:: Ekamath Eka Rataka (Once Upon A Time) - Aangaya Sinhala Movies ::

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Starring - Sanath Gunathilake, Nirosha Perera, Roshan Ravindra, Chandani Senavirathne, Semani Iddamalgoda, Kumara Thirimaruda, Lioni Kothalawala, Nilmini Buwaneka, Himali Saurangi, Chandana Silva, Thanuja Dilhani, Duminda Weerawardhana, Damitha Abyerathne, Mahinda Silva, Kanchana Kodithuwakku, Guest Cast - Tony Ranasinghe

“This story would have happened or could happen at any place, in any country, at anytime to any human being. The human mind is inconsistent and ephemeral, nothing is enduring or permanent which is the reality of this story.”
Sanath Gunatilake, Director

The film Once upon a time is based on the short story Pour Une Nuit d’Amour written by Emile Zola (1840-1902), a French novelist, critic and political activist who was the most prominent French novelist of the late 19th century.

I have chosen this short story, not merely because it was written by a great writer, known for his masterpieces like Germinal, Nana, The Beast in Man, Drunkard, but because of the universal nature of the theme behind in this story : I think this same story or a similar story could take place or could have taken place at any time anywhere in the world.

Throughout this story, I have aimed at portraying the true essence of humaneness reflected through the different characteristics in individuals, such nobility, callousness and other flaws and strengths. The virtues and remorse of a person and their influence on humanity are brought out and enhanced through the narration of Once Upon A Time.

She was wealthy, came from an aristocratic family and spent her childhood seeking satisfaction by being nasty to the maid’s son who was of the same age. Her father decides to send her away so that she obtained a good education, and learned morals and values as well. Meanwhile, the maid’s son finishes his education and,despite all the hardships that he faces, becomes a lawyer. The young lady also completes her education by this time and returns home. The young lawyer makes a deliberate attempt to get closer to the young girl who had once treated him like a slave. Why? Could it be her beauty? Or her greed for power ? Or to maintain his link with a rich, aristocratic family? Could it be part of the struggle to get back the male ego she had shattered during their childhood ?

She gets closer to him willingly. Would her reasons be to gain some satisfaction by hurting him like she had done in the past? Who is the ugly, innocent stranger coming in between them? ?According to the law of the society one can be considered him as a “good” and “polite” person?. Is he also someone who satisfies himself by admiring beautiful objects as he has realized his ugliness? Does he understand his own self and his status as a repulsive human? Or is there a demon which lies in him in disguise? Isn’t it evident that he also possesses human characteristics such as self esteem, self advancement? Doesn’t he shed his veneer of innocence, goodness and politeness when he seeks to fulfill these ambitions which are part of human nature ?

Who suffers ultimately? Is it the dead or the living? Or is it the human beings living in this world struggling to give life to the dead?