Aba: The Story Of Prince Pandukabhaya” (Sri Lanka)

'ABÁ' is the high-budget Sinhalese film directed by Jackson Anthony, based on the historical legend of King Pandukabhaya which took place in Sri Lanka more than 2400 years ago. It was released in Sri Lanka on 8th of August, 2008. Plans are being made to screen this film in several other countries including China, Italy and Australia.

The Legend of King Pandukabhaya
The title “Aba” is derived from “Pandu Aba”, another name for the title character. This famous Sinhalese legend is extravagantly portrayed in ‘Mahavamsa’ (the most comprehensive chronicle of the history of Sri Lanka) written during the 5th Cent. AD by Mahanama thero. Although it has been difficult to specify the time period in which King Pandukabhaya ruled, it can be inferred from the chronicles that he ruled over 2300 years back. A brief description of the legend as related in Mahavamsa is given below.After Prince Vijaya, an outcast of India, who came ashore in Sri Lanka in 543 B.C. and settled in the island, died, Panduvasudeva became the king. Bhaddakachchana, a Shakya Princess, was brought down from India as his queen consort. At length, the monarchs had ten sons and one daughter. The daughter was called Ummada Chitra because of her exceeding beauty. The soothsayers foretold that the son of Princess Chitra would destroy his uncles and wrest the kingdom for himself. Therefore, the brothers decided to kill their sister but the elder brother Abhaya persuaded them to keep her in a chamber built upon a single tower (called ‘Ektamgeya’) which was accessible only through a door from the king’s bedchamber. In the meantime Bhaddakachchana’s brothers established settlements around the island. Dighagamini, the son of Digayu, one of these brothers was appointed to serve the court of the king at Upatissagama. Dighagamini heard of Chitra and fell in love with her. By means of a stratagem he visited the chamber and Chitra conceived a child. Hearing this, the uncles decided to kill the child if he were to be male but Chitra exchanged babies with another woman whose child was a girl. Afterwards Chitra’s son, Pandukabhaya, grew up in a village called Doramandalawa (Dwaramandala). When he was seven, the uncles discovered the boy’s existence and started to kill all the boys of his age. Somehow he escaped death and later on he grew up under the tutelage of a Brahmin named Pandula. Having attained youth he killed all the uncles except Abhaya and became the first King of Anuradhapura marrying Swarnapali and ruled for 70 years.

Aba: film synopsis

By the fifth century BC, the Yakshas, among the ancient peoples of the island of Lanka, had seized overall power. They were however subdued by the Sinha Clan who arrived from North India. The defeated Yakshas thereafter launched insurrection after insurrection against the Sinha Clan.Vijaya was the first to defeat the Yakshas. His nephew, Panduwasdeva, a Prince, who arrived from India, succeeded him. It was from the North East of India also that his consort-to-be, Princess Bhadrakachchana of the Royal line of the Shakya Clan came.Paduwasdeva chose as his seat of power, the City of Upatissa, located north of Anuradhapura. Bhadrakchchayana bore him ten sons and finally a beautiful daughter, Chitra. The Royal Astrologers, perusing her horoscope, articulated a horrifying prophecy. They predicted that a son born to Chitra would slay his ten uncles and assume the throne.The ten princess, complete in their faith in the prophesy, plotted to murder their sister. Chitra thwarted their efforts. Finally, she was imprisoned in a tower where she could not encounter any man...

Controversy
Although Mahavamsa is the largest source of knowledge about the history of Sri Lanka, some of its content might have been subjected to favoritism and exaggeration. As the writer of the foregoing chronicle might have been in favor of India, now these early legends are being subject to controversy. Vijaya is portrayed in Mahavamsa as the forefather of the Sinhalese, who married the Yakkha queen Kuveni who betrayed her people over to Vijaya. But it is evident from the fact that there existed a city called Sirisavattu in the island where Yakkhas lived at the time, that a civilization had prevailed in the island before Vijaya arrived. Although the chronicler portrays the Yakkhas as devils, now it is widely believed that Yakkhas were one of the major tribes in the island at that time. This fact shakes Vijaya’s position in the history of Sri Lanka. It is possible that the chronicler, who could have been biased towards India, preferred to consider Vijaya and his retinue as the first Sinhalese community rather than accepting the fact that Vijaya was a conqueror. If that is true, from that time onwards Sri Lanka witnessed a foreign rule. However, a circle of historians have now formulated the hypothesis that the father of King Pandukabhaya was a native tribesman. This hypothesis is used to explain the fact that it was King Pandukabhaya who destroyed the foreign invaders and brought back independence to the island. The synopsis of ABA is not identical to the story in Mahavamsa. It will merge historical events with imaginary ones to create the atmosphere gathering around the life of young Pandukabhaya who was protected by various people. It will portray the bravery and tact of those who were bound to protect Pandukabhaya. However, ABA is expected to bring forward a more reasonable, clear picture of the legend of King Pandukabhaya. In doing so, it will also capture ancient Sinhalese traditions and folklore to create a vivid background for the film.

Other Detailes
Country: Sri Lanka

Production Company: Mandakini Creations (Pvt) Ltd.

Genre: Drama/ History

Director: Jackson Anthony

Starring: Sajitha Anuttara, Malini Fonseka, Ravindra Randeniya, Sriyantha Mendis, Sabitha Perera, Saumya Liyanage, Daulani Anuradha, Vasantha Moragoda, Neil Alles, Bimal Jayakody

Duration: NA

Date of release: 8th August, 2008

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“Aba: The Story Of Prince Pandukabhaya” Official Trailer