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{{short description|2023 drama film by Prasanna Vithanage}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Paradise
| image = Paradise 2023 film poster.jpg
| caption = First look poster
| native_name =
| director = [[Prasanna Vithanage]]
| writer = Prasanna Vithanage
| screenplay = Anushka Senanayake
| based_on =
| producer = [[Newton Cinema]]<br /> [[Mani Ratnam]]<br />[[Siva Ananth]]
| starring = {{Plainlist|
* [[Roshan Mathew]]
* [[Darshana Rajendran]]
* [[Shyam Fernando]]}}
| cinematography = [[Rajeev Ravi]]
| editing = [[A. Sreekar Prasad]]
| music = [[K (composer)|K]]
| studio = {{Plainlist|
* [[Newton Cinema]]
* [[Madras Talkies]]}}
| distributor =
| released = {{Film date|df=y|2023|10|07|Busan|2024|06|28|}}
| runtime = 95 minutes
| country = {{Plainlist|
* Sri Lanka
* India }}
| language = {{Plainlist|
* [[English language|English]]
* [[Sinhala language|Sinhala]]
* [[Malayalam]]
* [[Tamil language|Tamil]]}}
| gross =
}}

'''''Paradise''''' is a 2024 Sri Lankan-Indian co-produced [[drama film]], co-written and directed by [[Prasanna Vithanage]]. The film is presented by [[Mani Ratnam]] and [[Siva Ananth]] under the [[Madras Talkies]] banner and produced by [[Newton Cinema]]. It stars [[Roshan Mathew]], [[Darshana Rajendran]], [[Shyam Fernando]] and [[Mahendra Perera]] and tells the story of a married couple whose anniversary vacation goes awry in Sri Lanka.<ref>{{Cite news |date=7 November 2023 |title=Paradise review: A marriage is put to test in Prasanna Vithanage's tightly controlled drama |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/others/paradise-review-a-marriage-is-put-to-test-in-prasanna-vithanages-tightly-controlled-drama-101699327031431.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250319064652/https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/others/paradise-review-a-marriage-is-put-to-test-in-prasanna-vithanages-tightly-controlled-drama-101699327031431.html |archive-date=19 March 2025 |access-date=18 June 2025 |work=Hindustan Times |language=en-us |url-status=live }}</ref>

''Paradise'' had its world premiere at the [[28th Busan International Film Festival]] on 7 October 2023, where it won the [[Kim Jiseok Award]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=14 October 2023 |title=Prasanna Vithanage's film wins the Kim Jiseok Award |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/prasanna-vithanages-film-wins-the-kim-jiseok-award/articleshow/104417093.cms |access-date=18 June 2025 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

==Synopsis==

An Indian tourist couple arrives in the hill country of [[2022 Sri Lankan political crisis|crisis]]-ridden [[Sri Lanka]] to celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary. As events take an unexpected turn conflicts deepen, revealing cracks in their relationship.

==Cast==

* [[Roshan Mathew]] as Kesav
* [[Darshana Rajendran]] as Amritha
* [[Shyam Fernando]] as Mr. Andrew (Tour Guide)
* [[Mahendra Perera]] as Sergeant Bandara
* Sumith Ilango as Shree
* Azher Samsoodeen as Iqbal
* Neeraja Rajendran as Amritha's Mother

==Release==

''Paradise'' had its world premiere at the [[28th Busan International Film Festival]] on 7 October 2023 where it won the Kim Jiseok Award.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dhar |first=Debanjan |date=15 November 2023 |title=Sri Lanka's Prasanna Vithanage Interview: 'When Something Goes Wrong, It's Women Who Are Made to Bear the Brunt' |url=https://www.highonfilms.com/prasanna-vithanage-paradise-interview/ |access-date=18 June 2025 |website=High On Films |language=en-US}}</ref>

