Sinhala Film Aba....

The Legend of King Pandukabhaya


The title “Aba” is derived from “Pandu Aba”, another name for the title character. This famous Sinhalese legend is extravagantly portrayed in ‘Mahavamsa’ (the most comprehensive chronicle of the history of Sri Lanka) written during the 5th Cent. AD by Mahanama thero. Although it has been difficult to specify the time period in which King Pandukabhaya ruled, it can be inferred from the chronicles that he ruled over 2300 years back. A brief description of the legend as related in Mahavamsa is given below.
After Prince Vijaya, an outcast of India, who came ashore in Sri Lanka in 543 B.C. and settled in the island, died, Panduvasudeva became the king. Bhaddakachchana, a Shakya Princess, was brought down from India as his queen consort. At length, the monarchs had ten sons and one daughter. The daughter was called Ummada Chitra because of her exceeding beauty. The soothsayers foretold that the son of Princess Chitra would destroy his uncles and wrest the kingdom for himself. Therefore, the brothers decided to kill their sister but the elder brother Abhaya persuaded them to keep her in a chamber built upon a single tower (called ‘Ektamgeya’) which was accessible only through a door from the king’s bedchamber. In the meantime Bhaddakachchana’s brothers established settlements around the island. Dighagamini, the son of Digayu, one of these brothers was appointed to serve the court of the king at Upatissagama. Dighagamini heard of Chitra and fell in love with her. By means of a stratagem he visited the chamber and Chitra conceived a child. Hearing this, the uncles decided to kill the child if he were to be male but Chitra exchanged babies with another woman whose child was a girl. Afterwards Chitra’s son, Pandukabhaya, grew up in a village called Doramandalawa (Dwaramandala). When he was seven, the uncles discovered the boy’s existence and started to kill all the boys of his age. Somehow he escaped death and later on he grew up under the tutelage of a Brahmin named Pandula. Having attained youth he killed all the uncles except Abhaya and became the first King of Anuradhapura marrying Swarnapali and ruled for 70 years.





Controversy

Although Mahavamsa is the largest source of knowledge about the history of Sri Lanka, some of its content might have been subjected to favoritism and exaggeration. As the writer of the foregoing chronicle might have been in favor of India, now these early legends are being subject to controversy. Vijaya is portrayed in Mahavamsa as the forefather of the Sinhalese, who married the Yakkha queen Kuveni who betrayed her people over to Vijaya. But it is evident from the fact that there existed a city called Sirisavattu in the island where Yakkhas lived at the time, that a civilization had prevailed in the island before Vijaya arrived. Although the chronicler portrays the Yakkhas as devils, now it is widely believed that Yakkhas were one of the major tribes in the island at that time. This fact shakes Vijaya’s position in the history of Sri Lanka. It is possible that the chronicler, who could have been biased towards India, preferred to consider Vijaya and his retinue as the first Sinhalese community rather than accepting the fact that Vijaya was a conqueror. If that is true, from that time onwards Sri Lanka witnessed a foreign rule. However, a circle of historians have now formulated the hypothesis that the father of King Pandukabhaya was a native tribesman[citation needed]. This hypothesis is used to explain the fact that it was King Pandukabhaya who destroyed the foreign invaders and brought back independence to the island. The synopsis of ABA is not identical to the story in Mahavamsa. It will merge historical events with imaginary ones to create the atmosphere gathering around the life of young Pandukabhaya who was protected by various people. It will portray the bravery and tact of those who were bound to protect Pandukabhaya. However, ABA is expected to bring forward a more reasonable, clear picture of the legend of King Pandukabhaya. In doing so, it will also capture ancient Sinhalese traditions and folklore to create a vivid background for the film.




The Production

Justin Belagamage and Ms. Rajindra Jayasinghe are producing this film for Mandakini Creations (Pvt) Ltd. This film is the most expensive Sinhalese movie to date(Cinema of Sri Lanka) costing more than 60 million Rupees to produce. Jackson Anthony, the director, who is one of the most popular actors in Sri Lanka will not be portraying any role in ABA. He has directed several films before as well. Sajitha Anuttara, Jackson Anthony’s son, portrays the role of Pandukabhaya. This film will also feature Malini Fonseka, Ravindra Randeniya, Sriyantha Mendis, Sabeetha Perera and many other popular actors. The production of this film began halfway through 2007. The film was shot at different remote places in Sri Lanka. The set for the royal palace reportedly cost around 6.5 million Rupees. Through this film the filmmakers expect to pioneer an “epical tradition of the Sinhala cinema”. The Producers expect ABA to become a landmark and momentous production in the history of Sri Lankan cinema for its sheer magnitude in scale, choice of technology and methods used, and its extraordinary cinematic quality.


Cast

Sajitha Anuttara (Pandukabhaya)
Ravindra Randeniya (Pandula)
Malini Fonseka(Bhaddakachchana)
Sabeetha Perera (Unmaada Chitra)
Kanchana Kodituwakku (Deega Gamini)
Saumya Liyanage (Habara)
Sriyantha Mendis (Parumukhaya)
Neil Alles (King Panduvasudeva)
Lucien Bulathsinhala (Abhaya)


Crew

Director – Jackson Anthony
Producers- Justin Belagamage, Ms. Rajindra Jayasinghe for Mandakini Creations
Assistant Director – Anura Wijeysinghe
Director of Photography – Suminda Weerasinghe
Music Director – Nadeeka Guruge
Production Manager- Samanpriya Marasinghe
Art Director – Udeni Subodhi Kumara
Make-up Artist – Vasantha Vittachchi
Editor- Ravindra Guruge
Costume Designers- Nihan Senevirathna, Vasantha Srinath
Choreographer- Chandana Wickramasinghe
Stunts Director- Guru G Karunapala
Lyricist- Prof. Sunil Ariyarathne


References

Official Website of Aba
Jackson Anthony, the Director
"The History of Sri Lanka" by W.I. Siriweera
Aba to reach international heights
Ran Ran - ABA Movie - VIDEO (Available to Download)
Habara - ABA Movie - VIDEO (Available to Download)