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| Sunday, 10 July 2005 |
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Editorial
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Kalu sudu saha Alu : Survivors of war
Born on January 17, 1965. Sudath Mahadivulwewa began his career as an advertising copywriter, and worked with many internationally known agencies. In his first television drama series, 'Wood & Fire' he explores the root causes of the ethnic conflict that devastated the country. In the epic television series 'Vanaspathy', he explores environmental issues and the cultural disintegration. In his third tele-film series, 'Manukakapura', he tackles the subject of the environment pollution. His first film was a documentary based on the Gypsy community of Sri Lanka, the 'Ahikuntikayas'. 'Shades of Ash' is his first feature film. by chamitha kuruppu The world is stripped off its colours when people are killed in war. Those who survive war are neither, alive nor dead. They are the 'Shades of Ash'. Sudath Mahadivulwewa's maiden feature film 'Kalu sudu saha Alu' (Shades of Ash) revolves around a community of survivors who return to their border village, which they abandoned many months ago following a ruthless massacre of their kith and kin and the destruction of the total infrastructure of their village by a ruthless terrorist attack. They return with nothing but their souls to a place where only memories remain. The film narrates how they adapt to rebuilding their lives and homes while compromising with the newly emerged socio-economic culture that had been nurtured within the 'business' of war and peace.
'Shades of Ash', is a feature film, which attempts to unearth the tragedy of Sri Lankan society, of which colour and beauty has been stripped off after two decades of war and brutal violence. One million people have been displaced, half a million have migrated and nearly 65,000 have lost their lives. Sri Lankans have been deprived of their basic human rights, freedom to life, feelings of belonging to the world and their socio-cultural identities. The storyline of the film was developed after extensive research which was carried out in the border areas by the scriptwriters, the director and producer, who were assisted by some university academics. The cast includes fourteen key role players and nearly 200 extras. One of the largest sets ever constructed in Sri Lankan film history - a whole village - was built on site of an actual border village in the war zone of the North Central Province of Sri Lanka. This is also the first Sri Lankan Dolby Digital film. Sudath Mahadivulwewa began his career as an advertising copywriter, and worked with many internationally known agencies. He moved into 'alternate journalism' becoming an art editor for the controversial Lakdiva newspaper, at a time when it was highly risky to even read such papers under the then emergency regulations in force in the country. This experience, and his subsequent attendance at a film appreciation course in the Film Institute of Poona, in India, led him to concentrate on social and national issues in his film work.
In his first television drama series, 'Wood and Fire' (Dande lu gini) he explores the root causes of the ethnic conflict which has devastated the country over the last twenty years. This was a landmark television series at the time and drew much critical attention. In the epic television drama series 'Vanaspathy', he explores environmental issues and the cultural disintegration caused by environmental destruction. Set around Sri Lanka's Sinharaja forest, one of the few remaining evergreen forests of the world, the Tele film focuses on the adverse changes that took place under foreign colonisation in a society which had lived in harmony with nature for over 2000 years. In his third teledrama series, 'Manukakapura', he tackles the subject of the environment again, making people aware of the problems confronted by society due to environmental pollution. Sudath's first 35 mm film was a documentary based on the Gypsy community of Sri Lanka, the 'Ahikuntikayas'. It narrates their lifestyle, customs and culture from birth to death in an innovative shooting style. It has represented Sri Lanka at several foreign film festivals. He continues to work in the advertising industry and is now one of its leading directors of creative commercials, winning many industry awards in the process. Shades of Ash is his first feature film. According to Sudath the world is deprived of its colours when people are killed in war. Those who survive war, are neither alive nor dead. " This story is about such people who have not been given peace of death nor the pleasure of life. The material destruction caused by war is tangible and measurable but not the destruction and agony caused to minds, livelihoods, values and morals. Thus the hour after the war, is perhaps more frightening and darker than the one during the battle". War, the common enemy of humanity has shredded the social, cultural and political fabric of Sri Lankan society. The primary focus of this film is on personal human tragedy brought about by war, which is set against the backdrop of its wider issues, thus enabling a deeper discourse to take place within. In addition to the main role players, and about another 200 actors are involved in making this film. All artistes have undergone training in workshops in acting and role making, before commencement of production. The dedicated workshops have given them opportunity to refresh themselves
on both theory and practical aspects of theatre. |
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