Asu
Theatrical release poster
Directed bySanjeewa Pushpakumara
Written bySanjeewa Pushpakumara
Sangeetha Nilnadee Godagama
Based onbreast cancer
Produced bySanjeewa Pushpakumara
Amil Abeysundara
StarringUdari Warnakulasooriya
Shyam Fernando
Dinara Punchihewa
CinematographyVishwa Balasooriya
Edited byAjith Ramanayake
Music byAjith Kumarasiri
Namini Panchala
Production
companies
Sapushpa Expressions
Petra Films
Release dates
November 2021 (TIFF)
October 11, 2023 (Sri Lanka)
CountrySri Lanka
LanguageSinhala

Asu (Sinhala: ආසූ, lit. 'Arrived') is a 2021 Sri Lankan Sinhala-language drama film produced, written and directed by Sanjeewa Pushpakumara.[1] The film stars Udari Warnakulasooriya, Shyam Fernando and Dinara Punchihewa in the main lead roles.[2] The film story was inspired based on the tragic death of Indira Jayasuriya who succumbed to the breast cancer in November 2016 at the age of 40.[3] Indira Jayasuriya was the youngest daughter of former parliamentary speaker Karu Jayasuriya.

The film was officially selected for competition at the 2021 Asian World Film Festival which was held in Los Angeles.[4] The film was also officially selected in the Asian Competition's Feature section at the 34th edition of the 2021 Tokyo International Film Festival.[5] The film had its theatrical release in Sri Lanka on 11 October 2023 and opened to positive reviews from critics. The film had its first local premiere at the PVR Cinema Complex at One Galle Face on 11 October 2023.[3]

Plot

Nelum, a 31 year old woman is a Buddhist and belongs to upper class category. She was happily married to a musician husband and the couple lived with three year old daughter. Nelum eventually becomes pregnant. Things change dramatically when her family members were informed about the fact that she was diagnosed with breast cancer.[6] To add to the misery, she is battling with last stage of the breast cancer. Nelum takes a calculated risk by not opting for a medical surgery instead she expects to battle the cancer, thereby sacrificing her life in order to safeguard her unborn baby from danger.[7]

The family members were caught up in huge dilemma as both lives of Nelum and baby were in danger and also only one of them can be safeguarded according to the doctors. Nelum's firm decision contradicted the views of her husband as her husband wanted to rescue her from the fatal cancer and he even was willing to sacrifice the unborn baby. The doctors too were confronted with the conundrum as they were also fighting to safeguarding the life of Nelum.[3]

Nelum delivers the baby boy after seven months of pregnancy and the boy was named as Gautham as a honour to Lord Buddha. Nelum's medical conditions worsened further after her baby boy turns three months old. Nelum becomes emotional as she writes a heart touching letter to her newborn baby boy at a time when she was nearing the last phase of her lifetime. Her son would then open up the letter and realizes the tragic death of his mother at the age of ten.[7]

Cast

Production

The film had VFX portions which were produced by Rashitha Jinasena and the VFX portions were supervised by Dulanka Devendra. Aruna Priyantha Kaluarachchi was roped in for sound editing works while Poorna Jayasri was roped in as the art director of the film.[5] Narada Dananji Thotagamuwa was onboard to focus on the makeup proceedings while Ajantha Alahakoon took charge of costume for the actors. The film was bankrolled by Sapushpa Expressions.[5]

References

  1. ↑ "Asu - ආසු - Sinhala Cinema Database". www.films.lk. Retrieved 2023-11-05.
  2. ↑ "【Asu】｜ 34th Tokyo International Film Festival(2021)". 2021.tiff-jp.net. Retrieved 2023-11-05.
  3. 1 2 3 damith (2023-10-07). "Asu: A tale of courage amidst pain". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 2023-11-05.
  4. ↑ "'Asu' competes in New York". Print Edition - The Sunday Times, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 2023-11-05.
  5. 1 2 3 "Sanjeewa's 'Asu' to compete at Tokyo Film Festival". Print Edition - The Sunday Times, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 2023-11-05.
  6. ↑ "සංජීව 'ආසු' තනයි". සරසවිය. 2020-12-09. Retrieved 2023-11-05.
  7. 1 2 "Mother's ultimate sacrifice for an unborn". Print Edition - The Sunday Times, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 2023-11-05.
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