Akasa Kusum

Akasa Kusum (Flowers of the Sky) (Sinhala: ආකාස කුසුම්) is a 2009 Sri Lankan Sinhala drama film directed by Prasanna Vithanage and co-produced by H.D. Premasiri, Prasanna Vithanage, and A. Sreekar Prasad for Sarasavi Cineroo Films. It stars Malini Fonseka and Nimmi Harasgama in lead roles along with Dilhani Ekanayake and Kaushalya Fernando. Music composed by Lakshman Joseph de Saram.[1][2] It is the 1128th Sri Lankan film in the Sinhala cinema.[3]

Akasa Kusum
ආකාස කුසුම්
Directed byPrasanna Vithanage
Produced byH.D. Premasiri
Prasanna Vithanage
A. Sreekar Prasad
Written byPrasanna Vithanage
StarringMalini Fonseka
Nimmi Harasgama
Dilhani Ekanayake
Music byLakshman Joseph de Saram
CinematographyM.D Mahindapala
Edited byA. Sreekar Prasad
Production
company
Prasad Color Lab, Chennai
Release date
September 2008 Pusan
21 August 2009 Sri Lanka
Running time
90 minutes
CountrySri Lanka
LanguageSinhala

Filming starts on 23 December 2007 in Colombo.[4] It received a world premiere at the Pusan International Film Festival in October 2008,[5] and won numerous awards at various other festivals.

The film was released in Sri Lanka on 21 August 2009, and became a box-office hit in that country. It was also Sri Lanka's initial entry to the 2010 Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film,[6] but was replaced by Alimankada (The Road from Elephant Pass).[7] In May 2009, American film distribution company, Wonderphil Productions granted international distribution rights for the film.[8]

Plot

Sandhya Rani (Malini) is an aging film star who was once the darling of the silver screen. Having lost fame and fortune in a changing world, she now lives quietly in obscurity. She ekes out a living by renting out a room in her home to the young film and television stars of today to satisfy their illicit sexual desires, and by selling dumplings.

Rani is introduced to Shalika (Dilhani), a popular film actress, when she decides to carry on her affair with a co-star past shooting. Shalika's husband discovers this, and the scandal and publicity brings Rani and Shalika closer as friends. Rani is invited to a media program on television, as a backup, and after the interview, her profile raises again.

Priya Gunaratne (Nimmi), is a woman in her mid-20s, who happens to be two months pregnant, unmarried, HIV-positive, and is employed at a karaoke night club. It is a tough life, but she is able to develop a friendship with another hostess named Bunty (Samanalee).

Shalika tries getting in touch with Udith (Pubudu), her former costar and current lover, with the hopes that he will continue their relationship, but he decides to callously end things over the phone. Rani commiserates with Shalika by exploring her industry affair and the patriarchy inherent in the entertainment industry. Their conversation inspires confidence in Shalika; the next day she calls a magazine to announce that she will start working in teledramas. This opens more work opportunities and includes Rani in the teledrama.

Priya sees a clip from the serial on the bar's television right before a fight between a regular client and an aggressive new client breaks out. Rani receives a call from the Colpetty police station with the message that a girl from a bar fight said that Rani was her mother. Rani responds, "The whole country knows I was never married." Priya is bitter about her childhood abandonment and makes it known to her mother that she still exists and that Rani is responsible for her present plight.

After the phone call and brief visit, Rani is visibly shaken. Shalika asks what is wrong, and Rani explains that she was discovered when her father worked as a light man in a studio. The owner noticed Rani and insisted that she start working in the industry. However, Rani was already married and had a year old daughter, and the studio could only work with a "virgin" star. Rani eventually separates from her husband and daughter, who were also paid off to leave.

Once this secret is no longer one, Rani decides to go to the karaoke bar to find Priya. Priya drives her away, further emotionally isolating herself. She asks Bunty to move in together and help raise the unborn baby. Rani continues looking for Priya, visiting the bar and even Bunty's apartment.

Priya goes to the hospital and starts writing long extensive letters to Rani about her experiences growing up without her mother and with an alcoholic father. In the end Priya passes and Rani becomes the caretaker of Priya's baby girl.

