The film ‘Sakkarang’ and the success of Dharmasena Pathiraja as a film director

Abstract

Dharmasena pathiraja is a Director who has a special place in the history of films in Sri Lanka. Because, subject matter of films selected by him is very specific and identifiable. Dharmasena Pathiraja has not paid his attention to popularity and marketing in contrast to some of the other film directors. He directs his films based on his personal experiences with current political and social issues. There are a few films, directed by him as follows. Sathuro - short film (1969), Ahas gauwa (1974), Eya den loku lamayek (1977), Ponmani (1977), Bambaru Awith (1978), Paara dige (1980), Soldadu unnahe (1981), Mathu Yam Dawasa (2001). ‘Sakkarang’ is the latest film directed by Dharmasena Pathiraja based on the novel, Sakkarang written by Chamminda Welagedara. The script was written by Chamminda Welagedara. Sube who is a professional dancer and his family is the main theme of this film. They live in Malagammana which is one of the ten villages serving the Dalada Maligawa (the temple of the sacred tooth relic) as devotees. The problem is whether that particular identity of the films of Darmasena Pathiraja can be seen in Sakkarang. This Sakkarang film has been directed under the theme based on current political and social issues in an indirect way. In addition to that, the script and characterization were taken in to the attention here. So, there are two types of resources used. As the primary resource CDs of the films was studied. Also, articles and books regarding films written by academics/intellectuals in this regard were followed to get more academic data to prove the theme of the present study. Based on the findings, it can be concluded that Dramasena Pathiraja is not successful in keeping his identity on the above mentioned area.