Paradise

Prasanna Vithanage's "Paradise" is arguably his most potent work yet. It masterfully portrays the crumbling institution of marriage within a contemporary consumerist society, set against the backdrop of Sri Lanka's political and economic turmoil. A seemingly placid vacation for a young Indian couple turns into a chilling exploration of power dynamics and unspoken resentments, culminating in a shocking act of violence. Mr. Vithanage expertly uses the backdrop of Sri Lankan myths and landscapes to highlight the clash between tradition and modernity. "Paradise" is a must-see for its unflinching look at the complexities of human relationships and the hidden rage that can simmer beneath the surface.

I'm a big fan of independent movies which explores different themes and I found Paradise to be a unique indie film that has a good theme and story. Everyone will have a different take on this movie and it's ending. However, I promise that this movie will linger in your mind for a very long time. You will get different perspectives when you rewatch it. I won't like to mention anything about this movie. Please watch it without reading any reviews because most of the reviews I saw prior to watching it had lots of spoilers and that certainly had an effect on my movie experience.

All the lead characters performed well and what a direction! Camera is managed by the veteran cinematographer Rajeev Ravi and you can see his magic in most of the frames.

One of the best films of 2024.

This is a must-watch gem, where the director Prasanna Vithanage refrains from spoon-feeding the audience. Each scene communicates much more than the dialogues between the characters. The director uses his artistic liberties to tell a story that can be interpreted in various ways, much like the references to Ramayana and its different versions.

Each character is built up very well, and shows both positive and negative shades, while dealing with the situation at hand. The climax is one of the finest I have experienced in recent times.

The casting is top-notch. Roshan Andrews, Shyam Fernando, Mahendra Perera and a couple of SriLankan actors play their part to perfection. Darshana Rajendran takes up a tough role and nails it! She uses her expressive eyes to speak volumes!

It feels great to experience such an excellent collaboration between India and Sri Lanka to present a Ramayana of our era!

Paradise (2024) : Brief Review -

Indian Cinema's subversive attempt at thematic adaptation of the western classic "The Ox-Bow Incident" (1943) that destroys human conscience in a modern way. Set in Sri Lanka, Paradise has a beautiful name, beautiful locations, beautiful people, and beautiful language, but the impact that film leaves on you is exactly what you call "beautiful." Prasanna Vithanage has written the script and directed the film, with Anushka Senanayake coming in to help with the screenplay, so I'll give most of the credit to Prasanna. I don't know how many of you have seen old Hollywood's Western classic "Ox Bow Incident" (based on the novel of the same name), but for me, it is one of those powerful classics that destroys human conscience in the highest order. Imagining that film, that topic, and that kind of subversive thought in the 1940s, when rom-coms, screwball comedies, biopics, dramas, and world war films were ruling over audiences' hearts, is itself a victory. Hollywood did that when people were not ready. I say, today we are ready, and finally something like Paradise pops up to make us realize that yes, Indian cinema is still alive and can attempt such subjects that many overlooked because they were too intellectual. Paradise sort of extends the Ox Bow Incident from the point it strikes to human conscience and adds an extra layer of another destructive human instinct. I am not sure how many of you will get it, but when in the final scene, Amritha finally asks Mr. Andrew, did he really believe what he said, and he keeps mum. Now, he is the same man who has been selling fake stories to earn money, and that too on Ramayana. It's a next-level elimination of human conscience when you realize that if he can destroy a known epic like the Ramayana with his words, just imagine how much he would destroy one private event to save the woman. This subjective thought has led me to overcome the messy killings in the climax and add an extra half star. Strongly recommended!

RATING - 7.5/10*

By - #samthebestest.

This film, a joint production of Srilanka and India is a courageous exploration of important social and political themes. It sheds light on the struggles faced by Sri Lankan Tamilians and the country's economic challenges, highlighting issues that are often overlooked. Drawing parallels to the timeless epic of the Ramayana, the movie seamlessly incorporates multiple languages in its dialogue without disrupting the flow of the story. The stunning landscapes of Sri Lanka are beautifully captured on screen, complementing the decent performances from the cast. In essence, this small-scale Malayalam film tackles significant issues in a poignant and thought-provoking manner, deserving a wider audience to appreciate its impact.