The film was screened at the [[Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image|Mumbai Film Festival]] in the “Icons: South Asia” section on 29 October 2023 for its South Asia premiere.<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 October 2023 |title='My task is to seek the truth about society as well as myself': Sri Lankan writer-director Prasanna Vithanage |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/express-sunday-eye/paradise-director-prasanna-vithanage-interview-9003112/ |access-date=18 June 2025 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

''Paradise'' had its European premiere at the 30th [[Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema|Vesoul International Film Festival]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Laurine |title=Paradise - Festival des Cinémas d'Asie de Vesoul |url=https://archives.cinemas-asie.com/en/archives-en/item/5990-paradise.html |access-date=18 June 2025 |website=archives.cinemas-asie.com |language=fr-fr}}</ref> 2024. Subsequent premieres included the [[Beijing International Film Festival]]<ref>{{Cite web |title='Paradise' parades the globe |url=https://www.sundaytimes.lk/240630/magazine/paradise-parades-the-globe-562085.html |access-date=18 June 2025 |website=Print Edition - The Sunday Times, Sri Lanka}}</ref> in China, the Red Lotus Asian Film Festival in Austria, and the Asiatiska Film Festival 2024 in Sweden.

The North American premiere took place at the [[New York Indian Film Festival]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sarkar |first=Vaaswat |date=11 June 2024 |title='Paradise' Is A Film That Tests A Marriage Amidst Sri Lanka's Eco-Political Crisis |url=https://homegrown.co.in/homegrown-creators/paradise-is-a-film-that-tests-a-marriage-amidst-sri-lankas-eco-political-crisis |access-date=18 June 2025 |website=Homegrown |language=en}}</ref> 2024 and the Australian premiere occurred at the [[Sydney Film Festival]] 2024.

''Paradise'' was featured in the “Features” section of the [[71st Sydney Film Festival]] on 13 June 2024.

The film was released in theatres worldwide on 28 June 2024 and is now available on streaming platforms including [[Amazon Prime Video|Prime Video]], [[ManoramaMAX|Manorama Max]] and Simply South.

=== Festival appearances ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Year
!Festival
|-
| rowspan="4" |2023
|[[Busan International Film Festival]]
|-
|[[Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image]] (MAMI)
|-
|[[International Film Festival of Kerala]]
|-
|[[Dharamshala International Film Festival]]
|-
| rowspan="16" |2024
|[[Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema|Vesoul International Film Festival]]
|-
|[[Bengaluru International Film Festival]]
|-
|[[Las Palmas de Gran Canaria International Film Festival]]
|-
|[[Pune International Film Festival]]
|-
|[[Shanghai International Film Festival]]
|-
|[[Beijing International Film Festival]]
|-
|[[New York Indian Film Festival]]
|-
|[[Sydney Film Festival]]
|-
|Cinevesture International Film Festival
|-
|Indo German Film Week Festival
|-
|[[Indian Film Festival of Melbourne]]
|-
|Red Lotus Asian Film Festival
|-
|Asiatiska Film Festivalen
|-
|XVII International Film Festival Orenburg
|-
|Kazan International Film Festival
|-
|7th Ha Noi International Film Festival
|}

==Reception==

{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|score=100|count=8|average=7.6|ref=yes}}

Lee Marshall reviewing for [[ScreenDaily]] at Busan wrote, "Moving through the narrative with admirable dexterity, despite some contrived passages, it's a well-made drama buoyed up by a raft of fine performances.<ref>{{cite web |last=Marshall |first=Lee |date=2023-10-13 |title='Paradise': Busan Review |url=https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/paradise-busan-review/5186860.article |access-date=2025-06-18 |website=Screen}}</ref>"

[[Saibal Chatterjee]] reviewing for [[NDTV]] rated the film 4.5/5 and wrote, "Unswerving in its grasp of both philosophy and psychology, Prasanna Vithanage's Paradise is a masterly evocation of the frailty of 'man' when faced with a crisis.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Paradise Review: Beautifully Realised Drama Is Beyond Masterful |url=https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/paradise-review-beautifully-realised-drama-is-beyond-masterful-4-5-stars-4526848 |access-date=2025-06-18 |publisher=NDTV |language=en}}</ref>"

