A Study on the Social Stratification Depicted in the Film "Bambara Walalla"

Abstract

Social stratification is defined as the classification of oneself and other members of society based on hierarchies determined by various factors. Its meaning is grounded in the division of society relative to different strata or layers. Social class can be viewed as the most significant system of social stratification in contemporary societies, with social outcomes being interconnected with this stratification. Prominently, Karl Marx and Max Weber, in their sociological theoretical analyses, have noted that the economy, social status, and power influence the emergence of social classes, respectively.

The film Bambara Walalla, directed by Athula Liyanage, is a cinematic work built around the rural and semi-urban social strata of Sri Lanka. The characters "Mal Mahaththaya" and "Podi Eka" are portrayed as the main protagonists. The primary objective of this research is to investigate the factors that determine the various social strata assigned to the characters based on their nature. A secondary objective is to examine whether the factors influencing the creation of social classes, as posited by Karl Marx and Max Weber, are depicted within the film Bambara Walalla in its representation of Sri Lankan society.

A qualitative research methodology was employed for this study. Primary data sources included statements from the film's director and actors, as well as interviews conducted with sociology subject experts and 10 undergraduates studying Cinema and Television at the University of Kelaniya. Secondary sources utilized included Karl Marx's theory on the emergence of social classes and Max Weber's theory on wealth, power, and authority. The research confirmed that the concepts of wealth, power, and authority defined by Max Weber, and the economic factor according to Karl Marx, heavily influence the emergence of characters like "Mal" and "Podi Eka" in Sri Lankan society. Conversely, it was confirmed that factors such as caste do not contribute to the creation of social stratification in the present day. Furthermore, the study established that education also serves as a direct factor in the formation of social stratification.