Devinda plays with ‘fire beneath ash’
View(s):- Indo-Sri Lanka film production- ‘Neeru Pootha Neruppu’
‘Neeru Pootha Neruppu’ (‘Fire beneath Ash’) a Tamil language feature film, a
Sri Lankan-Indian cinematic collaboration created by talented filmmaker Devinda Kongahage has been released in Indian cinema circle. Made based on true political and social events and some realistically creative incidents that took place in Northern Sri Lanka, the film narrates around the murder of former Jaffna mayor Alfred Duraiappa.
The script of ‘Neeru Pootha Neruppu’ is a result of extensive socio-political and anthropological research done over a period of two years. The said research was focused and driven along the period prior to the civil war that tormented the Island through thirty long years, which triggered in 1979. The research dug in to the pre-war period during 1960s and 70s and its focuses on the general social and political profile in Jaffna. As well as how the Tamil young generation was gradually led towards a civil war by political manipulation and handling, which was fuelled by boiling and brewing political situations in the northern society.
‘Neeru Pootha Neruppu’ stand as a significant mile stone in the Sri Lankan film industry, being the first ever
Sri Lankan Tamil film done by a Sinhalese film director on the above said subject, completely in Jaffna Tamil dialect. Also, this is the first ever Sri Lankan Tamil film which will reach South Indian Cinema for main stream screening, along with an offshore reach.
Renowned veteran film director and actor in South India, Bose Venkat portrays a main role in this film and it is his debut Sri Lankan film. As well as renowned veteran South Indian film actor G.M. Kumar portrays a significant character. Bose Venkat s’ Son Theju Venkat portrays the main role of ‘Prabha’ in the film as his debut performance. Being educated in acting in India, Theju Venkat will be Introduced to screen and Indian cinema through this film. Veteran and talented Tamil actors and actresses from Jaffna and renowned artiste from Sinhala cinema portrays characters in ‘Neeru Pootha Neruppu’ .
Produced by Sarala Media (Pvt) Ltd, the film is co-produced by ASW Leisure (Pvt) Ltd and the film stars Bose Venket, G.M.Kumar and Theju Venket. Others in the Indo-Sri Lanka cast are Tharshi Priya, Grace Thennakon, Mahendranath Weerarathna, Wageesha Salgado, Elroy Amalathas , Aravindhan Sivagnanam, Jerad Noel, Akash Thyagalingam, Watsu, Goabi Ramanan and Sawmiya Sathiyaseelan.
Behind the screen cinematography Sisikirana Paranavithana, editor and colourist Thanushka Kahandawala , sound designer and mixer Sashin Gimhan Perera, music compositions by Bibiladeniye Mahanama Thero and lyricist by Potuvil Asmin. Vocal rendition for the playback songs are done by Kilmisha Uthayaseelan and Shadhir Ahmad BGM, Anupama Gunasekara , Asitha Athapaththu , Nimantha and Heshan Gamage.
Art director is Saman Wanninayaka, costume designer is Lesley Weerasingha, make up by Vidhura Abeydheera, director’s associate is Arun Thiruvarangan and Aravindhan Sivagnanam and director and DOP coordinating assistant is Ganendree Kongahage.
Devinda Kongahage
Internationally acclaimed Sri Lankan filmmaker, writer, and researcher, recognized for his powerful storytelling rooted in history and society, Devinda’s latest creation, Neeru Pootha Neruppu, marks a new chapter in Sri Lankan cinema, a bold and thought-provoking film that continues his legacy of meaningful, research-based storytelling. With a career spanning from his early days as an actor to directing award-winning films like ‘Bhavatharan’a, ‘Girivassipura’, and Nattami Army, Devinda brings unmatched depth and cinematic vision to Neeru Pootha Neruppu, setting a new milestone in contemporary Sri Lankan filmmaking.
Introduced to Sri Lankan Cinema as a child actor in 1991, by renowned film director Mr. Dharmasiri Bandaranayaka in his last duo films ‘Bhavaduka’ and ‘Bhava Karma portraying a main child role, Devinda has played a number of role before the camera. Being educated in Trinity College Kandy, and Royal College Colombo, Devinda pursued his studies in the stream of commerce and continued his higher education in the management faculty at the University of Sri Jayawardhanapura. With the deep rooted passion and intention of being a filmmaker, later he bid farewell to the stream of management at the university and pursued his studies in Cinema
and filmmaking.
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