''Aswesuma (The Compensation)'' is a 2001 Sri Lankan crime drama film directed by

Bennett Rathnayake Bennett Rathnayake (; born 24 October), is a filmmaker in Sri Lankan cinema and a television director. He has produced several critically acclaimed award-winning films such as ''Aswesuma'', ''Sulanga'' and ''Ira Handa Yata''. He is also the form ...

and produced by his wife Samanmalee Hewapanna. It stars

Joe Abeywickrama Deshabandu Gammana Patabendige Don John Abeywickrama ( Sinhala:ජෝ අබේවික්‍රම) (22 June 1927 – 21 September 2011), popularly as Joe Abeywickrama, was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, theater and television. Initially famed ...

Sangeetha Weeraratne Dian Hemamali Sangeetha Weeraratne (born December 13, 1973, as ( Sinhala:සංගීතා වීරරත්න) is a Sri Lankan film actress in the Sri Lankan cinema. She made her debut as a sixteen-year-old with Roy de Silva's ''It's a Matt ...

, and

Jackson Anthony Conganige Joseph Malsi Jackson Anthony (as ජැක්සන් ඇන්තනී; 8 July 1958 – 9 October 2023), commonly known as Jackson Anthony, was a Sri Lankan actor in film, theatre and television. One of the most popular artists in ...

in lead roles along with

Saumya Liyanage Saumya Prabath Danwatta Liyanage, popularly as Saumya Liyanage () is an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television. He is a senior lecturer and currently the Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies in University of the Visual and Performin ...

and

Mahendra Perera Mahendra Shrikantha Perera (born 17 August 1956: ), is an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television. One of the most influential actors in Sinhala cinema, Mahendra performed from drama to comedy in many blockbuster films. Persona ...

in supportive roles. The film was released on Visual Compact Disc (VCD) and Digital Video Disc (DVD) format by Torana Home Video in March 2003.

Cast

as Guneris – Old age *

as Guneris – Young *

Giriraj Kaushalya Silmesthri Giriraj Kaushalya (born November 13, 1964) (), popularly known as Giriraj Kaushalya, is a Sri Lankan actor in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television. Highly versatile actor from drama to comedy, Kaushalya also has worked as an ...

as Hunter *

as Thug 2 *

as Thug 1 *

Douglas Ranasinghe Morathennage Douglas Ranasinghe (born May 27, 1945, ), is an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, theater, and television. He acted in many supportive roles in movies including ''Akkara Paha'', ''Yuganthaya'', ''Viragaya'', ''Sri Siddhartha Gautama'' and ...

as Police O.I.C. *

Ravindra Randeniya Liyanage Boniface Walter Perera (born 5 June 1945), popularly known by his stage name Ravindra Randeniya, is a Sri Lankan actor and former politician. He rose to fame in Lester James Peries's film ''Desa Nisa'' in 1975, and was a popular actor d ...

as Doctor *Susil Gunarathna *Edward Gunawardhana *

Gamini Hettiarachchi Gamini Chandrakirthi Hettiarachchi (24 July 1950 – 27 May 2019) () was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television. Personal life Hettiarachchi was born on 24 July 1950 as the sixth of the family with ten siblings for Stanley A ...

as Complaint officer *

as Menika *

Nalin Pradeep Udawela Udawela Lekumlage Nalin Pradeep Udawela (born March 20, 1969 ), popularly as Nalin Pradeep Udawela, is an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television as well as a politician by profession. Mostly engaged in theater and television, Uda ...

as Kaseem *

Hemasiri Liyanage Hemasiri Dhanawatha Liyanage (, born December 25, 1942), is an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, theater, and television. He is well known for the dramatic roles in ''Thattu Gewal'' and ''Thaththa'' teledramas and films ''Sankranthi'', ''Sthuthi Nawa ...

as Appuwa * G.R Perera as Arnolis

Production and acclaim

The film is Based on

John Steinbeck John Ernst Steinbeck ( ; February 27, 1902 – December 20, 1968) was an American writer. He won the 1962 Nobel Prize in Literature "for his realistic and imaginative writings, combining as they do sympathetic humor and keen social percep ...

's novel ''The Pearl''. It generally receives positive reviews from critics. The film was critically acclaimed and won the FIPRESCI Prize at the Bombay International Film Festival. In 2001, director Rathnayake won the Platinum award for the Best Director at the 34th Houston International Film Festival. In 2001, director won the critics award organised by the Federation of International Cinema Critics Association at the Mumbai International film festival. The film was selected for the Montreal and Quebec City International Film Festivals as well as Moscow IFF, Singapore IFF, and Kerala IFF. In 2001, the film was selected as an entry in the competitive section at the 25th São Paulo International Film Festival in Brazil as well as 4th International film festival in India. In 2002, film won the Don Quikoti, special jury award at the 7th Dhaka Film Festival. On 29 February 2002, the film was screened at Saint Joes Film festival and then at Tiburon International Film Festival in USA starting from 22 March 2002. In 2002, director won Golden Reel award for the Best Director at Tiburon International Film Festival held at the Tiburon Playhouse Theatre in USA from 22–28 March. On 31 August 2002, the film was screened again at the Elphinston Theatre to donate a fund to help cancer patients. In November 2002, the film was screened at the Calcutta International Film Festival.

References

External links

Sri Lanka Cinema Database
* 2001 films 2001 crime drama films 2000s Sinhala-language films Sri Lankan drama films {{2000s-crime-drama-film-stub