Around the World, Sri Lanka.
We all are cinephiles who like to travel through milestones of world cinema, in order to help you find best films around the wold have made me create this list, here the Greatest Movie made in the History of Sri Lankan Cinema! Nothing else left to say but pure Magnificence!
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- DirectorLester James PeriesStarsK.L. Coranelis AppuhamyKumarasinghe AppuhamySaman BokalawalaThis film chronicles the tale of Willie Abeynayake (Gamini Fonseka) and his effort to uncover a treasure, which can only be attained by sacrificing a virgin girl with four birthmarks. Willie finds his girl, but in a twist of events he falls in love with her. But after losing his job, ensuing economic complications force him to reconsider sacrificing her for the treasure.Nidhanaya (English: The Treasure) is a 1972 Sinhalese language film directed by Lester James Peries, starring Gamini Fonseka and Malini Fonseka. Movie is based on a short story written by G.B.Senanayake in one of his short story collection known as "The Revenge". It revolves around a murder which is committed for the purpose of gaining access to a hidden treasure. The film won the Silver Lion of St. Mark award at the 1972 Venice International Film Festival and was also selected as one of the outstanding films of the year, receiving a Diploma, at the London Film Festival. It was also chosen as the best film of the first 50 years of Sri Lankan cinema.
- DirectorLester James PeriesStarsPunya HeendeniyaHenry JayasenaWickrema BogodaA girl is forced into a loveless marriage by her family.Gamperaliya is a 1963 Sri Lankan drama film directed by Lester James Peries; it was adapted from the novel Gamperaliya by Martin Wickramasinghe. The film was groundbreaking in Sinhala cinema shot entirely outside of a studio using one lamp and hand held lights for lighting. The movie exemplifies Peries's use of family tensions to symbolize wider issues.
The film was internationally acclaimed, receiving the Golden Peacock at the Grand Prix International Film Festival in India and the Golden Head of Palenque in Mexico.[2] The film won the Best Director and Best Film awards at the 1965 Sarasaviya Film Festival. It was entered into the 3rd Moscow International Film Festival. It was shown in Cannes Film festival in May 2008 under the French title "Changement au village." Subsequently it went out on general release in French cinemas. - DirectorDarmasena PathirajaStarsJoe AbeywickramaWimal Kumara de CostaRuby de MelExploes tradition and exploitation because of capitalism in Kalpitiya, a small fishing village.Bambaru Avith (Sinhala, The Wasps are Here) is a 1978 dramatic film made by Sri Lankan director Dharmasena Pathiraja. It explores tradition and exploitation following the introduction of capitalism to a tiny fishing village and the subsequent clash between the local boss and the urban outsider.
- DirectorTissa AbeysekeraStarsSabeetha PereraJoe AbeywickramaDaya AlwisAdapted from Martin Wickremasinghe's eponymous novel, this psychological drama attempts to dwell into the mind of Aravinda (Sanath Gunatilake), whose Buddhist empathy and detachment is contrasted with his worldly friends and relatives. The english translation of the title, "The Way of the Lotus" implies Aravinda as a Lotus--rising above dirt and mud to blossom.
- DirectorSiri GunasingheStarsCyril WickramageDenavaka HamineEdmund WijesingheSath Samudura (Sinhalese language, "Seven Seas") is a landmark Sri Lankan film directed by professor Siri Gunasinghe and released in 1967. This film was critically acclaimed and is considered a major work in Sri Lankan cinema.
It depicts the plight of fishermen living in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka. - DirectorMahagama SekeraStarsJoe AbeywickramaDharmasena AthukoralaKumara BalaooriyaBased on the famous novel Thun Man Handiya, this movie demonstrates a fraction of life of a youth who reflects back to his childhood and steps to a new era of life when he moves to the Governmental Art Academy.Thun Man Handiya (Sinhala, Three Way Junction) is a 1970 dramatic film made by Sri Lankan artist Mahagama Sekera. It is autobiographical and recounts Sekera's childhood though the character of Sirisena.
