Thattu Deke Iskole (; ), is a 2023 Sri Lankan Sinhala drama film directed by Lalith Rohitha Edirisinghe in his directorial debut and produced by Dr. Nishantha Prageeth Rodrigo. It stars Jagath Chamila and child actor Sudam Katukithule in lead roles along with Damitha Abeyratne, Manjula Kumari, Nayana Hettiarachchi and Priyantha Sirikumara in supportive roles.
The film received positive reviews especially from teachers, principals, committees, and review panels.
Plot
The film revolves around different stories in the village called Sooriyapaluwa isolated with malaria pandemic where security officer of the village school, Uncle Pala starts to teach the twelve village children among many obstacles.
Cast
Jagath Chamila as Uncle Sugathapala aka Pala
Damitha Abeyratne
Manjula Kumari
Nayana Hettiarachchi
Priyantha Sirikumara
Janak Premalal
Mauli Fernando
Firny Roshani
Nethalie Nanayakkara
Dahamsa Ekanayake
Imash Lakshan Vithana
Dulanya Ekanayake
Tharushi Suramya
Volga Kalpani
Sooriya Dayaruwan
Anuradha Edirisinghe
Anjali Liyanage
Shelton Kekunawela
Ayodhya Dakshika
Jayantha Wasala
Chamira Liyanage
Child cast
Sudam Katukithule as Banda
Theshali Dewmini Nakandala as Soma
Laknath Randeepa
Ravisha Divyanjali
Pahanya Tharudisi
Maheesha Nethara
Gaveesha Diwyanjalee Perera
Akash Krishan
Dulansa Saundhi
Pansilu Pavan
Imash Lakshan
Sahen Gunatillake
Niklesh Samarasekara
Nadeesha Malshani
Kaveesha Nethmini.
Production
The film "Bulletproof Children" made the maiden cinema direction of the journalist, writer, and teleplay script writer Lalith Rohitha Edirisinghe. It is directed by Dr. Nishantha Prageeth Rodrigo who is working at Ragama Teaching Hospital. All the children acting in the film are newcomers except Sudam Katukithule, who previously acted in the film Madhura Charika.
Pravin Jayaratne is the editor, and Suneth Nandalal is the art director. Uhan Ovita made the makeup whereas Upul Wasantha handled production management and Jayantha Abeyratne is the assistant director. Visual Effects done by Siddhartha Nayanananda, Shan Alwis is the coloris and Dulip Priyantha made still photography. Nilantha Kannangara and Tharaka Kariyawasam are the film coordinators.
The shooting of the film started in January 2020. Production process completed in 2021 and scheduled to screen in May, 2020. However, it was delayed indefinitely due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Screening
The film was scheduled to screen in 24 cities in Australia and New Zealand in August, 2021 by “Mega Live Events” Company. However, the screening was postponed in New Zealand.
The film was released on 17 February 2023 in MPI circuit cinemas around the country.