Nepal International Film Festival

Official Selection

South Asian Panorama

Pantrum

01:39:35|Sri Lanka

Director:

Nadie Wasalamudaliarachchi

Country:

Sri Lanka

Film Duration:

01:39:35

Language:

Sinhala, Tamil

Producer:

Sampath Chinthaka Gunawardena

Screenwriter:

Nadie Wasalamudaliarachchi

Cast:

Hemasiri Liyanage, Mayura Perera, Anasuya Subasinghe, Dilukshan Thirunakar, Akdev Liyanage, Pratheepan Tharmikan

Synopsis

Not only kings have tales to tell; even antlions have their own stories.This is the untold story of antlions.In this narrative, there is an old man, a mother, a father, and a son. The old man patiently awaits the people's uprising to overthrow a President who rose to power from a corrupt family, perpetuating widespread corruption throughout the nation.A child is born when a soldier rapes her at a time of conflict when law and order was abused. At a later stage, the raped woman turns into a suicide bomber. The child born as a consequence of the rape grows up to be a child soldier. After the war, overwhelmed by the trauma and unable to face society, he contemplates suicide. However, a chance encounter with his biological father alters his course. The film explores the ensuing conflict between the father, grappling with PTSD, and the son struggling to find his place post-war. Against the backdrop of post-war consequences and the anguish of mothers who have lost their children, the movie weaves together past and present, connecting a narrative spanning 2500 years with contemporary struggles. Through this, it offers a poignant reflection on the enduring impact of war and the journey toward reconciliation.

Nadie Wasalamudaliarachchi

Director

Nadie Wasalamudaliarachchi is a Sri Lankan author, filmmaker, journalist, political activist, and multidisciplinary artist. She is best known for her debut novel Wolfhandhal Street (2015), which was nominated for the prestigious Swarnapusthaka Award in 2016. A prominent voice in contemporary Sri Lankan literature and arts, Nadie’s work explores themes such as the subconscious, sexuality, and human rights. She is the author of six published books, spanning fiction, poetry, and essays, each reflecting her deep engagement with personal, cultural, and political themes. Nadie is also recognised as a pioneer television presenter in Sri Lanka’s popular culture scene, contributing to the evolution of contemporary media narratives through her distinctive presence and perspective. Her media and communications experience includes work as a television journalist and creative writer in the advertising industry. She has served on the Swarnapusthaka Award judging panel and was formerly a member of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) drama selection committee. A committed advocate for human rights and social justice, Nadie’s artistic repertoire extends to criticism and visual art, often produced in collaboration with other artists. Her latest venture, Pantrum, marks her directorial debut, establishing her as a bold new voice in independent cinema with a socially conscious and experimental approach.