Maha raja Gamunu, an Overrated Masterpiece ?

To escape my feeling of being guilty conscious in front of the actors of the movie, for having to lie them about their artistic promise they showed, without even watching it,   i found myself at the font row of the balcony along with the two of my best mates.

The shaking carts in the movie and the "houseful" signs displayed at the theater, echoed the helpless state of the Srilankan filmmakers for still having to stick to periodical drama to attract a major crowd instead of exploring and experimenting on fields which are still young for the inexperienced srilankan audience.

Jayantha Chandrasiri being a veteran artist of the country, displays his promise from the start both in directing and in screenplay. The thorough background research and the masterfully executed dialogues not only adds a sense of reality to the movie but also sinks the audience in a deep meditation.

Since "Dandubasnamanaya" was jayantha's major start, he seems to be having difficulty giving up his fake(or true) love for "Angampora" (In a way "Angampora" and "shanthikarma" made jayantha's carrer.) But the Maha Raja Gamunu "Angampora" stunt at the jaya sri maha bodhi,  hurts the originality of the movie since its shot in the exact manner kurasowa did in his 1962 movie "Sanjuro".

As the story unfolds, maha raja gamunu begs the true film goers to take another look at the "MaRa Cinema". Jayantha proves  (atleast in the middle parts,-between plot point one and plot point two)  that if done properly, a historical movie could attain both audience and critic recognition.  At this state the audience is in a transitional state, not knowing if the movie would turn out to be the greatest film ever made? or another retarded story. 

Jayantha also proving that his visual poetry extends to further lengths ,instead of focusing on building the story from the birth of gamunu to his demise, he utilizes the story of the life of angampora leader's son. The son grows up to be a member of the famous 10 giant squad and explains his story to the prince gemunu. (That's when the Main Actor Uddika Premarathne is Introdued.)

Despite of the serious attacks from social media Uddika recieved, he plays his part in an acceptable manner. (i wouldnt say he's done a great job). Jackson Anthony, as usual plays his part and the rest of the cast including Shriyantha Mendis, Kusum Renu, Saranga, Umali shows their potential as well.

The Masterpiece the audience sees, ends in the latter part of the movie, with the start of the war scenes. The lack of manpower, the feeble state of the srilankan vfx artists demotes the movie which could have been an all time masterpiece to a kollywood entertainer.  The Elara Dutugemunu Duel which the mahawansa describes to be one the fiercest duels to ever take place in srilanka, is nothing but swaying spears at each other in the movie. ( i strongly recomend Mr.jayantha Chandrasiri to read, watch and compare the Duel Between "The Snake And The Mountain" in Geroge RR. Martin's A Songs Of Ice and Fire)


Maha Raja Gamunu,  an Overrated Masterpiece?

12:34 AM

26/01/2015