User Reviews

This is an extraordinary tale of over 2600 years ago, of a Prince who is endowed with everything he needs and more. Luxury, palaces and all heart's desires, are provided to him by his father, a warrior King of the kingdom of Shakya. The story unfolds dramatically with the Prince leaving all his luxuries and possessions as well as his new born son and loving wife, caring parents, to an unknown journey of finding the end to human sorrow and suffering.....

The Prince, born auspiciously, is named Siddhartha, meaning; the one who fulfills his aim. Brahmins and Seers predict the Prince to be a Universal Monarch; yet highly respected Sage Asita and Brahmin Kondanna predicts firmly, to the King's disappointment, that the Prince will leave all his worldly possessions and attain enlightenment....

During brief tours of duty around the kingdom, he witnesses the life of commoners and is confronted with the harsh reality of life. He decides to leave his kingdom to seek the truth. After fulfilling his dear wife's wish of having a child as to keep her from loneliness, Siddhartha leaves the palace into the unknown, to become an ascetic.....

Deep in the wilderness away from all royal comforts, Ascetic Siddhartha goes through many challenges in his search. He elevates his intellect with the interaction with Sages and Brahmins during his spiritual journey, but is unable to reach his goal of finding the end to human suffering. Having experienced austerities, his near-death experience makes him realize that the extremes are not the answer to his quest....

Ultimately, discovering that the middle path is the only way to end worldly suffering, Ascetic Siddhartha attains supreme enlightenment, becoming the BUDDHA...!!!!

After 'ABA', 'MAHINDAGAMANAYA', 'KUSA-PABA' and 'VIJAYA-KUWENI' movies again it has been arrived a movie based on a historical story about prince 'Siddhartha'. Being Chandran Rutnam is one of the directors it was being looked for a better movie than previous movies. But unfortunately it has been produced even unsuccessful and less artistic movie. The movie 'SRI SIDDHARTHA GAUTHAMA' begins with a scene that prince 'Siddhartha' go to meet 'Channa' to accompany 'Channa' for his renunciation of household life. Along with that there are some scenes relevant to biography of 'Siddhartha' which from renunciation of household life to become Buddha are shown in about 20 to 30 minutes. After those scenes begins the main story of the movie which show the story of prince 'Siddhartha' from birth to the point of renunciation of household life. In short this movie is like a documentary about biography of prince 'Siddhartha'. It is really lack of artistic story. The screenplay is really poor. It is present most of the well-known facts about prince 'Siddhartha' without a connection between those scenes throughout the movie. If someone who do not know about story of 'Siddhartha' he can learn about most famous events of prince 'Siddhartha'. At least this movie does not possess artistic features of a documentary. It was not endeavored to establish any connection between doings. Although it is possible to take entire movie as an example for this I am going to analyse this by using one occasion. Prince 'Siddhartha' and 'Channa' riding horses in a street and prince 'Siddhartha' set eyes on the old father of 'Channa'. He goes towards him and speaks with him. Then he turns other side and sees a sick person. Then begins a new scene which shows that the prince recollect those incidents. Then suddenly prince and 'Channa' come across with funeral. And on the other side of the road there is a clerk and that is the end of that scene as well. SATHARA PERA NIMITHI (above four incidents which mostly affect 'Siddhartha' to do renunciation of household life) are one of the well known facts that even a Buddhist child know. It is really useless for audience to watch these incidents without a story. It has not tried to make a flow for the movie by adding these incidents in different situations of the movie. It is possible to see this nature throughout the movie. Well remembered another scene is fight between 'Channa' and prince 'Devadatta'. It is only waste time and shows inability of actors and martial art director but not add anything to the movie. The Movie ends with the scene about the renunciation of household life. In here against famous facts that 'Siddhartha' leave the palace after inform about his willingness to king 'Suddhodana' and his princess 'Yashodhara'. The only plus sign it is possible to find out in this movie is this scene. The only artistic scenes are the one that prince 'Siddhartha' come to see his son and the princess who is pretend that she is asleep for the last time and the teardrop slip from Yashodhara's eye when 'Siddhartha' leaves the room. That is the end of the movie and then shows the names of cast and crew. At the same time it is possible to be heard some poems of 'YASHODARAWATHA' which are sung by Nirosha Virajini. But if these poems play with the last scene that 'Siddhartha' leaves "Yashodhara' it would help to enhance the feelings generated by both of them. Music composition and singing of the movie are good. Camera, costume design and art direction can be considered as not bad. When it is considering about acting and characters the whole movie is built around the character of 'Siddhartha'. The acting of Gagan Malik the actor perform this character is OK. But his pronunciation is slightly abnormal but with time it is being got used. There is another two main characters in this movie. Those are characters of King Suddhodhana (Ranjan Ramanayaka) and Princess Yashdhara (Anchal Singh). Ranjan Ramanayaka's performance can be considered as not bad. Yashdhara's pronunciation is bad. The fact the there is not given enough chance for Queen Prajapathee Gothami is affect the movie badly. The next main characters are Channa (Saranga Disasekara), Prince Devadatta (Gautam Gulati) and Prince Nanda (Roshan Ranawana). There is nothing to perform for Roshan Ranawana except appear in the screen with Siddhartha. Even for that his performance are inappropriate. It is difficult to say something good about performance of Saranga Disasekara and Gautam Gulati. Although the movies 'ABA' and 'KUSA-PABA' are not successful the can be designate as movies. But this one is hard to say so. There is no hesitation that this one will successful in means of revenue. It can be considered that this movie has create to earn lot of money and popularity by using the feelings of patriotic and cordiality about religion that has been aroused in Sri Lankans for political requirements. Except that this will earn lot of finance for theaters it will not support Sri Lanka film industry in any other way. The Sri Lankan producers must understand that just because spend lot of money it will not create a successful creation.