaranaike’s government which was propped up by a patchwork of traditional leftists. The turmoil changed the political landscape of the Indian Ocean island permanently.
The backlash from the government was brutal, killing more than 30,000 young people who were involved in the rebellion, with many more being tortured and imprisoned.
The second insurrection, launched to topple the government of President Ranasinghe Premadasa from 1987 to 1989, remains the most violent era in the modern history of Sri Lanka. The security forces’ gruesome backlash claimed many lives while the JVP, or the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna founded by Wijeweera, reacted with an equally violent campaign targeting the members and families of the security forces and government supporters.
The two-year period, known as the Reign of Terror, culminated in the capture of Wijeweera who was on the run in disguise. An eye witness says he was thrown alive into an incinerator in the Colombo General Cemetery.
The fascinating life of the revolutionary leader who favoured the Che Guevara’s beret is a tailor-made epic for a biopic full of historical, economic and political realities common to any Third World nation. There were many leaders in the calibre of Wijeweera born in the nations trying to shake off the shackles of the colonial legacy as the local elites, groomed to take over power by the departed colonial masters, stepped into fill their shoes.
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam Chief Velupillai Prabhakaran had many parallels with Wijeweera. Both leaders, trying to wrestle freedom from exploitation and discrimination from the authorities who had callous disregard for suffering masses, were the products of their times. They lived and died almost the same way, but their dedication to the cherished ideals was unquestionable.
It is no wonder the film has been short listed in the Best Film Category in the forthcoming Oscar awards festival. This is the first time a Sri Lankan film is in the fray for such a prestigious international honour and judging by favourable critical reviews, the growing worldwide interest in the film and its technical and artistic perfection, Ginnen Upan Seethala is expected to perform beyond conservative expectations.
Kamal Addaraarachchi, a veteran of three decades on stage, TV and films, who plays the role of Wijeweera has been credited with rendering one of the best character portrayals in Sinhala cinema to date. He is a replica of the revolutionary leader, thanks to hours of makeup and prothesis and also a pair of dentures completing the late politician’s real avatar.
The character of Wijeweera’s wife Chithranganie, played by Sulochana Weerasinghe, has been described in superlatives by the critics despite her being a relative new comer to the cinema. Jagath Manuwarna, plays the role of Upatissa Gamanayake, a close ally of Wijeweera, Sujeewa Priyalal appears as Somawansa Amarasinghe who took over the party after Wijeweera’s demise, and Priyantha Sirikumara is in the role of Jayantha Bopege, a close friend of late rebel.
Stage and TV veteran Deepani Silva plays Wijeweera’s mother while popular actress Dilhani Ashokamala is also in the cast.
The script written by Ariyawansa Dammage was the result of two years’ extensive research. The film has been directed by Anuruddha Jayasinghe whose earlier works include Eka Dawasaka Api, Bomba saha Rosa, Sankranthi and Maa. The producer is Chamathka Peiris.
Cinematographer Dhanushka Gunathilake, known for his earlier works Dark in the White Light, Suparna and Thanha Rathi Ranga, has been widely praised for his excellent camera work while Art Director Udeni Subodhi Kumara has taken meticulous care to create the feel of the 70s and 80s.
The makeup department headed by Narada Thotagamuwa took over the huge responsibility of transforming the physical features of the actors playing Wijeweera’s family and his political associates to resemble original characters. Music is by Nadeeka Guruge.
Toronto screening of the film has been sponsored by Ethera Api association of Canada and the proceeds will go to a school project in Sri Lanka, according to a source.
Director Jayasinghe will be present at the 6:30 pm screening at the Albion Cinemas, Etobicoke. – newstrails.com
