Machan

Machan (2008) | Machan

Directed by Uberto Pasolini | Written by Ruwanthie de Chickera ,Uberto Pasolini | Starring Dharmapriya Dias, Gihan De Chickera , Darshan Dharmaraj

  • “Machan” is a 2008 Italian-Sri Lankan comedy film that marks Uberto Pasolini’s directorial debut. It tells the fascinating and humorous tale of the fabricated Sri Lankan National Handball Team, inspired by a true story from 2004. In this real-life incident, a group of Sri Lankans duped their way into a German handball tournament, lost all their matches, and then mysteriously disappeared. The film’s music was composed by Tharupathi Munasinghe, a notable Sri Lankan musician, adding an authentic cultural touch to the storytelling. Shot on location in Sri Lanka and Germany, the production team spent time in Colombo’s underprivileged areas, interviewing locals to craft the characters’ backgrounds with depth and realism. Director Uberto Pasolini was so captivated by the story that he decided to both direct and produce the film. Initially titled Handball, the film was a collaboration among international production houses, including Redgrave Films (UK), RAI Cinema (Italy), Babelsberg Films (Germany), and Shakthi Films (Sri Lanka). It premiered at the Venice Film Festival in August 2008, earning a 10-minute standing ovation from the audience. Through its blend of humor and poignant social commentary, Machan sheds light on themes of aspiration, desperation, and the lengths to which people will go to escape poverty. The film remains a touching exploration of human resilience and creativity.

Synopsis

The plot of Machan unfolds as a comedic yet heartfelt tale of dreams, desperation, and clever improvisation. Manoj (Gihan De Chickera), a bartender, and Stanley (Dharmapriya Dias), a fruit vendor, both aspire to escape poverty in Sri Lanka and seek better opportunities in the West. However, repeated failures in securing visas force them to think outside the box. They stumble upon an application for a handball tournament in Bavaria, Germany, and hatch an audacious plan. Despite not even knowing the rules of handball, they assemble a ragtag group of friends and pose as the “Sri Lanka National Handball Team.” The group undergoes some minimal training purely for appearances and manages to secure travel visas from the German Embassy. At the eleventh hour, Manoj decides not to join the group, but the others proceed with the plan. Their true goal is to disappear into the West upon landing in Germany. However, their scheme faces an unexpected hurdle: enthusiastic tournament organizers and an arena filled with fans eagerly anticipating the “Sri Lanka National Handball Team’s” performance. The team’s inexperience is glaringly obvious as they lose their initial matches without scoring a single goal. But when they finally manage to score, their joy is uncontainable. Soon after, the police arrive to search their hotel, but the Sri Lankan team has vanished without a trace. The film concludes with a poignant twist: each team member is shown embarking on their own separate path across Europe, symbolizing their pursuit of a new life and the uncertainty of their future. This bittersweet ending encapsulates the blend of humor, resilience, and stark reality that defines Machan.

Machan

Highlights and Recognition

  • Winner of
  • 2008, Won FEDIC Award at Venice Film Festival.
  • 2008, Won Label Europa Cinemas Award for Best European film at Venice Film Festival.
  • 2008, Nominated for International Jury Award at São Paulo International Film Festival.
  • 2010, Won Best Film of the Year at the Sarasaviya Awards.

Language: Sinhala
Runtime: 1 hour 49 minutes
Country of Origin: Sri Lanka

Release Date
August 28, 2008

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