Paris, 28 February, (Asiantribune.com): Prasanna Vithanage’s latest film Akasa Kusum (Flowers of the Sky) received a special Jury Award at the prestigious 15th Festival International des d’Asie in Vesoul in France. Vithanage personally received the award from the Festival Director Jean-Marc Therouanne on February 14 after the film was screened to a packed audience at the Majestic Theatre, the largest cinema hall in Vesoul.

Describing the film after the screening, Vithanage said that he picked on a star of yesteryear as the theme for his latest venture to highlight the agony and ecstasy of film actresses all over the world. "It's not a real life story of a star, which was popular once and has now been forgotten," he hastens to explain. "Of course, one cannot prevent being influenced by what one observes over the years".

He told the French audience that the main actress Malani Fonseka won the Silver Peacock award at the India International Film Festival held in Goa in January. The other main actresses included Nimmi Harasgama, who gave a convincing performance as Malani’s daughter who was abandoned by her during early childhood and her love-hate relationship with her mother, Kaushalya Fernando, who has shown her talent both on stage and cinema), Jayani Senanayake, another actress who has shown prowess on stage and cinema and Dilani Ekanayake, a popular name in teledramas and films. Vithanage said that the film 'Akasa Kusum' held its world premiere at the Pusan International Film Festival in October last year.

The theme of the story is described thus: A forgotten film star Sandhya Rani (Malani Fonseka) unexpectedly sees her profile rise again when she is embroiled in controversy. As a media-crazy nation draws her into its net, she is confronted with a changed, compromised industry - more commercialized, media savvy and sans values. As she faces her new found fame, Sandhya comes to confront her darkest demons - and also herself.

Describing Malani Fonseka's acting as "fantastic", the Director said the audience can so easily empathize with her behaviour, insecurity and little excitements. "She has done a great job being the main protagonist of the film." He told the French audience that clippings of old films shown in Akasa Kusum were actually from the old films of Malani Fonseka.

Ambassador Lionel Fernando and few Sri Lankans in France attended the screening of the film in Vesoul, a city nearly 400 kilometres away from Paris. Ambassador Fernando congratulated Vithanage and said that Alkasa Kusum is one of the most outstanding Sri Lankan films.

'Akasa Kusum' is Prasanna's sixth feature film, after 'Ira Madiyama' (August Sun) 2003, 'Purahanda Kaluwara' (Death on a Full Moon Day) 1997, 'Pawuru Walalu' (Walls Within) 1997, 'Anantha Rathriya' (Dark Night of the Soul) 1996 & 'Sisila Gini Gani' (Ice On Fire) 1992.

- Asian Tribune -