ABÁ is the high-budget Sinhalese film directed by Jackson Anthony

Jackson Anthony

Konganige Joseph Malsi Jackson Anthony is an actor in Sri Lankan cinema . Though he has become popular from his career as an actor...

, based on the historical legend of King Pandukabhaya

Pandukabhaya of Sri Lanka

Pandukabhaya is, according to the Mahavansa, the 6th king of Sri Lanka since the arrival of the Prince Vijaya, he reigned from 437 BC to 367 BC. According to many historians and philosophers, he is the first truly Sri Lankan king since the Vijayan invasion, and also the king who ended the conflict...

 which is set in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...

 more than 2400 years ago. The title is derived from "Pandu Aba", another name for the title character.

Anthony’s son, Sajitha Anuttara, portrays Pandukabhaya. The film also features Malini Fonseka

Malini Fonseka

Malani Senehelatha Fonseka is an award-winning Sri Lankan film actress, also known as the "Queen of Sinhalese cinema". Her cinema career which has spanned many decades began with Tissa Liyansooriya's Punchi Baba in 1968...

, Ravindra Randeniya

Ravindra Randeniya

Ravindra Randeniya is a Sri Lankan actor and politician. He rose to fame in Lester James Peries's film Desa Nisa in 1972, and was a popular actor during the 1970s and 1980s; He won the Sarasaviya Best Actor Award in 1984 , 1985 , 1989 , and 1990 .-Early life:Randeniya was born in Dalugama, Kelaniya...

,Sriyantha Mendis, Sabeetha Perera and many other popular actors.

It was released in Sri Lanka on 8 August 2008. Plans are being made to screen this film in several other countries, including China, Italy and Australia.

Production

Justin Belagamage and Rajindra Jayasinghe produced this film for Mandakini Creations (Pvt) Ltd. Production began halfway through 2007. The film was shot at different remote places in Sri Lanka. It is the most expensive Sinhalese movie to date, costing more than 60 million Rupees ($500.000). The set for the royal palace alone reportedly cost around 6.5 million Rupees ($60.000).

Cast

• Sajitha Anuttara as Pandukabhaya
• Ravindra Randeniya as Pandula
• Malini Fonseka as Bhaddakachchana
• Sabeetha Perera as Unmaada Chitra
• Senaka Titus Anthony as Senda
• Kanchana Kodituwakku as Deega Gamini
• Saumya Liyanage as Habara
• Sriyantha Mendis as Parumukhaya
• Neil Alles as King Panduvasudeva
• Lucien Bulathsinhala as Abhaya

Crew

• Director – Jackson Anthony

• Producers- Justin Belagamage, Ms. Rajindra Jayasinghe for Mandakini Creations
• Assistant Director – Anura Wijeysinghe
• Director of Photography – Suminda Weerasinghe
• Music Director – Nadeeka Guruge
• Production Manager- Samanpriya Marasinghe
• Art Director – Udeni Subodhi Kumara
• Make-up Artist – Vasantha Vittachchi
• Editor- Ravindra Guruge
• Costume Designers- Nihan Senevirathna, Vasantha Srinath
• Choreographer- Chandana Wickramasinghe
• Stunts Director- Guru G Karunapala
• Visual Effects Artist- Chamath Paranawithana
• Lyricist- Prof. Sunil Ariyarathne

Aba Hatana - the mobile game

The film has been made into a mobile game at the request of director Jackson Anthony. The game is titled Aba Hatana.