• A look at the resounding success of ‘Kathuru Mithuru’

Basuru Siriwardana

Sri Lankan cinema has a rich history of producing Sinhala comedy films that resonate with the local audience. A recent addition to this genre is Giriraj Kaushalya’s ‘Kathuru Mithuru,’ a film that has taken the country by storm since its recent release. Produced by Basuru Siriwardana for Alankulama Films, ‘Kathuru Mithuru’ is a shining example of how a well-crafted comedy can thrive even in the face of economic crises. 

Speaking to The Sunday Morning Brunch, ‘Kathuru Mithuru’ Producer Basuru shared his thoughts on how one marketed a comedy film to an audience undergoing rather difficult times, as well as on the Sri Lankan film industry and where it was headed. 

The producer’s formula for success

Giriraj Kaushalya’s ‘Kathuru Mithuru’ has emerged as a frontrunner in the realm of Sri Lankan Sinhala comedy films. Released in 2023, the film has quickly become a mega hit, illuminating the resilience of Sri Lankan audiences. It underscores a vital fact: Sri Lankan cinema is far from being in decline, as long as the quality of the content meets the audience’s expectations.

According to Basuru, the key to creating a hit comedy film for Sri Lankans is a straightforward formula. It begins with collaborating with the right individuals, including a director like Giriraj Kaushalya, renowned for his successful comedy flicks such as ‘Sikuru Hathe’ and ‘Suhada Koka,’ both of which continue to be fondly remembered despite being released in 2007 and 2015, respectively.

Once the right people are in place, the role of a producer, according to Basuru, revolves around making the correct investments; knowing where to allocate resources to ensure that Giriraj’s meticulously-crafted film garnered the attention it deserved was paramount. When these two aspects align, the path to success becomes significantly smoother.

Basuru acknowledged the impact of the country’s context and the mindset of its population on the release and success of a film. 

He said: “The film, despite having been long since completed, took five years to be released into theatres because we first experienced the Easter Sunday bombings, then Covid where people simply could not visit the theatres, and then the fuel crisis which posed a physical obstacle for people to reach theatres. Finally, despite a severe economic crisis, the film is in theatres and we saw audiences coming in droves to enjoy a well-made comedy film.”

He shared that this was a very telling experience: “Of course, there were concerns given the economic crisis. However, we learned that if there are no physical barriers preventing people from going to the theatre, then, especially during times of crisis, people will opt to go to the movies and enjoy a film, especially a comedy film they can watch with their entire family.”

He stressed that without insurmountable physical barriers preventing people from attending theatres, they were inclined to seek solace and entertainment in the form of cinema, especially in times of crisis. The appeal of a well-made comedy film, one that can be enjoyed by the entire family, remains intact.

Basuru noted that in terms of challenges, another major obstacle had arisen when scouting for locations. “Giriraj was concerned about authenticity. He is a filmmaker who combines dramatic elements with his comedy – it is not a film made to be silly for the sake of it – and he has a story to tell. We were therefore scouting for a location to give the story its intended ambience,” he said, noting that they had struggled to find the perfect village for the story. 

“We needed to find an old school traditional tailor shop and a barber shop for our two protagonists, but we kept running into a wall, because whenever we found the perfect village it simply did not even have a structure or shop for us to base our concept on, so we had to build it from scratch. It was a considerable expense but one that paid off, I think, in the end. We ended up basing the film in a village in Mawanella in the middle of a rubber estate,” he said. 

The director’s creative process

Director Giriraj Kaushalya places the utmost importance on the script when crafting a comedy film. During the production of ‘Kathuru Mithuru,’ he initially focused on perfecting the script. He emphasised the need for multiple readings and seeking feedback from individuals from all walks of life, including his family, children, and friends, in order to gauge the script’s ability to evoke laughter.

Once the script is perfected, the casting process and finalising the cast could make or break a film, Giriraj asserted. He tends to rely on veteran performers, as is evident in the cast of ‘Kathuru Mithuru,’ with the late Jayalath Manoratne and Mahendra Perera in the lead roles and Rodney Warnakula and Priyantha Seneviratne in supporting roles. These seasoned actors possess the ability to truly embody well-written characters, thereby adding depth to the film’s narrative.

Furthermore, Giriraj underscored the importance of assembling a skilled team, especially in the domains of scoring and cinematography, to ensure the film’s visual and auditory excellence.

He also echoed Basuru’s sentiments, noting that the producer stepped in after the final cut and adopted an important role where they considered the country’s context – essentially reading people’s minds, finding out who will consume this content, and finding a way to generate profit. 

“After all, this is a profit-making entity. Of course we want to entertain people, but we have to make a successful product that people want to consume,” he said. 

Finally, Giriraj noted that when it came to comedy, it was ultimately a matter of individual taste. “You cannot judge an audience – they like what they like, and that’s that. It really is dependent on your upbringing, surroundings, interactions, education, etc. For instance, some are very responsive to fart jokes and jokes about nudity, etc. 

“However, when you make a film, you want to appeal to a mass audience, and that means a film that the whole family can enjoy. That’s what we’ve done here – we’ve made a family film, which simply makes sense on paper,” he said, noting that the goal had been to create a family-friendly comedy that could resonate with a broad audience. This approach is also economically sound, as a family of five attending a screening results in more tickets being sold.

The state of the Sri Lankan film industry

On a closing note, Basuru reflected on the state of the Sri Lankan film industry and its relationship with comedy films. He contended that Sri Lankan audiences were eager to support quality productions, but often found themselves starved for such content. The industry lacks the unity needed to maximise its potential, despite healthy competition. Basuru believes that enhanced communication and collaboration among industry stakeholders could accelerate its growth.

Sri Lanka’s film industry remains dynamic, with a ready audience for good films. The success of ‘Kathuru Mithuru’ stands as a testament to the enduring appeal of Sinhala comedy films, proving that even during challenging times, people are willing to embrace well-crafted content.

Despite the obstacles, Basuru expressed his satisfaction in producing a film that brought laughter to an audience currently facing unfortunate circumstances. Sri Lanka continues to be a driving force in the film industry, poised to welcome and appreciate quality films, as long as they meet the expectations of a discerning audience.