- DirectorWasantha ObesekaraStarsDharmasiri BandaranayakeMercy EdirisingheDhammi FonsekaSarath is employed under Gunadasa in a printing press. He elopes one day with Gunadasa's daughter Kusum. Unable to find employment, the lovers lead a hard life in a shanty hut. Kusum begins an affair with the handsome Tennyson. During a passionate love making session between Sarath and Kusum, a name uttered by mistake will leave one of them dead and the others life shattered.
- DirectorWasantha ObesekaraStarsSwarna MallawarachchiRavindra RandeniyaSomy RatnayakeA woman plots her revenge after being duped by a slick, ruthless man who impregnates her and tries to bail out of marriage. Based on a true story.Dadayama is a 1984 Sri Lankan drama film directed by Wasantha Obeysekara.
- DirectorLester James PeriesStarsSomapala DharmapriyaMyrtle FernandoShesha PalihakkaraA sprawling portrait of rural life in Sri Lanka; the story revolves around a boy and his friend--a blind girl who he accidentally 'heals' by giving her sight. Though the girl believes the boy healed her, in reality the boy has no such powers. The father of the boy fools the village folk into believing he's a healer, but ultimately the sham is exposed, causing the village to revolt against the boy and his family.Rekava (Sinhalese language word means "Line of Destiny") is a 1956 film based on village life and their mythical beliefs in Sri Lanka (then Ceylon). It is the first Sinhalese film which was fully shot in Ceylon and was the first in the country to be shot outdoors. It was also the first film which was free from Indian influence. Many Sinhalese films produced in that era were remakes of South Indian films which were not properly adapted to the Sri Lankan context. Even their dialogs were not natural.
It was the first feature-length film by Sri Lankan director Lester James Peries. The film was well received internationally. It was shown at the 1957 Cannes Film Festival and was included in the main competition.
It is still the only Sri Lankan film to be nominated for the Palme d'Or. The cinematography was by Wiliam Blake. Despite much acclaim, the film was not a commercial success in Sri Lanka due to its defiance of the mainstream concept of what a film is (i.e. one of a romance between a girl and a boy, fights, comedy, songs with Hindi tunes). Since that time it has become one of the best known Sinhala movies and is considered as marking the birth of a uniquely Sri Lankan cinema. - DirectorD.B. NihalsingheStarsJoe AbeywickramaGamini FonsekaSuwineetha AbeysekeraAn intense, cat-and-mouse drama between newly appointed ASP Randeniya and a local thug (Goring Mudalali). Randeniya's life gradually falls apart as he wages war against Goring Mudalali's crime syndicate, erupting in a shocking climax. The first film shot in Cinemascope in Sri Lanka.Welikathara (Sinhala, Desert) is a 1971 dramatic film made by Sri Lankan director D. B. Nihalsinghe.It was the first film directed by D. B. Nihalsingha.
Since Weikathara was the first film in CinemaScope in Sri Lanka, it faced many obstacles, first of which was the lack of access to cinemas capable of showing that format. (Most of them had been reserved for US films). This was solved by arranging a cross circuit release, combining cinemas in the three competing circuits at that time- another first.
The film was a box office success as well as being critically appreciated, going on to be presented by a Sri Lankan Presidential Award as one of the Ten Best Sri Lankan films of all time. - DirectorJyotish SinhaStarsAsilyn BalasooriyaRukmani DeviRupa DeviKadawunu Poronduwa ("The Broken Promise") was the first film to be made in the Sinhala language; it is generally considered to have heralded the coming of Sinhala Cinema. The film was produced and filmed in India however, and was highly influenced by South Indian melodrama. It was first shown on January 21, 1947 at the Kingsley Cinema in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
A remake was released in 1982. - DirectorMike WilsonStarsGamini FonsekaAustin AbeysekaraJoe AbeywickramaRanmuthu Duwa (English: Island of Treasures) was the first colour full-length Sinhalese language film to be produced in Sri Lanka in 1962. It was produced by Shesha Palihakkara and directed by Mike Wilson, who also made his debut as a feature director. The film stars some of those who would go on to become big names in the Sinhala Cinema, such as Gamini Fonseka, Joe Abeywickrema and Jeevarani Kurukulasooriya in the leading roles. Playback singing was by Nanda Malini, Narada Disasekara and W.D. Amaradeva. Lyrics were written by Chandrarathne Manawasinghe. It was an instant hit among the audiences and some of its songs are still famous today.
