Aba the movie and my sentiments

[Nash_Node]

Long time ago, one of my friends asked me to write a critique about his stage drama.....after I did so, the only response from him was "තොට කිවිවට වැඩිය හොදයි මම බෙල්ලෙ වැල දාගත්නමි"

However, let us not get disturbed by that comment and I promised to keep this very short and to the point.

So, some two weeks ago, I visited one of my "Indian" friends in Zurich and they were watching a re-run of the film "Ashok" starring Sharuk Khan.

For people who haven't watched the film, it is a hypothetical (love) story about the Emperor Ashok of India. One of the greatest ever to rule the Asian continent after Genghis Khan and of course after the rane of Maugals..which was started after emperor Akbar.

In my own view, that movie was absolutely superb. The cast, the scenery, the action.....even the smallest of insignificant character did proud to the movie. I am pretty sure each and every indian regardless of their Race must have felt absolutely PROUD of their past. To make the statement true, the movie ended with my "Indian" friend commenting " Bhai, that is where I am from.. the land of great kings and heritage"

Last Sunday, to much trouble of my mother, I had to accompany her to watch the highly acclaimed film "Aba"

In the shortest simplest possible way of expressing my self, I must say.... "WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT ?"

The movie, it self when considering the scenery and the apparent expense it has gone through for the production is pretty amazing and well noted as well.

But the characters ?

I thought we as Humans evolved out of Monkeys some MILLIONS of years ago.. to my dismay.. only to find out that we were still ගස් උඩ යන රිලවි less that 2000 years ago.

People of this country are just portrayed through that movie as total dipshits from the kings down to the last citizen. DAMN !!! I expected something MORE from a movie which depicts one of the greatest kings of this country !

As I said, I am just going to keep it short... so in compiling.. I am ashamed to acknowledge that we are decedents from such set of idiotic assholes of people.

I am disappointed with the whole movie just as well many of the people who were sitting around me last Sunday. A total waste of my time and hard earned Money as well.

 

[3748755]

First of all, let me start by saying that I haven’t watched this film.- - - Reason- - -coz I’m not in SL at the moment.- - - Interesting comment by this Nash_Node! But, before I put up my replay, I would like to know- - - are you trying to compare “Aba” with “Ashok”- - - -or “Bollywood” with the Sri Lankan film industry. If your answer is yes, I wouldn’t even bother to replay this thread. Coz it’s like comparing Bill Gates with Victor Hettigoda.(Owner of “Siddhalepa”)

 

[CjRox]

First of all, let me start by saying that I haven’t watched this film.- - - Reason- - -coz I’m not in SL at the moment.- - - Interesting comment by this Nash_Node! But, before I put up my replay, I would like to know- - - are you trying to compare “Aba” with “Ashok”- - - -or “Bollywood” with the Sri Lankan film industry. If your answer is yes, I wouldn’t even bother to replay this thread. Coz it’s like comparing Bill Gates with Victor Hettigoda.(Owner of “Siddhalepa”)

ha ha good one...

 

[Nash_Node]

First of all, let me start by saying that I haven’t watched this film.- - - Reason- - -coz I’m not in SL at the moment.- - - Interesting comment by this Nash_Node! But, before I put up my replay, I would like to know- - - are you trying to compare “Aba” with “Ashok”- - - -or “Bollywood” with the Sri Lankan film industry. If your answer is yes, I wouldn’t even bother to replay this thread. Coz it’s like comparing Bill Gates with Victor Hettigoda.(Owner of “Siddhalepa”)

Not at all... Indeed not.. I am not THAT stupid !

Watch the film and you will know what I am talking about

 

[CoolCartoon]

Havent watched it yet............. heard they gonna show it in mel but dunno when.

( it is nice to see u after few weeks.... )

 

[Eranda200]

nyc 2 see u man i havnt watched diz thing yet heard itz kinda adults only... den im out,,, lolz

 

[3748755]

Not at all... Indeed not.. I am not THAT stupid !

Watch the film and you will know what I am talking about

Ya, I know- - - It’s really hard to come to terms with what you are talking about without watching the film. Hope to watch it soon!

 

[madurax86]

havent watchd it full but i have seen the ad...thats enough for me man
i dont ask sri lankan directors to make sumthing like "ashok" or "300" but for sake of this country why so immature in story telling and lies?

