 Clear skies for ‘Vehi Dawasa’
by Ruwini Jayawardana
  Multi-talented artiste Bhadraji
Mahinda Jayatilaka has completed his maiden cinematic creation ‘Vehi
Dawasa’ (Rainy Day) and it is set to heat the wide screen. The story is
based on a novel penned by Jayatilaka and flows along a series of tragic
incidents which relates the unexpected turns in life.
Many new faces as well as some well known figures from theater make
up the cast. Hemantha Prasad, Prabha Sandaseeli, Udeni Alwis, Sangeetha
Thadani, Sanet Dikkumbura, Lakshan Sanju, Bhadraji Mahinda, Vishaka
Jayaweera, Prasad Deshapriya and others play key roles in the project
which is captured on camera by Donald Karunaratne.
The tale of ‘Vehi Dawasa’ flows along with the lifestyles of a few
individuals. Set in the picturesque backdrop of Nuwara Eliya the story
focuses on Elisa, Theja, Anoja and Dilip. While the rest of the citizens
are fast asleep, engulfed in the blanket of cold mist, Elisa is busy
getting ready for the day.
Each passing minute is precious for the energetic woman as she
scurries about with the house chores. With three children to feed, a
sick child to tend to and a stingy husband to care for Elisa has her
hands full. However with a will made of steel she battles with lifes
misfortunes and she is the pillar of strength for her family. Her friend
Theja leads an entirely different lifestyle. She is young, with child
and has a doting husband who tends to her needs.
 She decides to accompany her her friend and child to the doctors as
she too has her daily check-up scheduled for the day. A bus speeds
towards Nuwara Eliya from Colombo carrying superstar Dilip and his
companions.
They are on their way to stage a play in town. Anoja, the wife of the
chief doctor at the hospital, is counting the minutes to Dilips arrival.
Being an ardent fan of his she is in a frenzy of excitement to meet and
chat up with him. However life is not as simple as these individual
anticipated. They are taught a bitter lesson as nature intervenes in an
unexpected manner.
“For around 60 years I held on to the dream of making a movie. I did
research and engaged in studies harnessing that hope.
“Having become a part of the team of Sri Lanka’s first television
station ITN I later worked as a consultant, producer and director for
both ITN and Rupavahini. I wrote and directed Atharamage Nawathena (The
Wayward Rest), the first teledrama to be done in a studio in Sri Lanka
with three cameras and online editing.
Later in California I wrote and directed a one-hour television drama
to be produced in USA,” Jayatilaka noted on how his dream to turn movie
maker took shape. Most of the episodes of the film was shot in Nuwara
Eliya within ten days.
The background music was provided by two Tamil musicians named Geeth
and Vickyn. Tamil rap music had been included to a song in the movie.
This is the first time that Tamil rap tunes had been included in a
Sinhala film. Hemantha Prasad has written the screenplay, M. Safeer was
the production executive, Prem Jayantha Kapuge the make up while Udeni
Alwis has assisted in the direction and also handled still photography. |
