SHELL ASIA

Uppalawanna Sinhala Film - Sri Lanka - Directed by Prof. Sunil Ariyaratne. Starring: Sangeeta Weeraratne, Malini Fonseka Chandani Seneviratne, Roshan Ravindra Sanath Wimalasiri, Jagath Chamila Chandra Kaluarachchi, Rohana Baddage Chithra Warakagoda, Mali Jayaweera Wasantha Wittachchi, Suminda Sirisena Sanjeewa Upendra, Udeni Alwis Sandali Chathurika Welikanna You are about to experience a special screening [in You Tube] of Uppalavanna, a movie woven around the eponymous character who donned the yellow robes to seek solace in a distant forest hermitage. Sister Upuli (convincingly played by Sangeetha Weeraratne who created a sensation by shaving her head to give genuineness to the role) is born to an aristocratic physician and a respectable mother, falls in love with a low caste dancing teacher. She leaves her parents and gets married, but her happiness does not last long. Bearing up her troubles the determined Upuli sought solace in the order of the monkhood, taking the name Uppalavanna. When she confronts a severely wounded rebel, she realises she has to make a hard decision - whether to treat him and look after him or abandon him. With her decision begins the second phase of her second life facing the realities of a cruel society. Uppalawanna is a cinematic experience that will move you in many ways. The tranquil nature of a Buddhist lifestyle — the tension of the 1989 terror era — the passion of mother's love and the thrill of romance, are woven together in mosaic to make this film a unique cinematic experience. Uppalavanna is beautifully cinemetographed with an enthralling screenplay and a magnificent cast that do justice to their roles. The story runs over two hours. The carefully selected cast is the most important feature in this amazing movie. From Sangeetha Weeraratne, Malini Fonseka who plays the role of loku meni (head Bhikkuni) to little Sandali who portrays podi atthi (the little one) all perform brilliantly doing justice to the film. Prof. Ariyaratne's brave decision to work with young silver screen stars such as Roshan Ravindra (rebel), Jagath Chamila (Rathnapala) and Sanath Wimalasiri (Sangeetha's lover) is commendable. Their performances are brilliant and admirable. This is a unique chance to experience, one of the best critically acclaimed movie's ever made in Sri Lanka. With an award winning cast and an outstanding cinematographic work, this story will leave you with many thoughts and roller coaster of emotions for everyone to wonder...!!!