 

[jayanthah]

So you are telling me to save my hard earned $20- by not going to the movie on 1st November? (Actually, it's $40- hard earned money as my wife's gonna accompany me, or me accompanying her or whatever)+Baby sitting+new dress for the wife+drinks after the show+etc+etc........we are talking about hundreds of $ of hard earned money here............give me your advice................

BTW: Nice to see you back with the same old vigour
BTWBTW: There was a thread by RAPA about a discussion over Jackson ruining our history................I think you should take part in that too..........check with RAPA

 

[CoolCartoon]

So you are telling me to save my hard earned $20- by not going to the movie on 1st November? (Actually, it's $40- hard earned money as my wife's gonna accompany me, or me accompanying her or whatever)+Baby sitting+new dress for the wife+drinks after the show+etc+etc........we are talking about hundreds of $ of hard earned money here............give me your advice................

BTW: Nice to see you back with the same old vigour
BTWBTW: There was a thread by RAPA about a discussion over Jackson ruining our history................I think you should take part in that too..........check with RAPA

hey tell me when and where............

 

[maleemsg]

Hmmmm..... I do Not agree with this comment...! but it is how u saw it ..! so it s ok ... let it be

 

[Nash_Node]

So you are telling me to save my hard earned $20- by not going to the movie on 1st November? (Actually, it's $40- hard earned money as my wife's gonna accompany me, or me accompanying her or whatever)+Baby sitting+new dress for the wife+drinks after the show+etc+etc........we are talking about hundreds of $ of hard earned money here............give me your advice................

BTW: Nice to see you back with the same old vigour
BTWBTW: There was a thread by RAPA about a discussion over Jackson ruining our history................I think you should take part in that too..........check with RAPA

Well, I think the whole thing depends on the eyes of the viewer..or rather the mindset of the person.

But for me... I don't take fancy in watching or accepting grown men pissing them selves just cause of some lightning and thunder !

I don't accept a 40 year old man to climb a tree and beat his chest creaming like a "RILAWA" (no kidding there) just because a woman likes him.

I don't expect to see STAGE drama acting inside a MOVIE ! (if you are someone who frequent stage drama's.. you will see what I mean when you watch the movie)

I don't expect to see KINGS to behave like dumb fucks ! (which the king is said to be so cunning and vicious in the real story)


If you dig these kind of stuff... well.. go right ahead and waste your $ on it. But for me... I want a refund on my ticket money from Jackson Anthony and will ask for a refund from my mum for all the coke & popcorn she was gulping down on my account.

 

[Nash_Node]

Hmmmm..... I do Not agree with this comment...! but it is how u saw it ..! so it s ok ... let it be

And how DID you see it ?

 

[dumidishan]

Hey u guys, what's all this fighting about?????... Don't go too far to think about each & every mistake in the film, comparing history. But according to our film industry @ da moment, this film has a huge turn over. Taken a lot of trouble to do the film, not like other films just singing & running around bushes. It is something different & nice. If anyone takes trouble to go & watch other sinhala movies, then definitely Worth watching it.

 

[earthling]

Well..I saw Aba some time back & Enjoyed it very much..

I too saw some cons but not the ones you saw..as said above it depends on the individual point of view..

I think 'Habara's' portrayed by Saumya Liyanage is one of the best acting I've seen by an actor this year..and I think Aba injected much needed Adrenaline to the limping SL cinema..

To even think that a Sinhala movie in Sri Lanka will earn over 1200 lacs in just 50 days was previously unimaginable... But this movie achieved that.. I read in the papers that on the 50th day more than 11 lacs hav seen it around the island..

so just for that I respect Aba for what it has achieved..

On you main complani about portraying the Sinhalese people as animals..well this is the first time I've read this... Everyone else is talking about "Is Aba a bastard' or "Is Aba coming form Yakshe ethnicity' otr the more famous "Vatican Conspiracy' ....so this is the first..

My take on this is... yup..when I read your comment & think about this 'yes to a part...it does portray it...? but we have to remember that this is a 'Gopalu Gama'..Even today if we show a shanty..it wont be much better..it depends on the livelihood of the people..

but I think the Vilage 'Doramadalawa' was beautiful... When i watched it I was impressed by the beauty of the village & reminded me of the jungle Habitat of Robin Hood (Specially the movie 'Robin Hood - The Prince of Thieves') rather than what u are saying..

anyway as I gave my thoughts on this movie on another thread..I wont repeat them here again..