[[Santanu Das]] reviewing for ''[[Hindustan Times]]'' dubbed the film as "a stirring, important piece of work" and wrote, "As the drama inches its way closer to that shocking denouement, ''Paradise'' grapples to interrogate questions around politics and the state.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-11-07 |title=Paradise review: A marriage is put to test in Prasanna Vithanage's tightly controlled drama |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/others/paradise-review-a-marriage-is-put-to-test-in-prasanna-vithanages-tightly-controlled-drama-101699327031431.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250319064652/https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/others/paradise-review-a-marriage-is-put-to-test-in-prasanna-vithanages-tightly-controlled-drama-101699327031431.html |archive-date=19 March 2025 |access-date=2025-06-18 |work=Hindustan Times |language=en-us |url-status=live }}</ref>"

Priyanka Sundar reviewing for ''[[Firstpost]]'' at Mumbai Film Festival rated the film 3.5/5 and wrote, "By the end, whose side you are on speaks volumes about who you are as a person than of the film itself, the film brings about this reflection of self, and of society with poignancy and that more than anything makes ''Paradise'' a winner.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-31 |title=Paradise Movie Review: Demons within us & outside portrayed poignantly {{!}} Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2023 |url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/roshan-mathew-paradise-movie-review-demons-within-us-outside-portrayed-poignantly-jio-mami-mumbai-film-festival-2023-13321042.html |access-date=2025-06-18 |website=Firstpost |language=en-us}}</ref>"

[[Deepa Gahlot]] of ''[[Rediff.com]]'' rated 4/5 stars and observed, "Prasanna Vithanage's ''Paradise'' leaves the audience to read between the lines and draw their own conclusions about the frailty of human nature, and how easily violence seizes the most unexpected prey. "

==Accolades==
The film won the Kim Jiseok Award at the [[Busan International Film Festival]]. This award is presented to two outstanding films from the Jiseok competition section, which features new works by Asian directors who have directed more than three feature films.

