Kusa Pabha
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''Kusa Paba'' () is a 2012
Sri Lanka Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, also known historically as Ceylon, is an island country in South Asia. It lies in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal, separated from the Indian subcontinent, ...
n Sinhala historical drama film, directed by
Sunil Ariyaratne Vidyodaya Vibhushana Sahithya Kala Shiromani Prof. Sunil Ariyaratne Kuruwita Bandara ( සුනිල් ආරියරත්න; born 28 July 1949), popularly as Sunil Ariyaratne, is a Sri Lankan scholar, film director, author, poet and a lyr ...
and co-produced by renowned film directors and producers of the Sri Lanka Arts Society, which includes H.D Premasiri, Udayakantha Warnasuriya, Rasitha Jinesena, Sunil T Fernando, Tissa Nagodavithana, Ariyadasa Peiris, Janitha Marasinghe, Justin Belagamage, Renuka Balasooriya,
Dhammika Siriwardana Dhammika Siriwardana (15 September 1954 – 15 December 2015) (also known as Dhammika Siriwardena and K.D.T Siriwardena) was a Sri Lankan film director, teledrama producer and a businessman. Dhammika is the founding Chairman of Alankulama Holdings ...
and
Somaratne Dissanayake Somaratne Dissanayake is a Sri Lankan film director, screenwriter and Film producer, producer. He was the Chairman of Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation and the president of the Film Makers Guild of Sri Lanka (FMG). He is the winner of the most nu ...
. The film stars
Pooja Umashankar Pooja Gauthami Umashankar is an Indian-Sri Lankan actress who has primarily appeared in Indian Tamil and Sri Lankan Sinhala cinema. Early and personal life Pooja was born on June 25, 1981, in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Pooja's father, H. R. Umashan ...
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
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 ...
and
Veena Jayakody Virginia Sandhya Peiris (born 27 November 1952 as වීණා ජයකොඩි) inhala, better known as Veena Jayakody, is an actress in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television. Jayakody started as a child artist and has played critic ...
. The music was composed by
Rohana Weerasinghe Dr. Rohana Weerasinghe (born 18 February 1949) is a Sri Lankan musician, composer and singer. Early life Weerasinghe was born on 18 February 1949 in Algiriya, Matara in southern Sri Lanka. He was the youngest child to his parents Henry Weeras ...
. It is the 1170th film in the Sinhala cinema. The plot of the film is based on the 550
Jataka tales The ''Jātaka'' (Sanskrit for "Birth-Related" or "Birth Stories") are a voluminous body of literature native to the Indian subcontinent which mainly concern the previous births of Gautama Buddha in both human and animal form. Jataka stories we ...
. It was highly profitable and a major hit among Sri Lankans.


