Kusa Pabha

Kusa Pabha
Directed by	Sunil Ariyarathne
Based on	Jataka tales
Starring	Pooja Umashankar Jackson Anthony Ravindra Randeniya Veena Jayakody Roshan Ranawana Mahendra Perera

Kusa Pabha is a Sri Lankan historical dramatic film^[1][2] based on the 550 Jataka tales. The film scored a high gross profit and was a Mega hit among Sri Lankans. The film starred Sri Lankan and Indian-Sri Lanka actress Pooja Umashankar and Sri Lankan actor Jackson Anthony. The film was directed by Sunil Ariyarathne.

Plot

Okkaka (Ravindra Randeniya) is the emperor of India. He rules from Kusawathie city, with his queen Seelawathie (Veena Jayakody) and two sons Kusa (Jackson Anthony) and Jayampathi (Roshan Ranawana). Kusa is strong, competent in all crafts and warfare but has an ugly oil cake shaped face. Therefore he realizes that no woman will like to marry him and is not interested in marriage. But his parents, especially mother urges him to marry. Kusa makes a golden sculpture in a woman's shape and tells his mother queen that he will marry if she could find a woman looks alike the sculpture. Queen orders two royal servants (Mahinda Pathirage and Mahendra Perera) to take the statue to all countries and find a woman looks alike the statue. After a long unsuccessful search, two royal servants arrive at Madura city, the capital of Madura kingdom, on the season of spring festival. Madura is a state under the control of Okkaka's empire. They place the statue near the river. Then the nanny of the royal family of Madura kingdom,Kudi (Kudi means hunchbacked woman) (Chandani Seneviratne) comes there and slaps the statue, because she recognized the statue as the princess Pabawathie (Pooja Umashankar), the daughter of king Madu (Palitha Silva), the king of Madura kingdom and his queen (Kusum Renu). Since a woman looks alike the statue is found, the marriage is arranged. Pabawathie is taken to Kusawathie city. Wedding is conducted without a groom.

Seelawathie tells Pabawathie that there is a tradition in their caste that the wife shall not see the husband until she becomes pregnant. Kusa disguises as workmen and see Pabawathie at stables of horses and elephants. He jokes. Pabawathie urges Seelawathie to show Kusa. She makes both brothers mount on an elephant and shows both of them. Pabawathie thinks that handsome Jayampathi is her husband Kusa. When she is bathing in a pond he hides under the water lily leaves and catches her hand. Then she identifies him as Kusa and due to the fact that she was cheated, she leaves to her home Madura city. Broken hearted Kusa goes to Madura and works as a cook, potter and a florist for royal palace. He prepares and sends delicious food, beautiful pottery and garlands to Pabawathie. She throws them away after knowing that they were sent by Kusa. There is a news spread in other states that Kusa and Pabawathie are divorced. So seven state kings come to war against king Madu for Pabawathie. Okkaka requests Pabawathie to return to Kusawathie. She refuses. Okkaka orders to cut her to seven pieces and give those pieces to seven state kings. Just before her death, armed Kusa comes and saves her, stating that she is his wife and anyone should not harm her. A rain falls. His face's ugliness is gone off. Kusa and Pabawathie happily return to Kusawathi. Okkaka gives the crown to Kusa, making him the emperor.

Songs

Madura Wasanthe (Harshana, Nirosha, Uresha and Bandula)

Madu Chandra yame (Kasun Kalhara)

Yata Giya Dawasa (Edward Jayakodi)

References

1. "Dwarfing of Kusa-Paba". The Nation. 26 February 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
2. "Sri Lanka President marks the 65th anniversary of Sinhala cinema". ColomboPage. 21 January 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2012.