"Angam" the movie featuring:

G. Karunapala
(Grand Master / Gurunnanse of Angampora – Founder of Mirihana Angam Maduwa) 

The guru, who has been living and breathing the traditional martial art Angampora well over half a century and now on a grand mission of making a bunch of knowledgeable and well behaved Angampora artists around the world. Guru Karunapala, now over 74 years of age is a true living example of a healthy traditional Sri Lankan martial artist. He will be taking you through the uniqueness of this art and showcasing some stunning demonstrations of his Angam skills.

Dr. Siran Upendra Deraniyagala
(Archeologist / Former Director General of Archeology Sri Lanka)

A renowned archeologist / scholar from University of Cambridge, London and Harvard, Dr. Deraniyagala was responsible for finding many historic data which made historians to re write the Sri Lankan and the world history.  He is the son of famous Dr. P.E.P Deraniyagala, who wrote a special segment about “Angampora” in his book “Sinhalaye Thrasajanaka Kreeda” (Sinhala combative, field and aquatic sports and games). Dr. Siran Deraiyagala will take you through some interesting facts about the history of Sri Lanka while the story of “Angam” unravels through the folk tales.

 

Dr. Riency Wickramasinghe
(Ayurvedic Doctor / Angampora Master)                        

A renowned Ayurvedic doctor and an Angampora master, who has been practicing together with Guru Karunapala over fifty years. He too has been involved in the mission of spreading this ancient art to the world along with his lifelong friend Kaunapala.  Dr. Riency has also contributed his wisdom about this art to this documentary.

Athula Nandana Perera
(Senior Student of Guru Karunapala)

Athula is one of the most senior students of Guru Karunapala who has been studying over 34 years. This simple and humble martial artist is also a self learned specialist of Sri Lankan history through folk tales and research. He will be sharing his knowledge on the origin of Angampora through the film.

Oliver Hermann
(Angampora Student / Teacher – Founder of German Angam Maduwa)

A dedicated champion martial artist and a researcher from Germany, who is an IT specialist by profession has finally made a stop at “Angampora” after decades of search as the answer to his inner quest. He now travels to Sri Lanka, dedicating his valuable time to learn from Guru Karunapala and share the wisdom with his fellow artists back in German and Switzerland. Oliver will be telling you how he fell in love with “Angampora” and his vision of taking this unique art to the world with the help of Guru Karunapala and his students.

Angam the movie - Trailer 1

About "Angam" the movie

“Angam” is a documentary film, exploring an ancient Sri Lankan martial art called “Angam” which is also known as “Angampora” in the popular culture.

The film will take you through an untold story of the origin of Angam, along with the evolution of Sri Lankans through traditional folk stories of locals and scientific findings of archeologists. It will also give you an overview of how Angam has survived up till today and what will be its' future.

The film unravels around one group who practices and teaches Angampora, headed by Guru Karunapala. Students of Guru have spread this unique martial art form in to far corners of the world, ensuring its' presence in the international arena.

Renowned archaeologist & former head of Archaeology Department of Sri Lanka, Dr. Shiran Deraniyagala, is featured in this film, contributing valuable  scientific findings on the origin of Sri Lankans.

“Angam” documentary film was produced under very tight or no financial backup and very limited technical resources. Though these factors resulted few limitations in terms of the scope of the film, the film makers have managed to achieve greater results with available resources. The entire project was filmed by an HD Panasonic camcorder and edited on home PC’s and Laptops. It was the film teams' high enthusiasm, the "never-say-die" attitude and every form of encouragement of our friends which enabled the near-impossible to be a reality and end up with an documentary film of this scale.
 

"Angam" the movie

©2010 Anjula Rasanga Weerasinghe / everanju Creations

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Making of "Angam" the movie

    Having a chat with the senior student Athula Nanadana Perera.

    Interviewing Thusitha, son of Guru Karunapala.

    Lalindra in action

   Guru Karunapala referring to ancient "Puskola poth"

    Anuradha through the third eye

    Piumal explaining the weapons

    Guru Karunapala giving a lesson on "Welayudaya"

    Tea time: Having a chat during a break

    Anuradha Jayasuriya and Anjula Rasanga

    Guru Karunapala teaching

    Dr. Riency Wickramasinghe demonstrating a "Gaman thala"

    Guru Karunapala demonstration "Ath sellam"

  

    Cinematographer, Director and the Editor together
    Anuradha  |  Anjula Rasanga   |  Amila Akalpa

    Interviewing Oliver the Sudu Kotiya

    Preparing for a take: Anuradha Jayasuriya, Lalindra Amarasekara and Anjula Rasanga

    Shooting an action scene: Anuradha, Lalindra and Eranga Hemajith

    Anjula Rasanga with the two masters

 

    Climbing down from "Batadomba len"  

 
     Anuradha Jayasuriya and Eranga Hemajith with Dr. Siran Deraniyagala

 

     Anuradha and Anjula Rasanga with Dr. Siran Deraniyagala

The team Angam: (From left) Oliver Herman, Athula Nandana, Piumal Chanaka, Amila Akalpa, Guru Karunapala, Anuradha Jayasuriya, Eranga Hemajith, Anjula Rasanga and Lalindra Amarasekara.

   "Angam" the movie

   ©2010 Anjula Rasanga Weerasinghe / everanju Creations
 

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