Ran Muthu Duwa was a landmark in the history of the Lankan cinema, which at the time was only 15 years old (having started in 1947). It not only introduced colour to the Lankan movies, but also showed for the first time the underwater wonders of the seas around Ceylon, which had barely begun to be explored.
It was also a commercial success: seen by more than a million people on its first release during 1962-63 - a tenth of the island’s then population. But the cultural influence of the film went well beyond the box office. It starred in the leading roles talented young actors who would soon become big names in Lanka’s film industry, especially Gamini Fonseka and Joe Abeywickrama. It also launched or catapulted the careers of a number of other creative or technical professionals. - DirectorL.S. RamachandranStarsShelton de SilvaPunya HeendeniyaNelson KurunagamaSikuru Tharuwa is a 1963 Sri Lankan drama written by P. K. D Seneviratne. It was developed by the Kurulu Rana group that attempted to make original movies pertaining to Sinhalese culture.
- DirectorLester James PeriesStarsPunya HeendeniyaHenry JayasenaWickrema BogodaA girl is forced into a loveless marriage by her family.Gamperaliya is a 1963 Sri Lankan drama film directed by Lester James Peries; it was adapted from the novel Gamperaliya by Martin Wickramasinghe. The film was groundbreaking in Sinhala cinema shot entirely outside of a studio using one lamp and hand held lights for lighting. The movie exemplifies Peries's use of family tensions to symbolize wider issues.
The film was internationally acclaimed, receiving the Golden Peacock at the Grand Prix International Film Festival in India and the Golden Head of Palenque in Mexico. The film won the Best Director and Best Film awards at the 1965 Sarasaviya Film Festival. It was entered into the 3rd Moscow International Film Festival. It was shown in Cannes Film festival in May 2008 under the French title "Changement au village." Subsequently it went out on general release in French cinemas. - DirectorLester James PeriesStarsSunila AbeysekeraSuwineetha AbeysekeraTissa AbeysekeraThe son of a newly rich industrialist becomes embroiled in a murder cover-up.Delovak Athara (Sinhala, Between Two Worlds) is a 1966 Sri Lankan drama film directed by Lester James Peries. The film stars Tony Ranasinghe as Nissanka, the son of a newly rich industrialist, who becomes embroiled in a murder cover-up.
Peries developed the movie as a character study utilizing a single incident to provide insight into the newly rich society of Sri Lanka in the time period. It proved to be his most successful film up to that time, surpassing Gamperaliya in box office earnings. It was also a critical success, winning praise from Sinhala critics like Philip Cooray and making the rounds at European film festivals, including the Valladolid Film Festival in Spain. - DirectorLester James PeriesStarsSriyani AmarasenaWickrema BogodaAnula KarunatillekaDamayanthi Kariyawasam (Dhammi) (Anula Karunathilake) is a mischievous school girl. Sugath Weerasekara (Wickrema Bogoda) is a shy and introverted boy who is new to Dhammi's school. He is quiet and gifted at schoolwork. Dhammi is immediately attracted to him and they become friends. The friendship eventually develops in to a special relationship. Sugath, who has lost his parents when he was very young, has a brother who is attending university. He tells his brother, Sarath (Wijeratne Warakagoda) about his relationship with Dhammi. On the day of the final exam, Dhammi tells Sugath that she only loved Sugath as a brother and not to keep any further hopes about her. Sugath is heartbroken and comes home to meet Sarath. In the meantime, he passes his exams with flying colors and Sarath marries Champa (Sriyani Amarasena), who is willing to accept Sugath as her own brother. But Sugath is unable to forget Dhammi, and keeps thinking about her and begins to drink heavily to alleviate his pain. He also loses his job as a teacher and leaves the home he shares with his brother's family. One day, Dhammi comes to meet Sugath and reveals the secret for her sudden change. She states that her family arranged her marriage to her cousin, Nihal, many years ago when Dhammi was very young. She tells Sugath that she loved him despite knowing that she would never have the chance to become his wife. She begs for forgiveness from him for playing with his feelings and asks him to change for her sake, and to return home.Golu Hadawatha (Translation: Silence of the Heart) was a popular 1969 Sinhalese language romance film directed by maestro Lester James Peiris. The film stars Wickrema Bogoda and Anula Karunathilake in the lead roles. Based on a novel by Karunasena Jayalath, its screenplay was written by Regi Siriwardena. Music was by Premasiri Khemadasa. The first half of the film depicts the story though the eyes of Sugath and the next half the audience see the story through the eyes of Dammi. The film departs from the normal recipe of Hero, heroine, villain, joker, songs, fights etc. and was regarded as one of the landmarks in Sri Lankan Cinema.
