Before the screening of the film, it created a controversy stating that film shows disrespect on the Buddhist monks and being labelled of insulting the Sinhala race.[5] On 5 April 2004, a symposium with a theme "Buddhist symbol in Cinema" was held at the Centre For Society and Religion (CSR) on Deans Road in Maradana.[6]
Plot
In a rural village, villagers don't have any idea about merit and demerits. Sediris, who is a hunter, often hunts animals with his son, Tikira in order to make their daily livelihood. One day, An elderly monk enters the village with his little disciple monk, who is same old as Tikira. They start live in a den in village to focus on meditation. Soon, the elderly monk sees the sins committed by villagers and advices them to prevent themselves from sins to lead a happy healthy life, explaining about merits and demerits. Villagers are impressed with kindness of two monks and start visiting them and doing good deeds. Sediris finds the two monks as biggest hurdles to his hunting career and tries to chase them away, but in vain. Soon, Tikira befriends with little monk and starts hanging out and playing with him. Tikira stops hunting animals after little monk explains him about the difference between goodness and evilness.
Sedaris anger is increased due to Tikira's sudden change. He develops more hate to the elderly monk. However, villagers start chasing Sediris on learning his conspiracy to harm two monks. Sediris ends up getting badly injured by his own trap. Despite Sediris's evil deeds, two monks help him with humankind. Eventually, Sediris realizes his mistakes and seeks forgiveness from the monks, who forgive him without thinking twice. Finally, Sediris is impressed with Buddha Dharma and stops hunting starting a happy lifestyle while Tikira becomes a monk.
The film received positive reviews and became the highest grossing Sri Lanka film at that time with 12 SL Crores.[7][8][9] It successfully passed 100 days and earned Rs.11 million for 104 days at Savoya Cinema alone. At the end of May 2004, it earned Rs. 78 million island wide.[10]
