Internationally awarded cinematographer Channa Deshapriya returns with his second directorial venture, “Doosra,” a film that recently represented Sri Lanka at the 28th Kolkata International Film Festival. Known for his exceptional work in films like “Aswesuma” (2001) and “The Forsaken Land” (2005), Channa brings his unique vision to this compelling narrative.
Plot Summary: “Doosra” is a gripping thriller set amidst the turmoil of rural Sri Lanka, focusing on the lives of villagers displaced by development projects. The story centers around a young girl named Rathi, who shoulders significant responsibilities amid the chaos. Together with her partner Anil, Rathi engages in scams to make ends meet. They devise a plan where Rathi pretends to be a prostitute to lure rich clients, only for Anil to rob and blackmail them. However, their scheme unravels when Anil is brutally beaten, and Rathi is abducted by a gang intending to sell her into prostitution. In a twist of fate, one gang member helps her escape, leaving Rathi hunted by both the gang and Anil.
Cast and Crew: The film showcases the talents of Thilakshani Rathnayake, Lakshan Abeynayake, Sajitha Anthony, Shyam Fernando, and Steve Dela Silva, among others. Lakshan Abeynayake, a renowned actor in France, not only stars in the film but also co-produces it.
Behind the scenes, the film boasts an impressive crew with Dhammika Rathnayake as the cinematographer and Thissa Surendra handling editing and color grading. Samarasiri Kadhanage provides makeup artistry, while Lucky Wijewardena serves as the art director. Sound design is by Sasika Ruwan Marasinghe, and the musical score is composed by Chinthaka Jayakody, featuring lyrics by Ashoka Handagama and songs sung by Nipuni Sharadha, Sajitha Anuththara, and Rohitha Jayanath.
Director’s Insight: Channa Deshapriya’s inspiration for “Doosra” stems from his observations during the filming of the Samanalawewa project 35 years ago. Witnessing the changing lives of rural children left a lasting impression on him. “This story has been brewing in my mind for years,” says Channa. “When I got the opportunity to make my own film, I knew I had to tell it.”
Sri Lankan Cinema: Channa emphasizes the need for attitudinal changes within Sri Lankan cinema. Despite access to state-of-the-art technology, he questions if the quality of cinema has truly improved. “We have the world’s latest cameras here, but has our cinema’s quality improved?” he asks.
“Doosra” is set to compete in several international film festivals, promising to bring Sri Lankan storytelling to a global audience.
Doosra (2024)
- Rating: 7.2/10
- Genre: Thriller
- Runtime: 1 hour 40 minutes
- Language: Sinhala
- Country of Origin: Sri Lanka
Plot Summary: “Doosra” is a gripping thriller set in rural Sri Lanka, focusing on villagers displaced by development projects. The story follows a young girl named Rathi, who faces significant responsibilities amidst the chaos. She and her partner Anil get involved in scams that eventually lead them to the underworld. As the situation spirals out of control, Anil is beaten, and Rathi is taken to the city with an uncertain future.
Cast & Crew:
- Director & Writer: Channa Deshapriya
- Stars: Lakahan Abenayake, Sajitha Anuththara, Shyam Fernando, Thilakshini Ratnayake
