Filmmaker Asoka Handagama Defends 'Ini Avan' amid Criticisms of Exploitation and Insufficient Character Development

In the north of Sri Lanka, the Tamilian people struggle to survive on the border between the Sri Lankan army and the LTTE. The film "Ini Avan" tells the story of a rehabilitated LTTE combatant who returns to his community after the Sri Lankan civil war. However, his return is not welcomed by the villagers and he faces challenges in starting a new life in his hometown. This film, directed by Sinhalese director Asoka Handagama, is notable because it is a Tamil-language film with broken Tamil Sega subtitles. Like many third world films, "Ini Avan" is a powerful experience for the audience. The film portrays the struggles of the Tamilian people and raises questions about whether it is exploitative to depict their survival. However, some of the scenes in the film are confusing and do not add much to the overall story. I had concerns about the film due to Handagama's previous work, "Take This Road" (2004). In a TV interview, Handagama stated that he has over 20 years of experience in the film industry. However, his responses to the audience during a panel discussion were inscrutable and seemed simplistic, particularly when addressing political questions from Tamil-speaking audience members. Handagama's answer to the question of why he made the film was simply that he is a filmmaker. However, the film feels like an emotional appeal to the rehabilitated community and does not adequately address certain issues, such as the challenges faced by a camp survivor trying to build a new life. Additionally, the phrase "just live as" seems to suggest that the Tamilian people should simply accept their circumstances, rather than striving for change. The film lacks depth in character development and ultimately fails to fully engage the audience. While "Ini Avan" has won awards, it is a dark portrayal of life in Sri Lanka and does not contribute to the country's art industry. The film touches on issues such as the "open economy" and "open peace plan," but does not address the underlying issues behind these concepts. It is unclear why Handagama chose to make this film and its screenplay and cinematography are lacking. In recent years, there has been a trend in "world cinema" towards heavy-handed cinematography that is more about style than substance. As a result, audiences are expected to sit and take notes during these films, rather than fully engaging with the story. This is not a satisfying experience for the viewers. "Ini Avan" is directed by Ashoka Handagama, who also wrote the screenplay. The film's cinematography is by Channa Deshapriya, with editing by Ajith Ramanayake. It is produced by Jagath Wellawatte and Anura Fernando. The cast includes Dharshan Dharmaraj, Subashini Balasubramanium, Niranjai Shanmugaraja, Raja Ganeshan, and Malcolm Machado.