Sri Lankan filmmaker Prasanna Vithanage’s award-winning film Paradise is slated for Pan-India and worldwide release on 28th June 2024

~The film which won the prestigious Kim Jiseok Award for Best Film at the Busan Film Festival, stars Roshan Mathew (Darlings, Poachers, C U Soon) and Darshana Rajendran (Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey, Hridayam, C U Soon ) in the lead roles~

~Paradise is produced by Newton Cinema and presented by Mani Ratnam’s Madras Talkies~

Trailer Link – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mE7iZdfnQ7c&t=2s

~Paradise is ranked among the Top 10 Indian films in the last FIPRESCI India Grand Prix~

Goa Khabar:  Acclaimed Sri Lankan filmmaker Prasanna Vithanage’s latest international film Paradise which had its World Premiere at the Busan International Film Festival 2023, where it won the prestigious Kim Jiseok Award for Best Film, is set for a pan-India and worldwide release on 28th June 2024.

The film garnered multiple accolades at international film festivals and was ranked among the top 10 films in the FIPRESCI India Grand Prix 2023.

The languages spoken in the film are English, Malayalam, Tamil, Sinhala, and Hindi.

Paradise is produced by Newton Cinema and presented by Mani Ratnam’s Madras Talkies, marking their first collaboration.

Shot in Sri Lanka, Paradise narrates the vacation of a tourist couple, exploring their struggles with societal, personal, and internal challenges. Through their experiences, they unveil an objective truth about human nature.

The film features an impressive cast with Roshan Mathew and Darshana Rajendran in the lead roles, supported by Shyam Fernando and Mahendra Perera. The film’s illustrious crew includes Rajeev Ravi as the cinematographer, Sreekar Prasad as the editor, Tapas Nayak as the sound designer, and K as the music director.

Click here to watch the trailer –

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mE7iZdfnQ7c&t=2s

Filmmaker Prasanna Vithanage says, “Paradise is my first Indian film. This is, for the first time, a Sri Lankan director has a worldwide release. I want to thank Newton  Cinema for opening the world to me.”

Anto Chittilappilly, CEO of Newton Cinema says, “Paradise is a film that resonates with audiences worldwide. I fell in love with the script from the very first time I read it. It’s a great honor to produce a film of the master director, Prasanna Vithanage, and to work with such a talented cast and crew whose efforts made this film successful. Newton Cinema, a young production studio founded during the pandemic, is proud to have Paradise as our fourth project. We are deeply humbled by the accolades we have received so far including the Busan award, and the four nominations to Asian Film Awards. Paradise is a film that must be experienced in theaters to fully appreciate its exceptional audio-visual elements.”

Roshan Mathew, the lead actor of the film says, “I’m happy Paradise is releasing and looking forward to knowing the reaction from the audience. The experience of making this film was inspiring and challenging. I’m very grateful to Prasanna sir and the team of lovely, talented people that got together for Paradise. It’s the most diverse team I’ve been part of and a joy to work with.”

The lead actress of the film Darshana Rajendran says, “From the first time I read the script, I thought Amritha was a very challenging and exciting character because while she has very strong opinions, we rarely see her be vocal. So we get to know her less through her interactions and conversations with the others and more through her thoughts and her time alone. I felt like that would be a great space to occupy as an actor because I had to take the audience through the deep transformation that Amritha goes through in the film, but with very little words”

About Prasanna Vithanage:

Prasanna Vithanage, winner of over 35 international and national awards, is widely regarded as one of the most talented and influential filmmakers in South Asia. He is best known for his thought-provoking films that delve into social, political, and cultural issues. Vithanage holds the unique distinction of being the only filmmaker to win the NETPAC Best Filmmaker award five times. Beyond his achievements in cinema, he has been actively involved in human rights and peace initiatives.

About Newton Cinema: 

Newton Cinema tells extraordinary stories that challenge social norms and inspire positive change. By amplifying the voices of the marginalized, Newton Cinema fosters inclusivity, upholds humanity, and strives for a more peaceful world. Committed to sustainability, Newton Cinema promotes social, environmental, and economic transformations for the future. Newton Cinema’s previous films include Lalanna’s Song (Premiered in IFFLA, Los Angeles, 2022), Kiss (Premiered in NYIFF, New York in 2022) and Family (Premiered in IFFR in Rotterdam, 2023). Paradise and Family have been selected as two of the Top-10 Indian films by FIPRESCI-India Grand Prix 2023.

Accolades –

• Busan International Film Festival – Best Film winner – Kim Jiseok Award 2023

• 30th Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema – Prix Du Jury Lycéen 2024

• 23rd Las Palmas de Gran Canaria International Film Festival in Spain – Audience Jury Award

• Paradise has been selected among the top 10 films of the FIPRESCI India Grand Prix 2023

Nominations – 

• 17th Asian Film Awards – 4 Nominations – Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Editing

• New York Indian Film Festival 2024 – 3 Nominations – Best Director, Best Actor and Best Actress

The film has been screened at the following film festivals – 

• Busan International Film Festival (BIFF 2023) – World Premiere

• Mumbai International Film Festival (MAMI 2023) South Asian Premiere

• Vesoul International Film Festival (2024) – European Premiere

• Beijing International Film Festival (BJIFF 2024) – Chinese Premiere

• Asiatiska Film Festivalen (2024) – Swedish Premiere

• Las Palmas de Gran Canaria International Film Festival (2024) – Spanish Premiere

• Red Lotus Asian Film Festival Vienna – Austrian Premiere

• New York Indian Film Festival – (NYIFF 2024) – North American Premiere

• Sydney Film Festival (2024) – Australian Premiere

• Dharamsala International Film Festival (DIFF 2023)

• International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK 2023)

• Pune International Film Festival – (PIFF 2024)

• Bengaluru International Film Festival – (BIFFES 2024)

• Cinévesture International Film Festival (2024)

• Shanghai International Film Festival (2024)