Plot

King Okkaka (
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 ...
) is the emperor of India. He rules from Kusawathie city, with his queen Seelawathie (
Veena Jayakody Virginia Sandhya Peiris (born 27 November 1952 as වීණා ජයකොඩි) inhala, better known as Veena Jayakody, is an actress in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television. Jayakody started as a child artist and has played critic ...
) and two sons, Prince Kusa (
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 ...
) and Prince Jayampathi (
Roshan Ranawana Roshan Ranawana () (born 23 March 1981) is a Sri Lankan film actor and a model. Ranawana was awarded the most popular actors award at the Derana film awards in 2013. Ranawana made his acting debut with ''Hiripoda Wessa'' (2006) and won a Presid ...
). Kusa is strong and competent in all crafts, including warfare, but he has an ugly, oil-cake-shaped face. Since he realizes that no woman is likely to marry him, he is not interested in marriage. Nonetheless, his parents, especially mother, urge him to marry. Kusa makes a golden sculpture in a woman's shape and tells his mother that he will marry if she can find a woman who looks like the sculpture. The queen orders two royal servants (
Mahinda Pathirage Thanthrige Pathirage Mahinda (born March 22, 1952, as මහින්ද පතිරගේ) inhala, popularly as Mahinda Pathirage, is an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television. Acting particularly in comedy roles, Pathirage ...
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 ...
) to take the statue to all other countries and find a woman who looks like the statue. After a long, unsuccessful search, the two royal servants arrive at Madura city, the capital of the Madura kingdom, during the season of the spring festival. Madura is a state under the control of Okkaka's empire. They place the statue near the river. Then the nanny of the royal family of Madura kingdom, Kudi ( A hunchbacked woman) (
Chandani Seneviratne Chandani Seneviratne, (born 28 December 1962: ), is an actress in Sri Lankan Cinema of Sri Lanka, cinema, theatre and television. Early days Seneviratne studied at Dharmapala Vidyalaya, Pannipitiya till grade 5 and St. Paul's Girls School, Mil ...
), comes there and slaps the statue because she recognized the sculpture as the Princess Pabawathie (
Pooja Umashankar Pooja Gauthami Umashankar is an Indian-Sri Lankan actress who has primarily appeared in Indian Tamil and Sri Lankan Sinhala cinema. Early and personal life Pooja was born on June 25, 1981, in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Pooja's father, H. R. Umashan ...
), the daughter of King Madu (
Palitha Silva Garanduwa Baarage Palitha Silva (born August 30, 1967, as :si:පාලිත සිල්වා, පාලිත සිල්වා) inhala is a Sri Lankan actor, dramatist, producer, director, scriptwriter, and author. He started his caree ...
), the king of Madura Kingdom and his queen (
Kusum Renu Dabare Kusum Renuka Liyanage (born January 30, 1961, as කුසුම් රේණු) inhala, popularly as Kusum Renu, is an actress in Sri Lankan cinema theater and television. She is best known for the role ''Madhuri'' in television sitco ...
). Because the woman who looks like the statue has been found, the marriage is arranged. Pabawathie is taken to Kusawathie city, and the wedding is conducted without a groom. Seelawathie tells Pabawathie that there is a tradition in their caste that the wife shall not see the husband until she becomes pregnant. Kusa disguises himself as a workman and sees Pabawathie at a stable of horses and elephants. He jokes. Pabawathie urges Seelawathie to show Kusa. She makes both brothers climb onto an elephant and shows both of them. Pabawathie thinks that handsome Jayampathi is her husband Kusa. When she is bathing in a pond he hides under the waterlily leaves and catches her hand. Then she identifies him as Kusa and realizes that she was cheated. She leaves for her home, Madura. Brokenhearted, Kusa goes to Madura and works as a cook, a potter, and a florist for the royal palace. He prepares and sends delicious food, beautiful pottery, and garlands to Pabawathie. She throws them away after knowing that they were sent by Kusa. News spread in other states that Kusa and Pabawathie are divorced. So seven state kings come to war against King Madu for Pabawathie. Okkaka requests Pabawathie return to Kusawathie. She refuses. Okkaka orders she is cut into seven pieces, and he plans to give those pieces to seven state kings. Just before her death, armed Kusa comes and saves her, stating that she is his wife and no one should harm her. A rain falls. His face's ugliness is washed away. Kusa and Pabawathie happily return to Kusawathi. Okkaka gives the crown to Kusa, making him the emperor.


