It has been a long time since I watched a film with my mother, and it was also 'Rani (2025)'. It was on 2025.03.15 at Gampaha - Regal Cinema at 7 PM show.
This film created a major public phenomenon and was also considered a blockbuster. This was evident from the crowd during my visit to the show.
'Rani (2025)' is a good push to the current government.
Since I am a movie freak, I was motivated to watch this film. I noticed the film's meta-cinema techniques in its rough and soft forms.
Shehan Karunathilaka's 'The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida (2022)' is also equal thematically as an artwork.
My review link to that book is shared below.
Dealing with SK (Shehan Karunathilaka)
https://bookerreadsdaily.blogspot.com/2024/12/dealing-with-sk-shehan-karunathilaka.html
Hence, this film is unmissable.
In 2024, I only watched one film since I was in a detox and it was also 'Whispering Mountains (2023)' which shares blood memories of the dark period of 88 - 90 of Sri Lanka.
I have watched four Asoka Handagama films.
They are as follows,
(01) Let her cry (2016)
(02) Asandimitta (2019)
(03) Alborada (2022)
(04) Rani (2025)
When I was schooling, 'A Letter of Fire (2005)' was famous among people and created a public outcry. But I haven't watched it, though.
When I was watching this film, it reminded me of 'The Godfather Trilogy (1972 - 1990)' and the Sinhala film 'Paangshu (2018)'.
Asoka Handagama's way of breaking the social norms looks dangerous, but is unparalleled.
When I came home after watching the film, I showed my mother 'Victor Ivan's Paradise in tears (2006)'. She also shared her experiences about the dark period of 88 - 90 of Sri Lanka.
The last film I watched before Rani (2025) was 'Ridley Scott's Napoleon (2023)', which was also different from traditional biopic film tradition.
Rani (2025) is a special moment in my Asoka Handagam fandom. It's because of its discourse and marketing, and its relevance to current political discourse.
Post script - Alborada (2022) also created a similar kind of buzz and discourse with two translations of Pablo Neruda published during the period of economic crisis and struggle.
Some of the captures of bookish memories are shared below.
