Ira Handa Yata Explained

Ira Handa Yata
Native Name:
Director:	Bennett Rathnayake
Producer:	Ben Films
Starring:	Dharshani Tasha Udara Rathnayake Jagath Benaragama
Music:	Rohana Weerasinghe Nadeeka Guruge
Cinematography:	Kalinga Deshapriya Vithanage
Distributor:	EAP Theaters ^[1]
Country:	Sri Lanka
Language:	Sinhala

Ira Handa Yata (Under the Sun and Moon) (si|ඉර හඳ යට|italic=yes) is a 2010 Sri Lankan Sinhala war drama film directed by Bennett Rathnayake and co-produced by Samanmalee Hewamanna and Bennett Rathnayake for Ben Films.^[2] It stars two debutantes Dharshani Tasha, and Udara Rathnayake in lead roles along with Saumya Liyanage, Jagath Benaragama and Damitha Abeyratne in supportive roles.^[3] Music co-composed by Rohana Weerasinghe and Nadeeka Guruge.^{[4] [5]} It is the 1144th film in the Sri Lankan cinema.^[6]

The premiere screening of the film was held at 23rd Singapore International Film Festival.^[7] The film received positive reviews from critics.^{[8] [9] [10] [11]} The screenplay and some critics reviews were released at 3 November 2010 at Mahaweli Centre, Colombo 7 at 3 pm.^[12]

Cast

• Dharshani Tasha as Kiruba Devi
• Udara Rathnayake as Corporal Rakhitha
• Saumya Liyanage as Officer Mahasen
• Damitha Abeyratne as LTTE female cadre
• Jagath Benaragama as LTTE Soldier
• Sheryl Decker as Rekha, Rakhitha's fiancée
• Darshan Dharmaraj as LTTE soldier
• Sathischandra Edirisinghe as Monk
• Kaushalya Fernando as Bhanu
• Kriz Chris Henri Harriz as James Billworth NGO Worker
• Bimal Jayakody as LTTE area leader
• Mahendra Perera as Nimal
• Rangana Premaratne as Major
• Chandani Seneviratne as Sachitra
• Veena Jayakody
  • Roger Seneviratne Palitha Silva as Lieutenant Silva
• Suminda Sirisena as Trader
• Kumara Thirimadura as Captain
• Suvineetha Weerasinghe as Herath Manike

Awards

• 2010 Los Angeles Film Festival Special Jury Honorary Award^{[13] [14]}

Notes and References

1. Web site: 'Ira Handa Yata' now on . Sunday Times . 23 December 2017.
2. Web site: Benette tells the truth behind the war . Sunday Times . 16 December 2019.
3. Web site: 'Ira Handa Yata' on the web . Sunday Times . 16 December 2019.
4. Web site: Sri Lankan Screened Films . Sarasaviya . 11 March 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160509211050/http://www.sarasaviya.lk/2016/05/05/?fn=sa16050532 . 9 May 2016 . dead .
5. Web site: Ira Handa Yata Brings A Message To Every Sri Lankan . The Sunday Leader . 8 March 2017 . 9 March 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170309065254/http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2010/09/26/ira-handa-yata-brings-a-message-to-every-sri-lankan/ . dead .
6. Web site: Sri Lanka Cinema History . National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka . 3 October 2016.
7. Web site: 'Ira Handa Yata' premieres at Singapore . Sunday Times . 22 December 2019.
8. Web site: Ira Handa Yata: A flawed jewel . The Sunday Times . 8 March 2017.
9. Web site: Ira Handa Yata review . The Island . 8 March 2017.
10. Web site: Gift from Bennett Rathnayake to the world of Cinema - Ira Handa Yata . The Nation . 8 March 2017.
11. Web site: Victorious Soldier Portrayal of Militarized Masculinities in Sri Lankan Sinhala Pro-war Films . WERC . 8 March 2017.
12. Web site: 'Ira Handa Yata' screenplay out . Sunday Times . 29 December 2019.
13. Web site: Jury Award for 'Ira Handa Yata' at Los Angeles Festival . Ada Derana . 8 March 2017.
14. Web site: 'Ira Handa Yata' honourably mentioned . Sunday Times . 23 December 2017.