Nattami Army

Nattami Army (The Laborer Army) (නාට්ටාමි ආමි) is a 2023 Sri Lankan Sinhalese language drama film directed by Devinda Kongahage and co-produced by Indika Wimalaratne and Upul Dharmasena for Kaputa Cinema in collaboration with Kaputa TV. It stars Amiththa Weerasinghe in lead role along with Jayani Senanayake, Kumudu Nishantha, Sanath Wimalasiri and Mihira Sirithilaka in supportive roles. The film is based on a sociological research on laborers in Sri Lanka.

The film was released on 14 December 2023 in EAP Theatres during the "Savoy Cinema Festival 2023".

Cast

 * Naveen Pramod as Sadew
 * Amiththa Weerasinghe as Cyril, Head nattmi
 * Jayani Senanayake as Kanthi, Sadew's mother
 * Kumudu Nishantha as Dagee
 * Sanath Wimalasiri as Surā
 * Mihira Sirithilaka as Sarā
 * Mariam Wijeratne as Sumedha, Cyril's wife
 * Sanath Gunathilake
 * Lakshan Wattuheva as Doctor
 * Wajira Kodithuwakku as Anton
 * Senevi Situbandara
 * Gunadasa Pathiranage
 * Kanchana Ratnayake
 * Tharaka Nandun Jayatissa
 * Ranga Jayakody
 * Vipula Abeydheera
 * Suranga Hikkaduwa
 * Priya Karunaratne
 * Salitha Dharmasena
 * Prasad Jayaratne

Production
The film marks third cinema direction of Devinda Kongahage, who previously directed Bhavatharana in 2021 and Girivassipura, which is yet to screen. He also contributed with the concept, screenplay, cinematography, lyrics and production design. Executive production done by Gamini Pathiranage, product management by Hiran Abeywickrama, Mahesh Wanigasuriya, with the support of Pulina Gunathilake, Amila Fernando. Nayani Siriwardena, Sarath Gunathilake, and Nilantha Thennakoon made production coordination. Pasindu Kaushalya involved as cinematographer along with the director and Randika Nadeeshan Wijemanna made the editing and color combination.

Feature composition handled by Ranga Jayakody, Madhusanka Dissanayake and Narada Thotagamuwa. Art director is Roshan Perera with the assistance of Ruwan Hasaranga, Kapila Gunasekara, and Gemunu Jeevantha. Costume designer is Leslie Weerasinghe. Devika Kumari, Sanduni Jayapathma and Ganenda Kongahage involved as assistant directors. Meanwhile, Sashin Jum Perera handled sound administration, Mihai Isuru with photography, Kavitha Salgado with computer graphic designing. Ganenda Konagahage made dance composition, Thanushka Kahandala made external sounds combination.

Popular musician Ranga Dasanayake made the background music, with Bibiladeniye Mahanama Thero, who contributed with background music direction and lyrics. Theme music song was sung by Nimantha Heshan Gamage and Omiru Sandhira, whereas Asith Athapattu, Nelka Thilini, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Nanduni Thamadara, Anarkali Vishwalekha and Rajintha Sathsara made background vocals. Thanushka Kahandawala, and Avishka Rathmal made sound recording and mixing with the Miyuru Sangeeth as sound recording technician.

Social service
For the first time in the history of Sri Lankan cinema, a series of social programs titled "Cinamāven Neth Pǣdīma" (Eye-opening from the Cinema) based on a film were carried out island-wide. In association with Sri Lanka Eye Donation Society, the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka and the Environmental Protection Division of the Western Province of the Sri Lanka Police, the film crew joined to a social service on 6 August 2023 from 08.00 am to 03.00 pm. The main aim of the program was to uplifting the social aspect of laborers. On 6th, laborers and their family members from Kalutara, Wadduwa, Panadura and Colombo were participated in this social care program. In the meantime, spectacles and lenses were provided for five hundred laborers. Scholarships were awarded for the selected children of those families and special social awareness program was conducted by the police department.

Later in the day, laborers and their families had the opportunity to watch the special screening of the film for free, where a large screen was built at the Gunasinghapura Municipal Stadium in Pettah.

The second program was in Aralaganwila area in November 2023, whereas Siyambalanduwa and Kandy areas are selected as the third program in the social service.