First Phase of Editing Begins in India

Director Prasanna Vithanage is currently in Chennai, editing the "Akasa Kusum" sequences already shot. He is working with one of India's most experienced and prominent film editors, A. Sreekar Prasad (Mani Ratnam's "Kannathil Muththumital," Ketan Mehta's "Mangal Pandey"), with whom he previously collaborated on "Ira Madiyama." Prasad also serves as one of the film's co-producers.
Vithanage will return to Sri Lanka following the preliminary editing process to dub the sequences he has completed, following which he will launch on to the third and final shooting schedule on the film in March. The sequences to be lensed include some of the film's most crucial scenes, set in the sprawling house occupied by the forgotten Sandhya Rani (Malani Fonseka). Fonseka is currently on a month-long tour of the US, and will return to Sri Lanka in time for filming. Also slated to appear in the film are Jayani Senanayake, Damayanthi Fonseka and an appearance by popular star Anarkalli Akarsha.

"Akasa Kusum" Completes Second Shooting Schedule

Director Prasanna Vithanage and his crew successfully completed schedule two on 'Akasa Kusum' on Tuesday, with photography taking place in Nugegoda town and at the Stace Watta slum dwellings. The shooting schedule for the film remains on track, with all the necessary sequences being lensed in the given time frame.
Nimmi Harasgama and Samanali Fonseka played Priya and Bunty, who move into a small house in a thickly populated area. Their relationship is developed further in those scenes, which were of a highly charged, emotional nature.
Shooting began at 7 a.m. in Nugegoda and ended by approximately 8 p.m. in Stace Watta. The third and final schedule is set to begin on 5 March, and will comprise the bulk of the film's sequences, featuring Malani Fonseka as Sandhya Rani and Dilhani Asokamala as Shalika. Damayanthi Fonseka also plays a supporting role as Rani's sister, while Jayani Senanayake plays her faithful maid.

Respected English Theatre Vet Cameos in "Akasa Kusum"

Veteran English theatre actor, producer, designer, choreographer and director Jerome de Silva made a rare foray into film acting today, taking a small cameo in "Akasa Kusum." De Silva, currently working on a production of Alan Parker's 'Bugsy Malone' with his Workshop Players' junior group, took time off rehearsals to play a doctor confronting Priya (Nimmi Harasgama) with shocking news. Director Prasanna Vithanage directed de Silva in a subtle performance, giving onus to nuance and internalization rather than open confrontation in two short but sensitive scenes. Despite nearly three decades of being on the stage, this is de Silva's first role in a film. Also shot today were further hospital scenes, bringing to an end to these sequences in the film.
On the previous day, more hospital sequences featuring Priya and two scenes on the rooftop of the karaoke lounge Priya works in were filmed. One sequence featured Priya alone, while another emotional scene had Priya and Bunty (Samanali Fonseka) facing a tough life decision.
The second in the film's three staggered shooting schedules nears completion with one more day of shooting in the Stace Watta slums. The crew takes a six week breather following that to come back to a bulk of the schedule in March.

Akasa Kusum in Hospital, Dorm

The first of three hospital scenes in "Akasa Kusum" was shot at Kamkaru Sevana in Ratmalana on Friday. A room at the social service and arts center hall was convincingly converted into an abortion hospital and a girls' dormitory for the two sequences lensed today. The first of the scenes took place in an overcrowded girls' dormitory where Priya stays with the other karaoke hostesses, cramped together in too few beds. The scene emphasizes the friendship between Bunty (Samanali Fonseka) and Priya, while highlighting the squalid conditions in which the karaoke workers live.
Following this sequence, which took a whole morning to shoot, the abortion hospital sequence was put on celluloid with cast and crew working till 11 p.m. This scene featured Priya, Bunty and a host of extras. Two more hospital scenes are on the cards, with three more days left on the film's second schedule. This schedule would serve to complete 95% of Harasgama's scenes in the movie. The next day (Saturday) would see the crew first picking up on a previous scene, with Priya bursting out onto a rooftop and Priya and Bunty in an emotional scene at the same venue. Another hospital scene featuring Priya is also on schedule for Saturday.

The Last Long Night

"Akasa Kusum" dug in on its final overnight shoot on schedule #2, with the crew and cast working into Wednesday morning, as the night club sequences were finished, and a fresh scene just outside the club was filmed.
The night's shoot was notable as it consisted the only scene in which all three of the film's main stars, Malani Fonseka, Dilhani Asokamala and Nimmi Harasgama appear. In the scene, Sandhya (Fonseka) and Shalika (Asokamala) encounter Priya (Harasgama) in the shady night spot Priya works at. Also in the scene is Bunty, played by Samanali Fonseka.
The crack of dawn sequence shot early Wednesday had Sandhya and Shalika looking for Priya, only to have a karaoke hostess tell them she has no idea what they're talking about.
The film will continue shooting for five more days, following which photography will commence in March following a six week hiatus.