Cast

Music

The original music for Akasa Kusum (Flowers of the Sky) was composed by Lakshman Joseph De Saram.[2] The original soundtrack (OST) was also made into a promotional music video.[9]

TrackSongSinger(s)MusicLyricsDuration
1 Akasa Kusum (Flowers of the Sky) (Original Sound Track) Saman Nishantha Ranga Dasanayake Upul Shantha Sanasgala 4:28

Theatrical release

Sri Lanka

Akasa Kusum (Flowers of the Sky) was a domestic box office hit in Sri Lanka. The film was released on 21 August 2009[10] and ran over 77 days across 24 screens in the country.

Singapore

Akasa Kusum (Flowers of the Sky) and Ira Madiyama (August Sun) have a limited release from 18 June 2010, at Sinema Old School[11] a 136-seater high definition cinema screening local and award-winning films in Singapore.[12]

International film festivals
Malani Fonseka won Best Actress Award at the 2008 International Film Festival of India

Awards
  • Silver Peacock Award (Best Actress – Malini Fonseka), Indian International Film Festival (IFFF), India[13]
  • Best Actress – Malini Fonseka, Levante International Film Festival, Italy[14]
  • Jury Special Mention Award, Vesoul Asian Film Festival, France
  • Best Asian Film (NETPAC) Award – Granada Cinesdelsur Film Festival, Spain[15]

Official selections

- Nominee, International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) Award

- Nominee, Best Actress Malini Fonseka

Others

Akasa Kusum (Flowers of the Sky) was originally Sri Lanka’s official entry for Best Foreign Language Film to the Academy Awards (Oscars) in 2010.[19] It was replaced by Alimankada (The Road from Elephant Pass).[7]

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References
  1. "Sri Lankan Screened Films". Sarasaviya. Archived from the original on 13 June 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  2. Wonder Phil Productions. "Akasa Kusum (Flowers of the Sky) Press Kit" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2010-05-15.
  3. "Sri Lanka Cinema History". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  4. "Prasanna returns with 'Flowers in the Sky'". Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  5. TV Times (19 October 2008). "Akasa Kusum (Flowers of the Sky) Blooms in Pusan". The Sunday Times, Sri Lanka.
  6. Nilendra Deshapriya (17 September 2009). "Akasa Kusum (Flowers of the Sky) Sri Lanka's Entry for 2010 Academy Awards - 15sec Trailer". Nilendra Deshapriya Productions. Retrieved 2010-05-16.
  7. "65 Countries in Competition for 2009 Foreign Language Film Oscar" (Press release). Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). 15 October 2009. Archived from the original on 8 April 2010. Retrieved 2010-05-19.
  8. "'Akasa Kusum' picks American Distributor". Sunday Times. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  9. Nilendra Deshapriya (12 July 2009). "Akasa Kusum Official Music Video". Nilendra Deshapriya Productions. Retrieved 2010-05-15.
  10. Film Freaks (19 August 2009). "Akasa Kusum (Flowers of the Sky) Hits Sri Lankan Theatres". Akasa Kusum (Flowers of the Sky) Official Blogpost. Retrieved 2010-05-16.
  11. Larry Loh, Singapore Editor (26 March 2010). "5 must-visit venues for the independent film lover in Singapore". CNN GO, Local Insights. Global Experiences. Archived from the original on 28 May 2010. Retrieved 2010-05-23.
  12. Sue-Ann Teo (25 May 2010). "Next Change". Sinema.sg.
  13. Chandana Keerthi Bandara (2 December 2008). "Malini wins Silver Peacock Award". BBCSinhala.com. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
  14. Ruwini Jayawardana (25 April 2010). "More honours for Malini". Sunday Observer. Archived from the original on 16 May 2010. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
  15. Ruwini Jayawardana (27 July 2009). "Akasa Kusum (Flowers of the Sky) Set for August Release". Daily News, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 14 October 2012. Retrieved 2010-05-17.
  16. "'Akasa Kusum' blooms in Pusan". Sunday Times. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  17. Webmaster. "The Awards - Nominated Asia Pacific Screen Awards Best Performance by an Actress". Asia Pacific Screen Awards - Official Site. Archived from the original on 2010-01-22. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
  18. Asian American Film and Theater Project (October 2009). "2009 Films". New Jersey Independent South Asian Cine Fest 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-12-26. Retrieved 2010-05-15.
  19. Nilendra Deshapriya (17 September 2009). "Akasa Kusum (Flowers of the Sky) Sri Lanka's Entry for 2010 Academy Awards - 30sec Trailer". Nilendra Deshapriya Productions. Retrieved 2010-05-16.
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