Indrani Wijebandara and Sisira Senaratne duo sang a duet "Aadarei mama Aadarei - Dhammi thavamath aadarei, Sugath thavamath aadarei", in which, the words were composed by Karunasena Jayalath, became quite a popular radio song after the movie but was not sung for the film, and not in it.
It was awarded the Best Film, Best Director and Best Actress of the year at the prestigious Sarasaviya Awards Festival. The film, which depicts the love affair between two school going teenagers, created a sensation among Sri Lankan film lovers, both young and old, and is considered a landmark in the history of Sri Lankan cinema.
The original script was being written by Piyasiri Gunaratne and Karunasena Jayalath. Before being finished, Piyasiri Gunaratna casually mentioned he was working on the script to Lester James Peiris. A few weeks later, the newspapers announced Lester James Peiris was about to shoot the film. It came out that Mr. Pieris took advantage of the situation, took over the script from Karunasena Jayalath and so de facto stole the script as well as the film from Piyasiri Gunaratne. - DirectorK.A.W. PereraStarsOswald JayasingheSandhya KumariJeevarani Kurukulasooriya'Bicycle Hora' is a 1968 Sri Lankan black and white film directed by K.A.W. Perera and produced by E. A. P. Edirisinghe for EAP Films. The film stars Oswald Jayasinghe and Sandhya Kumari in lead roles whereas Jeevarani Kurukulasuriya, D. R. Nanayakkara and Wally Nanayakkara made supportive roles. Film music score done by Premasiri Khemadasa.Bicycle Hora is a 1968 Sri Lankan film directed by K.A.W. Perera.
- DirectorSugathapala Senarath YapaStarsAmarasiri KalansooriyaVijaya KumaratungaSwarna MallawarachchiA romance between University students.Hanthane Kathawa (Sinhalese language word means "Story of Hanthana") is a 1969 film based on a love story of university students of Sri Lanka. It was directed by famous Sri Lankan film director Sugathapala Senerath Yapa and screened on August 1, 1968. This film also remarks the cinema debut of famous actor Vijaya Kumaratunga.
- DirectorDarmasena PathirajaStarsWickrema BogodaWimal Kumara de CostaAmarasiri KalansooriyaVijay is jobless and falls into bad company with new friends who plan something illegal. The plan misfires. One friend lays down his life while the others end up in jail.Ahas Gauwa is a 1974 Sri Lankan film directed by Darmasena Pathiraja.
- DirectorWijaya Dharma SriStarsNita FernandoSamanthi LaneroleTony RanasingheDuhul malak is a story goes around married women that having happy family life with her husband and daughter but Her ( nita fernando) family life suddenly change upside down when young guy ( ravindra rangeniya) fell in love with her . She having happy married life with her husband (tony ranasinghe) but while her husband having busy life with work. His busyness make him to losing the time he got for spend with the family. This make her close to this new lover that fell for her. But in the end she reach a point she got to make a decision whether to choose this new lover or her husband and daughter!Duhulu Malak is a 1976 Sinhalese language romance film directed by Vijaya Dharmasri that follows the lives of middle-class people in Sri Lanka. The film stars Nita Fernando, Ravindra Randeniya and Tony Ranasinghe and is notable for containing the first depiction of adultery in a Sinhala film. As per some cinema analysts, the story of the film advises young people to be aware of their own attitudes, such as understanding, fairness and patience as they will lead them to a better married life.
The movie was critically acclaimed; the British Film Institute listed it on their long list of Top Sri Lankan Films in 2006.
Also Nita Fernando reached the peak of her cinema career by winning the OCIC Best Actress Award in that year for the movie.