''Ranmuthu Duwa'' () was the first colour full-length

Sinhalese language Sinhala ( ; Sinhala: , , ), sometimes called Sinhalese ( ), is an Indo-Aryan language primarily spoken by the Sinhalese people of Sri Lanka, who make up the largest ethnic group on the island, numbering about 16 million. It is also the first l ...

film to be produced in Sri Lanka in

1962 The year saw the Cuban Missile Crisis, which is often considered the closest the world came to a Nuclear warfare, nuclear confrontation during the Cold War. Events January * January 1 – Samoa, Western Samoa becomes independent from Ne ...

. It was co-produced by

Shesha Palihakkara David Sydney Loku Palihakkara (June 5, 1928 – July 12, 2009), popularly as Shesha Palihakkara, was a Sri Lankan dancer, film actor, and producer. He achieved critical recognition with a starring role in Lester James Peries' masterpiece ''Rekava' ...

, Arthur C. Clarke 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 Sri Lankan cinema encompasses the Sri Lankan film industry. It is a fledgling industry that has struggled to find a footing since its inauguration in 1947 with '' Kadawunu Poronduwa'' produced by S. M. Nayagam of Chitra Kala Movietone. Sri Lan ...

, such as Gamini Fonseka, Joe Abeywickrema and Jeevarani Kurukulasuriya in the leading roles. Playback singing was by

Nanda Malini Mirihana Arachchige Nanda Malini Perera ( Sinhala:නන්දා මාලනී: born 23 August 1943), popularly as Nanda Malini, is a Sri Lankan musician. One of the best known and most honoured singers of Sri Lanka, Malini's choice of singing ...

Narada Disasekara Narada Disasekara (7 June 1933 – 19 May 2010) was a Sri Lankan classical singer. He was the first singer to win the Sarasaviya Award when he was awarded for Best Male Playback Singing in 1964 for his duet ''Galana Gangaki Jeevithe'' with a youn ...

and W.D. Amaradeva. The lyrics were written by

Chandraratne Manawasinghe Chandraratne Dios Sooriyarachchi Mohotti, (19 June 1913 – 4 September 1964 as ) popularly known as Chandraratne Manawasinghe, was a Sinhala scholar, poet, philosopher and writer. Considered one of the iconic poets in Sinhala poetry, Manawasi ...

. ''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.

Synopsis

The film is about the discovery of an underwater treasure. It involves a mixture of ancient legends, human treachery and romance.

Ownership

In the early 1980s ownership of the film was purchased by film and record producer,

Vijaya Ramanayake Vijaya Ramanayake ( ; 1 April 1945 – 26 October 2016) is a Sri Lankan film and music producer, songwriter, journalist and author. He was the founder and producer of Tharanga Music and Film. Ramanayake was the first to introduce compact casse ...

. Tharanga films and music currently owns and distributes the film.

Cast

* Gamini Fonseka as Bandu * Jeevarani Kurukulasuriya as Kumari *

Joe Abeywickrama Deshabandu Gammana Patabendige Don John Abeywickrama ( Sinhala:ජෝ අබේවික්‍රම) (22 June 1927 – 21 September 2011), popularly as Joe Abeywickrama, was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, theater and television. Initially famed ...

as Sena * Shane Gunaratne as Rajo * Anthony C. Perera as Bandu's uncle * Austin Abeysekara as Danapala *

Vincent Vaas Andara Vaas Patabedige Vincent (7 November 1922 – 6 May 2004 වින්සන්ට් වාස්), popularly known as Vincent Vaas was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema. Often considered one of the best character actors in Sinhala cinema, ...

as Kumari's father, Muttusamy * Thilakasiri Fernando as Swami *Eddie Amarasinghe as Sena's friend

References

External links

* * 1962 films 1960s Sinhala-language films 1962 drama films {{1960s-drama-film-stub

Synopsis

Ownership

Cast

See also.

References

External links