Producer Jagath Sumathipala and Director Chandran Rutnam with Jeremy Irons, Varalaxmy
Sarathkumar, Vidushika Reddy and James Rutnam with moderator Savithri Rodrigo
Producer Jagath Sumathipala & Director Chandran Rutnam unveil a cross-continental
masterpiece starring Jeremy Irons and Varalaxmy Sarathkumar
In an unparalleled accomplishment for Sri Lanka’s film industry, award winning director
Chandran Rutnam collaborates with multi-award winning producer Jagath Sumathipala of
Sumathi Studios to immortalize the story of 17 year old Rizana Rafeek. Saudi Arabia beheaded
Rizana for allegedly killing a baby in her care in 2005 in a case widely condemned by rights
groups and it is this story that will be in the spotlight in the film, Rizana – A Caged Bird.
A noteworthy feature in Rizana – A Caged Bird – is that it steps into the international spotlight
given that it stars Academy Award winning British Actor Jeremy Irons and multi-award winning
South Asian actor who has acted in over sixty films, Varalaxmy Sarathkumar. Rutnam who is no
stranger to film industries around the world including Hollywood adds internationally acclaimed
James Rutnam into the formula as screenwriter. He also introduces emerging actor Vidushika
Reddy in the title role, a nuance that uplifts her career, given that she stars in a film with
globally acclaimed actors from both Hollywood and Bollywood.
Irons who won an Oscar for Best Actor in Reversal of Fortune and has won a Golden Globe,
Tony, Emmy, SAG and an Honorary César Award and a Premio Europa Per il Teatro, stars as Human
Rights Activist and former Attorney – Professor Julian Miles. Speaking at the title reveal he said,
“Working in Sri Lanka is a new experience for me and has added to my appreciation of how vibrant the
film industry is in this part of the world. The story of Rizana in itself, is a harrowing tale and I am happy
to be working with Director Chandran Rutnam to retell the tale and shed light on the disturbing
paradigm of capital punishment, which shouldn’t happen in the 21 st century.”
title reveal of Rizana
Rutnam, who has over 100 international films to his credit including collaborations with Hollywood
giants Stephen Spielberg, David Lean, Carol Reed, George Lucas, John Boorman and Régis Wargnier and
won awards for his films Witness to a Killing, Pilgrimage, The Road from Elephant Pass and A Common
Man is renowned as a director unafraid to delve deep into controversial subjects. “The story of Rizana
Nafeek affected me greatly and I felt that it was a story to be told,” he said. “This dream was made real
when I met Jagath Sumathipala by chance. By having internationally renowned actors in the film, I am
taking this message out to the world and hope that the story will resonate with people, prompting more
awareness on cases like these.”
For professionally trained ballet dancer turned actor who is fluent in six languages Varalaxmy
Sarathkumar who stars as dentist Dr Rani Chlevam, acting in a Sri Lankan film expands her scope of
already having 30 plus films in all South Indian languages. “I am thrilled to be working in Sri Lanka being
directed by one of the most extraordinary directors of our time Chandran Rutnam and acting alongside
one of my film idols, Jeremy Irons who I grew up watching,” she said. “Rizana’s story touched my soul on
many levels – and being an activist for women’s rights, the role of Rani resonates with what my
activism.”
Adding to this, screenwriter James Rutnam says, “Rizana Nafeek represents a human rights crisis
that still affects the world today. We hope that by telling her story and honouring her, we can
give her a voice so that she is not forgotten.”
In his welcome address, Chairman of Sumathi Holdings and producer of Rizana Jagath Sumathipala who
hails from a heritage of film that spans over fifty years, stated that, “Sumathi Studios is not just making
films. We are crafting milestones and that is why we have built this legacy of being the most awarded
production studio in national cinema.” With his father U W Sumathipala being the first to win an
international accolade at the Cairo Film Festival for Ahasin Polowata in 1977, Sumathipala recalls how
his mother Milina became one of the first female producers in the country to win a continuous number
of awards, placing Sumathi Studios on the pedestal of being the most awarded producer in Sri Lankan
history.
“We are now here to not just tell stories but to take them beyond our shores to a global audience,” he
said. “Sumathi Studios carries the saga of Sri Lankan cinema – from the trailblazing vision of my father
who laid the foundation for the industry, to the fearless innovation we have pursued in my stewardship
and to the next generation who step in now to take this legacy to the next level, this film is our ode to
the continuum of creativity.”
