Roopantharana:

A response to diaspora's malignant machinations

Reviewed by Fizel Jabir

Roopantharana the latest film directed by Nalaka Vithanage to hit the screen is woven around the lives of three Sri Lankan youth Andrea, Warun and Hareem living in Australia. Andrea is the daughter of a brigadier and Hareem and Warun are university students. Warun is Andrea's fiancee.

The film unfolding in Australia depicts the love affair between Andrea and Warun. Vithanage cleverly carries forward the plot leaving the audience mesmerised in the wake of the sharp twist of events and enigmatic behaviour and machinations of the protagonist Warun.

The events further create anxiety when Warun hastily lures his fiancée Andrea to a sudden return to the motherland.

The events that follows are inconceivable and devastating. They provide the viewers an exciting experience hinting at the looming dangers and conspiracies befalling the country.

Crux

Vithanage cinematically handles many social realities in quick succession. He has also used the audio-visual medium to great effect to generate suspense and glamour booked by Lahiru Perera's music. Perera too has done an excellent job with tantalising sound effects throughout the movie.

Vithanage has also used many symbols such as the fire in the hearth and remnants of structures throughout the film to alert the viewers of the impending climax of the movie.

The cast includes Ravindra Randeniya, Tissa Wijesurendra, Ranjan Ramanayake, Damitha Abeyratne and Saranga Dissanayaka.

The main characters are portrayed by Amila Karunanayaka, Shella Nathanials, Milinda Madugalle and Kalum Kularatne.

The movie is produced by Dr Arosh Fernando, The new cast in the movie was given a six-month training by Ravindra Randeniya, Tissa Wijesurendra, Ranjan Ramanayake and Damitha Abeyratne before shooting the film.

Roopantharana would be a good response to the adversities highlighted by a section of the diaspora.

Vithanage said the sudden decision to screen the movie was mainly due to two factors. It was a response to the malignant propaganda of the diaspora. The other is that there is a vacuum of new movies in theatres in the country.

Vithanage is the son of popular dramatist Bandula Vithanage.