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|-
! scope="col"| Award
! scope="col"| Date of ceremony
! scope="col"| Category
! scope="col"| Recipient(s)
! scope="col"| Result
! scope="col" class="unsortable"| {{Tooltip|Ref.|Reference(s)}}
|-
! scope="row"|[[Busan International Film Festival]]
| [[28th Busan International Film Festival|13 October 2023]]
| [[Kim Jiseok Award]]
| rowspan=3|[[Prasanna Vithanage]]
| {{Won}}
| align="center"|<ref name="acc:dl">{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2023/11/mumbai-film-festival-sri-lanka-prasanna-vithanage-paradise-1235590508/ |title=Prasanna Vithanage On Sri Lanka's Economic Crisis; Power Dynamics In Society & Marriage In Award-Winning Feature 'Paradise' – Mumbai Film Festival |first=Liz |last=Shackleton |date=1 November 2023 |access-date=27 February 2024 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]] |language=en}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=2|[[Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema]]
| rowspan=2|13 February 2024
| Golden Cyclo
| {{Nom}}
| style="text-align:center" rowspan=2|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/asia/vesoul-festival-2024-winners-1235910454/ |title='Snow Leopard' Wins Top Prize at Vesoul Asian Festival |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=14 February 2024 |access-date=27 February 2024 |first=Naman |last=Ramachandran}}</ref>
|-
| Prix du Jury Lycéen
| {{Won}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=4|[[Asian Film Awards]]
| rowspan=4|[[17th Asian Film Awards|10 March 2024]]
| [[Asian Film Award for Best Film|Best Film]]
| ''Paradise''
| {{Nom}}
| style="text-align:center" rowspan=4|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2024/awards/news/asian-film-awards-nominations-evil-does-not-exist-12-12-the-day-1235869810/ |title='Evil Does Not Exist', '12.12: The Day' Lead Asian Film Awards Nominations |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=11 January 2024 |access-date=27 February 2024 |first=Patrick |last=Frater}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/asia/asian-film-awards-evil-does-not-exist-winner-1235936522/ |title='Evil Does Not Exist' Wins Best Picture at Asian Film Awards |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=10 March 2024 |access-date=10 March 2024 |first=Patrick |last=Frater}}</ref>
|-
| [[Asian Film Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
| [[Prasanna Vithanage]]
| {{Nom}}
|-
| Best Editing
| [[A. Sreekar Prasad]]
| {{Nom}}
|-
| Best Screenplay
| [[Prasanna Vithanage]] and Anushka Senanayake
| {{Nom}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="3" |[[New York Indian Film Festival]]
| rowspan="3" |June 2024
|Best Director
|[[Prasanna Vithanage]]
| {{Nom}}
| rowspan="3" |<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 May 2024 |title='Paradise' receives three nominations at New York Indian Film Festival |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/news/paradise-receives-three-nominations-at-new-york-indian-film-festival-1.9587274 |access-date=27 May 2024 |website=English.Mathrubhumi |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|Best Actor
|[[Roshan Mathew]]
| {{Nom}}
|-
|Best Actress
|[[Darshana Rajendran]]
| {{Nom}}
|-
! scope="row" |[[FIPRESCI|FIPRESCI Grand Prix 2023]]
|
|Best Film
|''Paradise''
| {{Nom}}
|
|-
! scope="row" |[[Indian Film Festival of Melbourne]]
|
|Best Film Subcontinent
|''Paradise''
| {{Nom}}
|
|-
! scope="row"|[[Las Palmas de Gran Canaria International Film Festival]]
| [[Las Palmas de Gran Canaria International Film Festival|27 April 2024]]
| Audience Jury Award
| rowspan=3|[[Prasanna Vithanage]]
| {{Won}}
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Malayalam movie 'Paradise' bags Audience Jury Award at Las Palmas de Gran Canaria International Film Festival |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2024/04/30/paradise-malayalam-movie-roshan-mathew-darshana-award-las-palmas-de-canaria-film-festival.html |access-date=27 May 2024 |website=Onmanorama}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="3" |[[55th Kerala State Film Awards|Kerala State Film Awards]]
| rowspan="3" |03 November 2025
|Best Story
| {{Won}}
| rowspan="3" |<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 October 2025 |title=55 වැනි කේරළ රාජ්‍ය සිනමා සම්මාන උලෙළේ ප්‍රසන්නගේ Paradise චිත්‍රපටයට සම්මාන ත්‍රිත්වයක්|url=https://sarasaviya.lk/55-වැනි-කේරළ-රාජ්ය-සිනමා-සම/ |access-date=27 May 2024 |website=sarasaviya.lk |language=si}}</ref>
|-
|Special Jury Award
| {{Won}}
|-
|Special Jury Award
|[[Darshana Rajendran]]
| {{Won}}
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website}}
* {{IMDb title}}
* [https://www.biff.kr/eng/html/program/prog_view.asp?idx=65980&c_idx=384&sp_idx=0&QueryStep=2 ''Paradise''] at BIFF
{{Kim Jiseok Award}}

[[Category:2023 films]]
[[Category:2023 drama films]]
[[Category:2023 Malayalam-language films]]
[[Category:2023 Sinhala-language films]]
[[Category:English-language Sri Lankan films]]
[[Category:Indian drama films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Prasanna Vithanage]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Prasanna Vithanage]]
[[Category:Films scored by K (composer)]]
[[Category:Films shot in Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Films set in Sri Lanka (1948–present)]]
[[Category:Aragalaya]]

Paradise (2023 film) - Revision history

RaushanYoganta: Adding basic data v1 - done