“Raigam Deveni 1” – conforming to the sacred practices in the wondrous cinema creation “Kadira Divya Raja”

The indigenous, 75 year-old film industry is now confronted with a real challenge. It is a dilemma.  The creation of films locally similar to the sophisticated, imported films our audiences have got used to through social media, television and imported films, is a rarity. The reason for that is the lack of sufficient capital needed for producing audience-enrapturing creations and thereby earning enough revenue by achieving the box office targets enough at least to cover the expenditure in making the film.  In the absence of attractive films, there will be no audience drawn in. The making of attractive films will not be possible in the absence of enough spectators. The local film industry is stagnating in the face of this dilemma. The Indian Film Industry has been able to maintain the present high standards due to the stimulation provided by the tremendous amount of capital pumped in to this industry by the Indian Business Community. As a true Sri Lankan business entrepreneur, the Chairman of the Raigam Group of Companies, Dr. Ravi Liyanage is directing his entrepreneurial strength towards the film industry at this moment in time by presenting as a relief to the long –suffering local cinema audiences, “Kadira Divya Raja”, the creative result of Poet Laureate Professor Sunil Ariyarathna.

In the annals of celestial mythology, the only instance of a God marrying a human daughter is only regarding God Katharagama. The beauty who loved God Katharagama from her childhood days and by the virtue of her pure love, which made God Katharagama come to Katharagama  and marry her, was a maiden who grew up among the “Vedda” Community.   Their love story is indeed a most colorful one. You can see in this film the marriage between God Shiva and Parvathie, the birth of Prince Skanda, the defeat of the Asuras, the friendship between  Prince Skanda and Dutugemunu, the beginnings of the Katharagama  Devale and the meeting of God Ganadevi and a number of very enjoyable stories some of which you may have never heard of.

The entrepreneurial strength of the Kingdom of Raigam was harnessed for this benign project with the objective of improving the Raigam Deveni Batha to be “Raigam Deveni 1” 1, brand names that suit the theme of the film so very well, almost as a holy, merit-giving task of the Chairman.

Raigam Deveni Batha has been in the market for ten years, satisfying its loyal customers and receiving highest accolades. It also is a very special victory that no competitive product has appeared on the markets to rival it in superiority during its tenure as number one in the past ten years. Made only from 100% rice flour, from its inception, Raigam Deveni Batha has, on its outer wrapping, given a very clear challenge; that is, if anyone proves there is only 100% rice flour in, Raigam Deveni Batha, that person will be given a gift of One Million Sri Lankan Rupees. It is the promise to safe guard the trust of the consumer.

“Batha” is our sacred food.  Second only to rice, Raigam Deveni Batha, is an excellent food made from 100% indigenous rice, in the style of noodles, to suit the present trend.

It is our privilege and pleasure to announce that this very special occasion is also being used to introduce to the market, Raigam Deveni 1, a result of the non-stop endeavor of the Raigam Research and Development Team, which is the resultant new product of the improved Raigam Deveni Batha.  With this, Raigam Deveni 1 made from well-known white, red and rose Kekulu rice, a series of special new “Raigam Deveni 1” products from our traditional rice varieties and Bhasmatie rice, will be added to market place.

It has been named “Raigam Deveni” simply became it is second only to “bath”.

Further, it is indeed a pleasure to introduce to the market the product that satisfied customers under the name Deveni Batha, made 100% from rice and celebrating its’ 10^th birth anniversary, in its new brand name “Raigam Deveni 1”. Imbibed in the first part of its name “Deveni” to mean “second only to bath” and the numeral “1” to mean number one in the Sri Lankan market and also to denote the one and only rice noodle available in the local market, it is our belief  that consumers will find this product even more attractive.

“Raigam Deveni 1” is made 100% from the golden harvest of our rice. Our rice farmers cultivate rice and bring in the harvest in devout veneration. “Raigam Deveni 1” is a force and a blessing to these cultivators.

In many countries, God Katharagama is venerated and offerings made along with God Shiva and God Vishnu and people strive to receive their blessings. God Katharagama is very special to us in many ways. According to ancient chronicles, descending from his celestial abode, God Katharagama chose the village of Katharagama in Sri Lanka to be his place of dwelling. It is the wide spread belief among our people that God Katharagama ensures the harvest of the people is plentiful and helps them in their times of needs and sorrow. People of all religious beliefs without exception devotedly and with great piety seek the blessings of God Katharagama.

God Katharagama resides in the hearts of all of us and is very close to all of us like our staple food rice.

“Raigam Deveni 1”, prepared form our indigenous varieties of rice and the film made regarding God Katharagama are so very compatible that it was the primary reason for introducing both to our public at the same occasion. No doubt, “Raigam Deveni 1”, being a “Samma Kammantha” in every sense of the word, will receive the blessings of God Katharagama. Although there have been occasions when promotional advertising in Tele-dramas and films have proved to have improved their sales, this is the very first time a popular consumer item is directly contributing to a major cinema creation. It is a bonding for mutual benefit. This may be the beginning of products in the Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) category intervening to contribute to the development of the local cinema industry.

The production team of the cinema creation “Kadira Divya Raja”  has arranged for a draw whereby a winner will be chosen to receive free passes to view this cinematic master piece on the occasion of the its Premier. This will be restricted to the customers of Raigam Deveni 1. Anyone can enter this draw by purchasing a packet of Raigam Deveni 1 and sending the number given in the hand-bill by SMS to telephone no.070-7062 062. There will be a daily draw on week days and twelve chosen winners will receive two passes each to view “Kadira Divya Raja”  free of charge. This will be the biggest draw in the history of the Sri Lankan cinema and the draw will be conducted throughout period the film will be screened.

The two lead roles of the “Kadira Divya Raja” film are played by Indian Actor Samar Varmani and Indian Actress Sonakshi Sing Raven. Apart from these two, many experienced and versatile local actors and actresses have contributed their acting talent to this cinema creation.

Roshan Pilapitiya                                            Nilmini Thennakoon

Jagath Chamila                                                Charith Abeysinghe

Wasantha Wittachchi                                      Nadeepa Ranasinghe

Sarath Kothalawala                                         Dhananjaya Siriwardene

Vinu Udani Siriwardene                                 Harini Kavyanjanee

Ajith Shantha                                                  Samudi Jayasinghe

Wasantha Kumarawila                                    Shelton Kekulawala

Rajitha Rodrigue                                             Rangee Rajapaksa

Sampath Thennakoon

Many veterans in the field of cinema have contributed to make the cinema creation that is “Kadira Divya Raja”.

Camera Direction –                 Channa Deshapriya

Art Direction –                        Dhammika Hewaduwaththa

Production Management –      Nimal Wijesiri Senadheera

Editing –                                 Thissa Surendra

Combat Direction –                Sumudu Amalka

Visual Gimmicks –                  Chamath Paranavidana

Choreography Direction –      Sanka Abeysinghe

Clothes –                                 Wenuka Wickramarachchi

Make-up Artist –                     Priyantha Dissanayake

Hair Styles –                           Haroon Shayideen

Music Direction –                   Rohana Weerasinghe

Songs Sung by –                     Nirosha Wirajini, Raveen Kanishka

Assistant Director –                Wimal Deshapriya

Still Photography –                 Dhammika Pathirathne

Production Coordination –     A.D. Ranjith Kumara

Steady Cam Operator –          Steiner Adams

The Raigam Group of Companies expects the support of all media in taking the news of God Katharagama you have seen in your heart can now be seen with your own eyes in the cinema creation Kadira Divya Raja and of “Raigam Deveni 1”, made from 100% local rice varieties.