TV Times

TV Times

‘Marketing’ at its best
Journalist cum film and teledrama director Jayantha Chandrasiri's second film 'Guerrilla Marketing' was released on Friday, May 13 on CEL circuit cinemas island wide including Regal cinema Colombo.

Jayantha who was successful in his first film 'Agni Dahaya' a historical and political story which won him a number of awards he in his second attempt explores the modern day human problems created when globalisation and open economy dims cultural and traditional values.

Titled "Guerrilla Marketing" the film revolves around the repercussion of the open economy and is influenced on Sri Lankan society and life style of its people. Jayantha Chandrasiri writing script for Guerrilla Marketing explore the Sri Lankan traditions and culture and the impact of the open economic system on individual lives.

Guerrilla Marketing revolves around Suramya Mahakehelwala and Thisara Dissanayake who are cousins and belong to a family that has for generations practiced the art of traditional Kandyan Dancing. Cross cousins, they were childhood sweethearts.

When the film begins, they are both working for a reputed advertising agency. Their love for each other is a shared secret that the world knows nothing of.

Rangi Dissanayake is Thisara's wife. There are many things about Thisara that his wife knows nothing about, but which Suramya is aware of. Among them is the fact that Thisara, while still a teenager, was diagnosed with Schizophrenia. She also knows that he left her to marry Rangi, who came from an urban, upper class family, in order to deny and flee from his rural and traditional roots. '

Thisara, who demonstrates exceptional creativity, soon rises to the top of the advertising industry. Gregory Mahadikaram, a prominent politician, recognizes his extraordinary capabilities and entrusts him with the task of promoting his presidential campaign.

Thisara and Gregory are almost made for each other, the former being an escapee from "tradition" and the latter someone who has embraced uncritically and happily the processes and policies of globalisation, which results in the obliteration of tradition.

Thisara proposes a novel campaign strategy, rejecting the traditional campaign strategies used by politicians running for office. His is a strategy of training a group of young men and women and employing them to spread outrageous rumours, stories that show Mahadikaram in a more positive light.

Thisara works tirelessly and this takes a toll on him at the height of the election campaign. His illness surfaces once again. Consequently he begins to hallucinate.

The stellar cast in the film comprises Kamal Addararachchi, Jackson Anthony, Sriyantha Mendis, Yashoda Wimaladarma, Sangeetha Weeraratne, Buddadasa Vithanarachchi, Gamini Jayalth, Priyankara Ratnayake, G. Ranganatha and Malee Jayaweera.

Maestro Premasiri Khemadasa has done the original score while Ravindra Guruge has taken up the editing. Cinematography by Ruwan Costa and art directors are Jagath Imbulpe (background) and Kumara Karawdeniya (costume) and dancing by Channa Wijewardena. Story, dialogue, screenplay and direction by Jayantha Chandrasiri.

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