‘Anthony’ is of world cinema quality: ‘World Cinema’ Baskaran speaks!
Don’t look at our lives through the window, come inside and see: ‘Anthony’ film producer speaks!
Why are the LTTE still not lifting the ban? Director Seenu Ramasamy questions at the ‘Anthony’ film festival!
Musician Ilayaraja’s blessing for the film ‘Anthony’: Director Seenu Ramasamy speaks!
‘Anthony’ is a film produced by Osai Films with the music of musician Ilayaraja.
The film, which is set against the backdrop of Sri Lanka, stars Kayal Vincent, DJ Banu, Nizhalgal Ravi, Aruldas, Sudarshan, and Shami in the lead roles.
Directed by Sukirthan Christuraja and Jenosan Rajeshwar. Cinematography by Rishi Selvam, editing by Suresh A Prasad, art direction by Kala Mohan.
Production: Kalaivalari Sakha. Ramana Das, Suganthini. Co-producers: Vijay Balasingham, Sriskandaraja, Vicky.
The songs and trailer launch of the film, which will be released in March, was held today at Prasad Lab Cinema.
Mrs. Akila Balumahendra, director Seenu Ramasamy, Lenin Bharathi, ‘World Cinema’ Bhaskaran attended the ceremony.
Speaking at the ceremony, co-producer Vicky said,
“Many films have been produced in Indo-Sri Lankan co-productions up until 1980. Even before the war, Sinhala films were also released at this same Saligramam. After the war, no Tamil company was involved in this co-production. There was a longing to do something at least in the digital era. Jenosan and Sukirthan were looking for an opportunity in this film venture. Ramanan came to produce. Later, many people came forward to produce with him. The directors wanted to change the war memoirs into films and make rehabilitation stories. That is how this film has come about. Balu Mahendra sir had a dream of making a film in Eelam somehow. I am happy that his dream has come true. I am happy that this is a story that goes beyond the war.” Producer Ramana Das said,
“We have been longing for a world-class film from a country called Sri Lanka. We were doing small works. When we heard the story of Anbuth Thambi Sukirthan, we decided that we had to make that film. We have grown up watching many Tamil Nadu films. Tamil Nadu cinema is a film that is transmitted in our blood. We thought that we should make a world-class film. Thambi Sukirthan showed a short film called ‘Rainy Nights’. We have made this film after watching it. We can say that this is a film that comes from Eelam at a huge cost. Since Tamil Nadu is mixed with our blood and flesh, our desire is that the people of Tamil Nadu should come and watch our stories inside their homes instead of watching them through our windows. This film will be about seeing how your relatives live in a new place.
For this film,
various investors like London, Switzerland, France, Norway, Sri Lanka We have help from countries. You will be surprised that you made this film with so many people joining. This film, which started on March 5 last year, is now being prepared in three languages.
This is a film that the universe has given us. I thank Ilayaraja for composing the music for this.
Only he can give the music for this film.
Yes, after Ilayaraja came into this, it gives the feeling of taking a step forward in the journey to world cinema.
Not only Tamil Nadu but also Sri Lankan and European artists have participated in this.
To that extent, it is like a film for the universe, “he said.
Speaking as a special guest, Director Seenu Ramasamy said,
“I was moved to tears watching the trailer of this ‘Anthony’ film.
When these young people came to invite me for this film festival and spoke to me, I asked which city and they said Sri Lanka. That is the only reason I came to this festival. I only know about Ilayaraja’s music. I don’t know who the producer is or who the others are in the film.
I came here for that one reason only, that two young people from a destroyed country have come to make a film.
I saw the trailer and the songs.
I think that the music composed by musician Ilayaraja is more blessed than the music he composed. That is what my intuition said. I should say that it is a film blessed by Ilayaraja. I hope it will be a good film.
What will a country be like after a war ends, or after the war is declared over? Life is a question mark That country will be in ruins. After the war, that
What will life be like in the country? What will the existence of an individual be like? Everything is questionable. Anyone can be arrested at any time, for any reason, without asking questions. There is always such a fear. The sound of a bomb falling will always be heard in the memories of the youth who came from such a land. Can anyone deny this?
I see Anthony as an art form of a people who are facing oppression by the authorities, psychologically and economically.
They have come here from such a country.
Why has the ban on the LTTE not been lifted yet? It is clear that the LTTE does not exist.
