KOCHI: Political unrest, impending starvation, and uncertainties are still plaguing Sri Lanka’s film industry. Nevertheless, certain members of the business are making waves in the global film scene despite the increasing turmoil and chaos.
The sole Sri Lankan film to be screened at the 27th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), Maariaya: The Ocean Angel by Sri Lankan director Aruna Jayawardana, has already left a lasting impression on cinema fans all over the world.
The film chronicles what happened to a group of fisherman in the middle of the ocean after they discover something strange floating in the water. Unexpectedly, it’s a sex doll. It’s one of the most difficult projects I’ve ever worked on. The shooting occurred in the midst of our nation’s pandemic and political instability. For 22 days, we had to stay on a trawler to complete the film. Additionally, Sri Lanka has no film studios, and the government has shown complete disregard for the sector, according to Jayawardana.
The movie is based on some actual incidents that happened in Sri Lanka. “A few years ago, I read in the news that a gang of fisherman had acquired a sex doll. The script took three months to write, and we had to overcome all obstacles to get the movie made, according to Jayawardana.
He continues by saying that the film business in his nation is battling to survive. “At one time, we had about 127 theaters. It is currently down to 57. I’m hoping for a theatrical release because the film did well at the film festivals. He has worked for IFFK twice. He had previously arrived in 2012 with the critically praised film August Drizzle.
“I have attended numerous festivals all around the world, but Kerala’s film culture stands out. Here, the energy is different. We avoid watching Bollywood films because they are made up. He continues, “South Indian movies, particularly Malayalam ones, are more realistic and depict actual concerns, relationships, and locations.
At the most recent Hanoi International Film Festival, seven Sri Lankan actors who appeared in the movie won prizes for their work. “In order to bring this movie to life, we had to brave many dangers and storms. We endured a lot physically and mentally during our 22 days in the deep sea, according to Mahendra Perera, one of the film’s major performers.
