My dream comes true

For the last twenty years or more I have been dreaming of the day when I would be able to watch a film which would take me to an ancient society as related in Sinhala legends. Though there were films about kings, none of them could closely depict at least the environment and the background mentioned in the story.

According to Jackson Anthony, none of them could really break away from the Vesak drama tradition. Although many beautiful films were made by the western world, aren’t they yet in need of beautiful stories such as the ones we posses? The film on the city of Troy in which Brad Pitt acted as Achilles, though based on Homers epic, by using modern findings, recreated the actual event supposed to have taken place in ancient times. Similarly the film in which Richard Gere acted as the First Knight Lancelot in the mythical story of King Arthur, ventured to travel back into the past.

Though it was thought to have happened in the 6th century AD, the actual settings shown in the film were more like in post Norman England. However, in all such films there was the attempt to take us back to the past. Only cinematic technology can take us back or forth. In films such as Asoka, the Indian film industry too made successful attempts to recreate history. While all this was happening we could not take a real step forward, though our legends are fabulous, sometimes backed even by archaeology and research.

Enchanting journey

However Jackson was able to fulfil my dream and take me back on an enchanting journey with his film Aba. Though there were some sore points, on the whole what a beautiful journey it was! I believe that we have really broken into popular international cinema. A golden star that has a place among Homer’s fascinating journey, the heroic world of Robin Hood, Asoka’s arrival, etc. has been created in my small country by Jackson . Every actress and actor, including those who played only a small role did their best to bring to life the ancient story. I will not mention names lest I do injustice to others.

Now I plead to say something about the sore points. Homer’s story is filled with actions of goddesses and gods then in vogue. Accordingly, all heroes including Achilles are just puppets of the gods. But intenational cinema has brushed aside such metaphysics to recreate the actual event in history.

However, in Aba what Jackson does is to blow up a God’s arrival in the background, from the incidental reference to unseen forces in the Mahawamsa. I got the impression that through the character of Chitra, the coming of Jesus has been introduced into the film. I cannot blame the director if he has a strong religious feeling and had an urge to introduce this. However by doing so, damage is done to the Sinhala legend.

Matriarchal

Secondly, I believe that some essential features of the Yaksa villages outside the rule of the Sinhala king were not depicted properly. Did the matriarchal nature of the Yaksa society get eradicated in just 100 years after Kuveni? Of course Jackson shows very well a world where women naturally and freely show their emotions - dancing, crying and loving. But, no indication at all is given on the participation of mothers in decision making and leadership.

According to modern findings, before the 3rd century BC, the Sinhala state was very limited. Throughout the country some 30 or 40 units existed as independent village clusters or regions. These were traditional local administrative units led by perumuka or gamani families. All these were neither Sanskrit nor Prakrit speaking, nor were they Brahmin dominated communities.

In any case Doramadalawa where the prince was hiding was a Yaksa village. That is exactly why the prince grew up with a different line of thinking. Aba became a Yaksa prince because he was brought up in a Yaksa family, in a Yaksa village. It is true that Jackson takes a many sided effort to show the independent Yaksa society. The many aspects of dance, song, habit, etiquette, etc. are all remarkable in their recreation, but Jackson has forgotten Kuveni’s feminist rule where women were priests instead of Brahmins. I am very sad about this.

But what can I do? I will never throw away a plate of caviar even if there is a fly! I will carefully remove the fly and enjoy the meal and wash it down with wine. Similarly in this magnificient journey, I shall try again and again, to remain in my dream. Throughout the world, film lovers will join us in this craze. The Mahawamsa is a very long chronicle. I believe it is the longest chronicle in the world. Looking from that angle, Jackson the artiste has much more to do.