Cast

*
Pooja Umashankar Pooja Gauthami Umashankar is an Indian-Sri Lankan actress who has primarily appeared in Indian Tamil and Sri Lankan Sinhala cinema. Early and personal life Pooja was born on June 25, 1981, in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Pooja's father, H. R. Umashan ...
as Queen Pabāwathī. *
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 ...
as King Kusa. *
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 King Okkāka. *
Veena Jayakody Virginia Sandhya Peiris (born 27 November 1952 as වීණා ජයකොඩි) inhala, better known as Veena Jayakody, is an actress in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television. Jayakody started as a child artist and has played critic ...
as Queen Sīlāwathī. *
Roshan Ranawana Roshan Ranawana () (born 23 March 1981) is a Sri Lankan film actor and a model. Ranawana was awarded the most popular actors award at the Derana film awards in 2013. Ranawana made his acting debut with ''Hiripoda Wessa'' (2006) and won a Presid ...
as Prince Jayampathī. *
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 ...
as Royal Servant. *
Mahinda Pathirage Thanthrige Pathirage Mahinda (born March 22, 1952, as මහින්ද පතිරගේ) inhala, popularly as Mahinda Pathirage, is an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television. Acting particularly in comedy roles, Pathirage ...
as Royal Servant. *
Chandani Seneviratne Chandani Seneviratne, (born 28 December 1962: ), is an actress in Sri Lankan Cinema of Sri Lanka, cinema, theatre and television. Early days Seneviratne studied at Dharmapala Vidyalaya, Pannipitiya till grade 5 and St. Paul's Girls School, Mil ...
as Kudī. *
Palitha Silva Garanduwa Baarage Palitha Silva (born August 30, 1967, as :si:පාලිත සිල්වා, පාලිත සිල්වා) inhala is a Sri Lankan actor, dramatist, producer, director, scriptwriter, and author. He started his caree ...
as King Madu. *
Kusum Renu Dabare Kusum Renuka Liyanage (born January 30, 1961, as කුසුම් රේණු) inhala, popularly as Kusum Renu, is an actress in Sri Lankan cinema theater and television. She is best known for the role ''Madhuri'' in television sitco ...
as King Madu's Queen consort. * Gamini Jayalath as Drum announcer(
Town crier A town crier, also called a bellman, is an officer of a royal court or public authority who makes public pronouncements as required. Duties and functions The town crier was used to make public announcements in the streets. Criers often dre ...
).


Soundtrack

The soundtrack features five songs composed by
Rohana Weerasinghe Dr. Rohana Weerasinghe (born 18 February 1949) is a Sri Lankan musician, composer and singer. Early life Weerasinghe was born on 18 February 1949 in Algiriya, Matara in southern Sri Lanka. He was the youngest child to his parents Henry Weeras ...
who also composed the Background Score. All lyrics were penned by
Sunil Ariyaratne Vidyodaya Vibhushana Sahithya Kala Shiromani Prof. Sunil Ariyaratne Kuruwita Bandara ( සුනිල් ආරියරත්න; born 28 July 1949), popularly as Sunil Ariyaratne, is a Sri Lankan scholar, film director, author, poet and a lyr ...
.


Awards

The film has won many awards at many local film festivals. * 2013 Derana Lux Film Festival Award for the Most Popular Movie * 2013 Derana Lux Film Festival Award for the Most Popular Actor - Roshan Ranawana * 2013 Derana Lux Film Festival Award for the Most Popular Actress - Pooja Umashankar * 2013 Derana Lux Film Festival Award for the Best Supporting Actress - Veena Jayakody * 2013 Derana Lux Film Festival Award for the Best Background Music - Rohana Weerasinghe * 2013 Derana Lux Film Festival Award for the Best Music Direction - Rohana Weerasinghe * 2013 Derana Lux Film Festival Award for the Best Singer (Male) - Kasun Kalhara * 2013 Derana Lux Film Festival Award for the Best Singer (Female) - Nirosha Virajini * 2013 Derana Lux Film Festival Award for the Best Song Visual - Madura Wasanthe song * 2013 Derana Lux Film Festival Award for the Best Dance Direction - Chandana Wickramasinghe * 2013 Derana Lux Film Festival Award for the Best Art Direction - Heenatigala Premadasa * 2013 Derana Lux Film Festival Award for the Best Costumes - Wenuka Wickramarachchi * 2014 Hiru Golden Film Festival Award for the Best Singer (Female) - Uresha Ravihari * 2013 SLIIM Neilson Peoples' Award for the Film of the Year * 2013 SIGNIS Award for the Most Creative Supporting Actress - Chandani Seneviratne


References

{{Reflist 2012 films 2010s historical drama films Sri Lankan historical drama films 2012 drama films