A Study of Dance Usage in Kusa Paba Movie

Abstract

In Sinhala movies that have taken historical stories as a source, a dance usage that is used in addition to the acting can be identified. The movie 'Kusa Paba' directed by Sunil Ariyaratne, based on the Kusa Jataka and the great poem Kawsilumina, is also such a movie. North Indian social culture has been based on it. The problem of this study is whether its socio-cultural basis will be shown through the dance style used for the Kusa Paba movie. The main objective of this study was to study the dance usage of that movie, and, secondarily, to identify the socio-cultural basis and its unique dance styles. The mixed method was used for this study. Data was collected by watching the movie, library study, and through a questionnaire administered to a sample of 50 people, 10 each representing the dance industry under 05 categories. Out of the 06 songs included in Kusa Paba, it was found that the dance was used for 04 songs and one out-of-song dance scene. In the song 'Madhura Wasanthe', the Kuthirai Attam folk dance style unique to Tamil Nadu has been used, and the Kathakali dance style unique to Kerala has been used in the out-of-song dance scene. In the songs 'Madhu Chandra Yame', 'Jala Dharawe', 'Rata Wasiyanta Jaya Sri', the constant use of basic gestures, foot movements and hasta mudras of Bharatanatyam is noticeable. Thus, it was revealed that in all those dance situations, folk dances and classical dance styles unique to South India are highlighted. 71% of the sample agreed that its sociocultural basis is not shown through the dance style used in the Kusa Paba movie. Accordingly, the study concludes that its socio-cultural basis is not shown through the dance style used for the film Kusa Paba. Further, the study recommends that such negative effects will be minimised by careful study of the source and optimal interrelationships of technicians in cinema dance usage.