Why has the ban not been lifted even after it is said that there are no LTTE members alive? Didn’t I say this before? Anyone can be arrested for that reason. That is why they have not lifted it.
I am not talking about this here whether I agree or disagree with anyone. I am expressing my opinion.
I appreciate the cinematographer of this film. I congratulate him. He has brought that ocean, that wave and that life realistically before our eyes.
Kayal Vincent, who acted in this film, will now be called Anthony Vincent. He has acted to that extent.
I apologize to Vincent. I did not know that you were such a great actor. Forgive me. When I needed you to meet me, you would be somewhere abroad. I could not get you to act.
Vincent has emerged as a complete actor in this.
A new force has come from the new age Sri Lankan cinema and made this film. Everything is neat.
There is a boat in this Anthony. So it will definitely reach the shore. I am curious about when we are going to watch the film.
A film is not made to forget, but to think.
We are watching something to hide something.
Even if we talk, it is money, even if we see, it is money, even if we drink water when we get thirsty, it is money, even if we go to the toilet, it is money.
Everything in human life has become related to money.
You are in a world where you are made to see.
You are in a world where you are made to hear. The entire human race is made to create impressions, destroy impressions, and watch it for fun. This is today’s world. In today’s world, this film ‘Anthony’, which vividly shows the lives of the people of Eelam, the post-war life and the suffering within them, will achieve great success.
I remembered the ‘Waterbird’ period. The media should carry this film and reach the people. Every small film has a writer and a journalist as its assistant. There is no one else. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to producer Ramanan, who has made a quality film.
I am happy that Amma Akila Balu Mahendra is here.
She is from Batticaloa. It is an honor that she is here.
I will show her every film of mine. But I didn’t just show the thunderous slogan – I didn’t show it because it was commercial. If we make a film only for festivals, there will be no festival in our lives. So I have made it commercially,” he said.
Speaking, director Lenin Bharathi said,
“We have seen that shore from this shore. In the films we make, we have seen only this shore of the sea. They have made this film in a way that looks at that shore. I wish this film, which is made as a film based on their soil, success. They should not create under the influence of watching Tamil films but create spontaneously. I wish that the Sri Lankan Tamil film industry should develop and grow as such an spontaneous film world,” he said.
Speaking, one of the directors,
Jenosan Rajeshwar,
” I feel emotionally present here. I have been watching Tamil cinema for many years.
I am someone who has had the experience of standing in the last row in this very arena.
If the producer is investing and helping, then this universe is doing a lot of help without being seen.
The producer of the short film ‘Rainy Nights’ made by Sukirthan has taken the opportunity to make this film. Many brothers have been helping for this film without knowing it. We bought our own camera and shot in Sri Lanka. We have made the film as we wanted.
We have made this with the intention of making a good film, not a regular film. This is a coastal love story.
This is a love story based on Sri Lankan soil. All communities should watch it, support it. Everyone should encourage and make it successful,” he said.
Another director
Sukirthan Christura
While speaking,
“It rained well and the forest here became fruitful. The idea I had grew into an inscription. I stood looking at the honeysuckle and it fell in my hand. A gentle swan called me while standing in the crowd, that’s the kind of event for me.
They would have said in a film, ‘Love and the sea never get tired of watching it’. We have shown the love and the sea in our village in this film. How can this film be an experience,
You don’t need to spend money and come to Sri Lanka. Get a ticket for this film, this film will give you the feeling of sitting by the window with the breeze blowing while getting off in Jaffna city and taking a bus to a beautiful village, listening to Ilayaraja songs.”
While ‘World Cinema’ Bhaskaran spoke,
‘I attend world film festivals and watch films. I saw that this film ‘Anthony’ has the same world standard.
I want these two directors to be successful like Krishnan-Panju, Devaraj-Mohan Congratulations.
The hero of this film, Vincent, was like Rajkiran in my mind. The heroine, Uthiripookkal, was like a Mona Lisa like Ashwini. Congratulations for the success of this film,” he said.
While speaking, ‘Kayal’ Vincent, who plays the hero of the story,
“The film I should have acted in was ‘Neerparavai’. I could not act in it. After that, my guru Nath Prabhu Solomon introduced me in the film ‘Kayal’. I have acted as the hero of the story in this film, not as the hero. I believe this will be an important film for me.
The heroine of this film, DJ Banu, turned it down when she offered 50 lakh rupees to do a Telugu film and came here. Her dedication is commendable,” he said.
The crew and friends of ‘Anthony’ attended the event.