Global cinematic crusade seeking justice for Rizana
View(s):- ‘Rizana: The Caged Bird’- Ratnam -Sumathipala collaboration
By Susitha Fernando
‘Rizana: The Caged Bird’, the latest international cinematic venture set to elevate Sri Lankan cinema to new heights, was officially launched on Wednesday. The project is helmed by acclaimed filmmaker Chandran Rutnam and produced by Jagath Sumathipala of Sumith Studios, a name that has been synonymous with Sri Lankan cinema for over five decades.
Interestingly, this joint venture between two renowned figures in Sri Lankan cinema-Chandran Rutnam and Sumathipala, aims to take the industry to new global heights. The film brings together an impressive international cast and crew, including Academy Award-winning English actor Jeremy Irons, acclaimed Indian actress Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, Egyptian actor Mohamed Fadel and James Rutnam, a screenwriter based in LA, the United States. The project also features a talented team of Sri Lankan artistes, with young actress Vidushika Reddy making her debut in the titular role of ‘Rizana’.
Vidushika Reddy portraying Rizana, Oscar awarded actor Jeremy Irons and Varalaxmy Sarathkumar
The tragic story of Rizana Nafeek, the underage Sri Lankan housemaid who was executed by beheading, sent shockwaves around the globe. Despite worldwide appeals for clemency—including from powerful global figures such as Queen Elizabeth II—Sri Lanka and the international community were devastated by the heartbreaking news of her death. Rizana, a young girl from a poverty-stricken village in Eastern province Sri Lanka, became a symbol of injustice and international concern.
Jagath Sumathipala
‘The story of Rizana Nafeek affected me deeply, and I felt it was a story that needed to be told’ said Director Chandran Rutnam, addressing the media. Rutnam, a veteran filmmaker with more than 100 international films to his credit, has worked with Hollywood legends including Steven Spielberg, David Lean, Carol Reed, George Lucas, John Boorman, and Régis Wargnier.
‘This was one of my long-held dreams. I’m grateful to have met Mr. Sumathipala and I believe this collaboration will continue in the years ahead’ Rutnam added.
Sumathi Films: A Legacy of Excellence and a Leap Toward Global Cinema
In its longstanding journey of supporting and elevating Sri Lankan cinema, Sumathi Films has come a long way. The legacy began with U. W. Sumathipala, father of Jagath Sumathipala, who secured Sri Lanka’s first international accolade at the Cairo Film Festival in 1977 for ‘Ahasin Polowata’, directed by the legendary Dr. Lester James Peries.
Chandran Rutnam
Carrying the torch forward, Jagath’s mother, the late Milina Sumathipala, continued the tradition of excellence, producing critically acclaimed and commercially successful films such as ‘Ganga Addara’, ‘Duwata Mawaka Misa’, and many others. ‘Ganga Addara’ still holds the record for winning the highest number of awards for a single film in Sri Lanka.
‘My father started it. He produced internationally acclaimed films. My mother produced ‘Ganga Addara’, which won the most awards ever for a Sri Lankan film. This vision has now materialized in ‘Rizana: The Caged Bird’, a bold step that aims to take Sri Lankan cinema to the world stage said Jagath.
Globle Face of the Film
Renowned international actor Jeremy Irons, who brings global recognition to the film ‘Rizana: The Caged Bird’, plays the role of Professor Julian Miles, a human rights activist and former attorney. Irons, an Academy Award winner for Reversal of Fortune, is one of the few actors to have received the industry’s most prestigious accolades including an Oscar, Golden Globe, Tony, Emmy, SAG Award, as well as the Honorary César Award and the Premio Europa per il Teatro.
‘Working in Sri Lanka is a new experience for me and has added to my appreciation of how vibrant the film industry is in this part of the world’ Irons shared. ‘The story of Rizana is, in itself, a harrowing tale. I am honoured to be working with Director Chandran Rutnam to retell it and shed light on the disturbing paradigm of capital punishment, something that should have no place in the 21st century’.
Filming of Rizana is now nearing completion and will soon move into the post-production phase, marking a significant milestone in this internationally collaborative cinematic venture.
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