Bridging Lanka

Break the Madness
When art imitates life, it can save one.

Kavi Varman's latest film, Break the Madness, captures the quiet ache of a remote village where poverty dims the future — especially for young people struggling to see one at all.

Suwetha Ranjith plays protagonist Athiti — a role that mirrored her own reality more closely than anyone knew. At school, she was isolated and felt deeply out of place. At home, support was scarce.

Self-doubt crept in. Life felt heavy and dark.

Bridging Lanka founder, Jeremy Liyanage, recalls:
"She had thought to end it all but was scared to take the ultimate step. The film came at the right time. Seeing her story reflected gave her clarity — that hope and love had always been there, just hidden."

Last night, Break the Madness was recognised at the 2025 Film Arts and Hearts Festival in LA — with Best Monologue awarded to Suwetha Ranjith. A moment of immense pride for her, deep joy for her family, and for all of us at Bridging Lanka.

Congratulations to Kavi Varman, Suwetha, Higher Souls Films, the incredible team who’ve created something extraordinary with minimal resources and an abundance of talent, commitment, and vision.

Thank you to all our supporters who believed in our vision and helped bring it to life - you make moments like these possible.

If you’d like to support Kavi’s work and help share these powerful stories with wider audiences, visit our website and be part of the journey — as these young voices rise to heights once thought unreachable.

https://bridginglanka.org/get-involved/

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From Mannar to Santa Barbara: A Story That Breaks the Silence

At the 2025 International Film Festival, over 100 films from around the globe lit up the screen—each one a testament to the power of independent storytelling.

Among them was *Break the Madness*, a hauntingly beautiful short by multitalented Kavi Varman, a young filmmaker, musician,storyteller and emotional conduit from Mannar Island, Sri Lanka.

Shot with secondhand gear and a cast of local youth, Kavi’s film dives deep into the emotional toll of isolation, addiction, and resilience in a remote Tamil village.

His raw, unfiltered lens earned him an Honorable Mention from the CEYIFF jury—an extraordinary nod to grassroots storytelling with global impact.

This is more than cinema. It’s a call to listen, to feel, and to act. Bridging Lanka