Rani

A deeply introspective and unconventional film, Rani offers a poignant exploration of grief, identity, and the societal expectations placed on women, particularly mothers. Swarna Mallawarachchi delivers a gripping performance, embodying a character rarely seen in Sri Lankan cinema-one that challenges traditional notions of maternal sacrifice and morality. The film's atmospheric storytelling, strong casting, and evocative music contribute to its emotional depth, though it occasionally stumbles with pacing and underdeveloped character arcs. Despite these minor shortcomings, Rani remains a compelling and thought-provoking watch, standing apart from mainstream Sri Lankan cinema with its bold narrative choices and psychological depth. Ultimately, Rani is a great reflection of the psychological dilemma Dr. Manorani Saravanamuttu is struggling with after the sudden death of her son.

Raani is an absolute waste of both money and time. The movie lacks any proper flow, making it feel disjointed and difficult to follow. Instead of presenting a well-structured or compelling story, it seems more like an attempt to cover up the real murder of Richard. The weak narrative and poor execution make it frustrating to watch, and it completely fails to engage the audience. The pacing is off, the screenplay is messy, and there's no real depth to the storytelling. It neither delivers justice to the truth nor provides any entertainment value. If you're looking for a well-made movie with a gripping plot, this is definitely not it. A complete disappointment from start to finish, making you regret the time and money spent on it.

Swarna Mallawarachchi delivers a tremendous performance as Dr. Manorani Saravanamuttu, truly bringing the character to life. It was a delight to watch her evolution after the tragic loss of her son. The supporting cast also did an excellent job, with Ranasinghe Premadasa's portrayal being especially uncanny.

However, if you're unfamiliar with the historical and political landscape of that era, some characters and scenes might not fully resonate. While the story itself is understandable, the deeper significance of certain events may be lost without prior knowledge of their real-life political impact.

I did feel that some scenes were unnecessarily drawn out, and I wished for more focus on the characters' lives during that time. If you plan on watching, I highly recommend reading up on the R. Premadasa era beforehand to get a full understanding of why those characters are important and why they were included in the movie.

That said, I'm really glad to see a Sinhala movie of this caliber. Our theater was houseful even on the fourth day, which speaks to its impact. Hopefully, Sri Lankan cinema continues to produce such high-quality films-our history has plenty of powerful real-life stories to tell!

Based on true story in 1990s in Sri Lanka. International journalist ,Richard de Soyza kidnapped and slaughtered by former president Ranasingha Premadasa era.

Swarana Mallawarachchi cast very elegant charactor, Manorani Sarawanamuttu who s mother of Richard de Soyza .

Richard de Zoysa was a fearless journalist who criticized the government's human rights abuses during the late 1980s and early 1990s-a period marked by political violence, disappearances, and death squads. In February 1990, he was abducted from his home by unidentified armed men (widely believed to be state-sponsored death squads) and later found dead on a beach in Moratuwa, his body showing signs of torture. His murder sparked international outrage.

The movie take you to the flash backs of the threatning politacal era in Srilanka. It revolves around a grieving mother who fight for justice of her beloved son's abduction and murder. Movie director successfully built a strong character around this mother which emphasize sympathy and fight for Justice.

I can say it is one of the best acting of Swarna mallawarachchi after her masterpiece 'Dadayama' movie. It will probably lead to secure her spot on 2025 best actress award.

Strongly recommended to young generation of Srilanka to educate theirselves by watching this movie about recent history which was the time where citizens lost even their basic human rights.

Once again direcor Ashoka Hadgama kept his trade mark through his inherent Cinema style but i would say it is less contraversial than his other films as this movie lead to most accepted referendum by the society about this true incident.