If u want you can check my review-

ABA - My Review

 

[Nash_Node]

Well..I saw Aba some time back & Enjoyed it very much..

I too saw some cons but not the ones you saw..as said above it depends on the individual point of view..

I think 'Habara's' portrayed by Saumya Liyanage is one of the best acting I've seen by an actor this year..and I think Aba injected much needed Adrenaline to the limping SL cinema..

To even think that a Sinhala movie in Sri Lanka will earn over 1200 lacs in just 50 days was previously unimaginable... But this movie achieved that.. I read in the papers that on the 50th day more than 11 lacs hav seen it around the island..

so just for that I respect Aba for what it has achieved..

On you main complani about portraying the Sinhalese people as animals..well this is the first time I've read this... Everyone else is talking about "Is Aba a bastard' or "Is Aba coming form Yakshe ethnicity' otr the more famous "Vatican Conspiracy' ....so this is the first..

My take on this is... yup..when I read your comment & think about this 'yes to a part...it does portray it...? but we have to remember that this is a 'Gopalu Gama'..Even today if we show a shanty..it wont be much better..it depends on the livelihood of the people..

but I think the Vilage 'Doramadalawa' was beautiful... When i watched it I was impressed by the beauty of the village & reminded me of the jungle Habitat of Robin Hood (Specially the movie 'Robin Hood - The Prince of Thieves') rather than what u are saying..

anyway as I gave my thoughts on this movie on another thread..I wont repeat them here again..

If u want you can check my review-

ABA - My Review

But, as per your review "there" .... I definitely put "iramadiyama" WAY WAY WAY ahead than ABA

But then again, eyes of the beholder I presume.

and let's just agree to disagree with each other !

 

[earthling]

agreed.. for me Iramadiyama is my Fav Sinhala movie of all time (Overall).. & Aba comes only second best.. but Aba is still ONE of the best..

as u said..lets agree to disagree

 

[Wal Bada]

Aba in it's theme is a giant leap. Jackson tries to take forward the culture which Jayantha Chandrasiri did with in Teledramas. Jayantha's marvel made sure that we have produced best of the teledramas in the world, much better and talking to the intellect than it's Indian counterparts.

Jackson is trying to get our cinema in that direction, according to the footsteps of Bengali cinema. (Hindi cinema is dire, I need not say it, every film looks the same). He only have put a very small step, but let's hope that it's the springboard that SL cinema needed to prduce masterpieces like Lester's "Nidhanaya", "Ranmuthuduwa" or Siri Gunasinghe's "Sath Samudura", which were generations in front to the contemporary Lankan films.

as expected Nash_Node's comments are raw and lacks indepth. He just comments on what he sees, but not what he understands.

But for me... I don't take fancy in watching or accepting grown men pissing them selves just cause of some lightning and thunder !

I don't accept a 40 year old man to climb a tree and beat his chest creaming like a "RILAWA" (no kidding there) just because a woman likes him.

I don't expect to see STAGE drama acting inside a MOVIE ! (if you are someone who frequent stage drama's.. you will see what I mean when you watch the movie)

I don't expect to see KINGS to behave like dumb fucks ! (which the king is said to be so cunning and vicious in the real story)

Are reminiscent of a person who lacks the understanding of the big picture.

Jackson by doing "Aba" has challenged the notorious fuckwits, who feed off scraps of Westerners and embasseys to make films (namely Asoka Handagama, Vimukthi Jayasundera and Prasanna Vithanage) and depicting SL as a country of villains. Depicting Lankan as a Rilawa is much better than what Vimukthi Jayasundera depicts a Lankan as!

Aba is a success. Don't expect it to be smooth as Asoka. But it will pave the way to build films that can easily beat Asoka by the theme. Our teledrama industry has done that (despite all the shit dramas that are showed these days). If Jackson succeds, we'll be seeing cinematic equivalents of Kadulla, Kadawara, Bogala Saundiris, Isuru Yogaya, Dandubasnamanaya, Theertha Yathrikaya, Weda Haamine, Asala Kaluwara etc, easily making our cinema world class.

 

[TΞΞNSTAR™]

LoL... Interesting Feedback....

nd add this too...

some say its worse than One Shot One ... hehe...

nyway ... nyc to c u baq bro!!