# Ho Gaana Pokuna

Ho Gana Pokuna (The Singing Pond) (Sinhala: හෝ ගානා පොකුණ) is a 2015 Sri Lankan children's musical drama film written and directed by Indika Ferdinando. It depicts a teacher in a remote village, Uma (Anasuya Subasinghe), teaching her students to focus on something they have never seen before.
The film was awarded the Teacher's Choice Prize at the 31st Chicago International Children's Film Festival, Best Feature Film at the 38th Lucas International Children's Festival, and the City of Zlin Award at the 55th Zlín Film Festival. It had its world premiere at the Shanghai International Film Festival and was designated as the official selection at the Hanoi International Film Festival.

## Plot

A new teacher, Uma (Anasuya Subasinghe), arrives at a school with her first appointment in a remote village near Dambulla in Sri Lanka. The school has few students, with only the principal (Lucian Bulathsinghala) and Uma as the teacher. With the help of Uma the pupils gradually start to dream of bigger things than they ever imagined.
One day Upuli, a blind girl, shares her unseen dream with school friends Sukiri and Ukkun. It gradually becomes the dream throughout the village. The children and Uma encounter perils in their venture to realise this dream. The children of the school start to focus on something they have never seen before. This target gives rise to a small revolution.

## Film crew

The movie was directed by Indika Ferdinando. It was produced by Kusumsiri Liyanarachi, Yashodara Sarachchandra, Dayananda Liyanarachi, Shyama Athukorala, Bimal Fernando, Nirosha Fernando, and Geetha Muthumala. Principal photography was undertaken by Channa Deshapriya and editing by Thissa Surendra.

## Cast

* Anusuya Subasinghe as Uma
* Lucien Bulathsinhala as School principal
* Jayalath Manoratne as Bus driver Justin
* Dayadewa Edirisinghe as Gramasevaka
* Jayani Senanayake as Chithra, Gramasevaka's wife
* Hyacinth Wijeratne as Principal's wife
* Senat Dikkumbura as Mudalali
* Geetha Kanthi Jayakody as Justin's wife
* Ama Wijesekera as Tailor woman
* Jagath Chamila as Madhuwantha, Uma's lover (only voice)
* D.B. Gangodathenna as Kiri Aththa
* Chathuranga Wijethunga
* Senaka Titus as Sudu Banda
* Ananda Kumara Unnehe as Farmer
* Wasantha Muhandiram as Pushpakumara

### Child actors

* Thishakya Kumaratunga
* Anjali Methsara as Blind girl
* Sathsara Jayasuriya
* Nethpriya Manubhashitha
* Senith Valpotagamage
* Sethika Gunasinghe
* Nihansa Dissanayake
* Vinod Saleem
* Udara Perera
* Wasana Pathirana
* Kimuthu Liyanaarchchi
* Maleesha Muthuarachchi
* Nileesha Dinethmi
* Vishmi Sathsarani
* Deshan Abeweera
* Navoda Hansini
* Vinumi Vinsadi
* Nesta Maneth

## Musical score

The film's score and songs were composed and conducted by Dinesh Subasinghe. Vocals for the theme song, "Rata Pena Kiri Haawa", were provided by Thrishala Wijethunga with background vocals by Dewmini Fernando, Dinith Ridhmika, Banuka Senivirathna and Nishami Naizara.

### Sound track

The sound track of the movie was released on M Entertainment music. The musical score has been admired by the Hanoi film jury and Chicago media journalists. The soundtrack was recorded by Rajeewa Jayawickrama and finalised by Shashika Ruwan Maarasinghe in Chennai.

## Awards and nominations
### International Awards

| Year | Film Festival | Country | Category | Result |
| 2015 | 31st Chicago International Children's Film Festival | U.S. | Special Jury award (Teacher's Choice) | Won |
| 2015 | 55th Zlín Film Festival | Czech Republic | City of Zlin Award, | Won |
| 2015 | 38th Lucas International Children's Film Festival | Germany | Best Feature film award | Won |
| 2016 | SAARC Film Festival | SAARC countries | *Best Screenplay-Indika Ferdinando *Best Editor-Tissa Surendra | Won |

