Ksheera Sagaraya Kalambina (When the Milky Way Churned)
Directed by: prof. Sunil Ariyaratne
Starring: Jackson Anthony, Harini Kavyanjani Perera, Udari Warnakulasooriya, Hemal Ranasinghe, Raveen Kanishka
Rating: ★½
In the realm of cinematic storytelling, Ksheera Sagaraya Kalambina, directed by Prof. Sunil Ariyaratne, turns out to be a deeply disheartening viewing experience. It attempts to weave a narrative around an emperor who runs into exile, adapting a novel by Simon Nawagaththegama. However, despite the grandeur of its premise, the film falls flat due to its multiple inadequacies, the most notable being the disjointed screenplay and lackluster performances.
Jackson Anthony, carrying the weight of the film as the emperor, delivers a performance that is nothing more than mediocre. The vital spark that could have brought the character to life is missing, and what we are left with is a performance that is indifferent at best. The unfulfilled potential of his character is a testament to the film's struggle to find its grounding.
The character Parambika, portrayed by Udari Warnakulasooriya, was another one with untapped potential. Warnakulasooriya’s performance is disappointingly flat, failing to evoke any emotion or establish a connection with the audience. Such a pivotal character, reduced to a lackluster performance, only contributes to the film’s overall downfall.
However, amidst the film's many shortcomings, Harini Perera emerges as a silver lining. Making her film debut, Perera delivers a performance that is both compelling and captivating, a beacon of hope in an otherwise bleak cinematic landscape. Her portrayal exhibits a depth and understanding that is sorely lacking in her more experienced counterparts.
Hemal Ranasinghe, while remaining one-dimensional in his role, manages to inject some energy into the film’s otherwise sluggish two-hour runtime. But even his spirited performance isn’t enough to rescue this sinking ship.
The screenplay, intended to be the backbone of the film, crumbles under its own weight. With the absence of a strong narrative thread, the plot appears disjointed, lacking the cohesion necessary to bind the elements of the film together. At times, the dialogue and screenplay border on the absurd, eliciting laughter for all the wrong reasons.
The costume design is another aspect of the film that is notably disastrous. Instead of enhancing the visual experience, it detracts from it, further cementing the film's overall lack of authenticity and attention to detail.
Ksheera Sagaraya Kalambina, despite its potential, fails to deliver a satisfying cinematic experience. Ariyaratne, despite his renowned status, fails to weave a compelling narrative, with the screenplay lacking any semblance of cohesion necessary to bind the elements of the film together.
The film is an unfortunate miss for Sri Lankan cinema, underscoring the significant strides the industry still needs to make. Though not entirely devoid of merit, the film's redeeming qualities are far overshadowed by its glaring shortcomings. It's a disappointing watch that had the potential to be so much more.
In the end, as the great Roger Ebert said, movies are machines that generate empathy. But Ksheera Sagaraya Kalambina, unfortunately, fails to engage the audience on that fundamental level, becoming a forgettable entry in the annals of Sri Lankan cinema.
