BUTTERFLY SYMPHONY An oasis in the desert
I am quite pleased to have watched a classical, serious and romantic film by Jayantha Chandrasiri, who has meticulously crafted and directed the movie, “Samanala Sandhvaniya” – the “Butterfly Symphony”. I offer my congratulations to the Director, the Producers, the able cast and the entire team for having successfully presented a cinematic creation for an intellectual audience which has been starved and deprived of serious cinema for many years.
The Director has deviated f rom the hackneyed culture of cheap love stories, action and hatred which are often seen in the present day cinema.
Simply stated such a deviation is in itself an achievement by the Director. Also both Producers should be commended for having taken the bold step to allow the Director to come up with his imagination and craft a serious film at a time films are produced only for financial gains.
In my view, Jayantha Chandrasiri can be easily regarded at par with directors in the calibre of Dr. Lester James Peiris, late David Lean and Sydney Pollack, who have given intellectual audiences some everlasting masterpieces in the past.
The “Butterfly Symphony” is so fresh, deep and touching. The strongest points of the film are the startling visuals, the theme song and the brilliant, tasteful and exquisite photography.
The versatile Yasodha Wimaladharma and Uddika Premaratne play the roles of Punya and Vadeesha exceptionally well by living those roles.
They have done justice by the Director. That said, the Director has also selected a well-balanced cast, who are extremely talented and who have not let down his inspiration and selection.
The music director Dharshana Ruwan Dissanayake has shown his potentials as an extremely good and tasteful musician. The film’s theme song, “Iki Gasaa Handana, Atheethayaka” has so much meaning and is beautifully sung by Amarasiri Peiries while Vadeesha mesmerises the entire audience when singing and playing the piano.
This song is bound to remain in our hearts and on our lips for many years to come. Each time this song is played, the entire audience is carried smoothly and steadily along a golden path to Punya with an astonishing feeling of anxiety. Sometimes, it makes you wonder whether it has been a part of your personal life. This fact is proved by the pin-drop silence in the auditorium.
However, my grouse with the Director is as to why he introduced the two perverts at the Kumari Park in such a classical movie and this unfortunately ruins the beautiful flow of the film. In a public park such behaviour by perverts is not seen these days. My other concern is my inability to understand the way Punya, the lead character, is welcomed at the final show by merely a whistle from the Manager of Vadeesha.
Apart from these two incidents, all in all, the film, “Butterfly Symphony” is a serious film definitely worth watching and is indeed an “Oasis in the Desert”.