### Awards in Sri Lankan Film Festivals
#### 4th Derana Sunsilk Film Awards 2016

Ho Gana Pokuna movie has got nine nominations & won six awards at the 4th Derana Sunsilk Film Awards 2016 at Nelum pokuna Thearter on 14 May 2016.
| Category | Artist | Result |
| Best Original Score | Dinesh Subasinghe | Won |
| Best Supporting Actor | Jayalath Manoratne | Won |
| Most Popular Film Song | Dinesh Subasinghe | Won |
| Best Direction | Indika Ferdinando | Nominated |
| Best Screen Play | Indika Ferdinando | Nominated |
| Best Art Director | Manjula Ayagama | Nominated |
| Best Actor in a Negative Role | Dayadeva Edirisinghe | Nominated |
| Best Actress in a Supporting Role | Jayani Senanayake | Nominated |
| Best Movie & Most Popular Movie | Indika Ferdinando,Kusum Siri Liyanarachi,Yashodara Sarathchandra,Sunil T Fernando,Bimal Fernando& Ananda Liyanarachi | Won |
Jury Awards
* Special award for Anasuya Subasinghe.
* Highest Grossing Movie

#### 2nd Hiru Golden Film Awards 2016

| Category | Artist | Result |
| Most Popular Film Song | Dinesh Subasinghe | Won |
| Best Editing | Tissa Surendra | Won |
| Best Sound Designing | Sasika Ruwan Marasinghe | Nominated |
| Best Comic Role | Jayalath Manoratne | Won |
| Best Original Score | Dinesh Subasinghe | Nominated |
| Best Movie Song | Dinesh Subasinghe | Nominated |
| Most Popular Child Star | Thishakya Kumarathunga | Won |
| Most Promising director | Indika Ferdinando | Nominated |
| Best Negative Role | Daya Deva Edhirisinghe | Won |
| Best Screen Play | Indika Ferdinando | Nominated |
| Best Movie | Indika Ferdinando,Kusum Siri Liyanarachi,Yashodara Sarathchandra,Sunil T Fernando,Bimal Fernando& Ananda Liyanarachi | Won |
Jury Awards
* Special Award for Anjali Wickramasinghe

#### 36th SIGNIS Awards (OCIC) 2016

| Category | Artist | Result |
| Best Editing | Tissa Surendra | Won |
| Best Sound Designing | Sasika Ruwan Marasinghe | Won |
| Best Original Score | Dinesh Subasinghe | Won |
| Best Supporting Role | Jayalath Manoratne | Won |
| Best Supporting Role | Dayadeva Edirisinghe | Nominated |
| Best Actress | Anasuya Subasinghe | Nominated |
| Best Director | Indika Ferdinando | Won |
| Best Screen Play | Indika Ferdinando | Won |
| Best Movie | Indika Ferdinando,Kusum Siri Liyanarachi,Yashodara Sarathchandra,Sunil T Fernando,Bimal Fernando& Ananda Liyanarachi | Won |
Jury Awards
* Special Award for Anjali Wickramasinghe

#### 33rd Sarasaviya Awards

| Category | Artist | Result |
| Most Promising Actress | Anasuya Subasinghe | Won |
| Best Supporting Actor | Jayalath Manoratne | Won |
| Best Original Score | Dinesh Subasinghe | Nominated |
| Best lyricist | indika Ferdinando,Kusumsiri Liyanarachi | Nominated |
| Best Cinematography | Channa Deshapriya | Nominated |
| Best Sound Designing | Sasika Ruwan Marasinghe | Nominated |
| Best Director | Indika Ferdinando | Nominated |
| Best Screen Play | Indika Ferdinando | Nominated |
| Best Movie | Indika Ferdinando,Kusum Siri Liyanarachi,Yashodara Sarathchandra,Sunil T Fernando,Bimal Fernando& Ananda Liyanarachi | Nominated |
* Jury Merit Awards
* Dinesh Subasinghe
* Thisakya Kumaratunge

#### Presidential Film Awards 2017

| Category | Artist | Result |
| Best Art director | Manjula Ayagama | Won |
| Best Film Song | Dinesh Subasinghe | Won |
| Best Original Score | Dinesh Subasinghe | Nominated |
| Best Supporting Actor | Jayalath Manoratne | Won |
| best Upcoming Actress | Anasuya Subasinghe | Won |
* Jury Merit Awards
* Thishakya Sankalana Kumarathunga
* Senith Sathwiru Walpitagamage
* Sathsara Sawan Jayasooriya
* Senitha Dinith Gunasinhe
* Nethpriya Madhubhashitha Ranawakarachchige

## Box office

The film completed 100 days and went up to 147 days until the release date of movie Paththini. It was a huge box office success in Sri Lanka and won the Highest Grossing movie Award at the 4th Derana Sunsilk Film Festival. The film was recorded as the first Sri Lankan movie to be released in Blu-Ray technology.