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 Lankan films are usually made in Sinhala and Tamil, the dominant languages of the country. During the first decade, most films were made in neighboring Southern India and closely followed the conventions of Indian cinema. Studio shooting was the norm, with Indian style sets erected in film studios. It is widely believed that ''Rekava'', made in 1956 by pioneer director Lester James Peries, was the first Sinhala film to be shot completely out of studio, however, it was the filmGambada Sundari, starring Kingsley Jayasekera and Sheela Peiris in 1950, which was the first film shot outside studios instead. It was also the first Sri Lankan film where, like in "Rekava", the dialog was recorded on the spot. This was because the film was shot ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Gamperaliya (film)
''Gamperaliya'' is a 1963 Sri Lankan drama film directed by Lester James Peries, with screenplay, dialogue and script by Reggie Siriwardena and Tissa Abeysekara; it was adapted from the novel '' Gamperaliya'' by Martin Wickramasinghe. The film stars an ensemble cast of several eras together including, Henry Jayasena, Punya Heendeniya, Wickrama Bogoda, Trilicia Gunawardena and Gamini Fonseka. The film was internationally acclaimed, receiving the Golden Peacock (Best Film) at the 3rd International Film Festival of 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'' under section 'Restored Classics'. Subsequently it went out on general release in French cinemas. In 2001, the film was identified as a world heritage by Cinema The ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Vaishnavee
''Vaishnavee'' () is a 2018 Sri Lankan Sinhala drama thriller film directed by veteran director Sumitra Peries and produced by Mano Nanayakkara. The film stars Yashoda Wimaladharma, Thumindu Dodantenna and Jayalath Manoratne in lead roles along with Vasanthi Chathurani and Cletus Mendis. Popular teledrama actress Samadhi Arunachaya made her cinema debut with the film. The music is composed by Nimal Mendis, and is his last music direction before his death. The film was shot in 2012, and Sumitra Peries was the first director to shoot with the latest Red Epic camera in Sri Lanka. The film had the last script written by Tony Ranasinghe before his death. The film received mostly positive reviews from critics. The film was released in 30 theaters throughout the country. Plot The story was influenced by veteran director Lester James Peries. A puppeteer proposes to a girl but she runs away with another boy before their engagement. The sad puppeteer then carves a puppet in the shap ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Sakman Maluwa
''Sakman Maluwa (Pleasure Garden)'' () is a 2003 Sri Lankan Sinhala drama film directed by Sumitra Peries and produced by Ceylon Theatres, the oldest cinema production company in Asia. It stars Sanath Gunathilake, Kanchana Mendis and newcomer Dinidu Jagoda in lead roles along with Iranganie Serasinghe and Daya Tennakoon. Music composed by W. D. Amaradeva. The film received mostly positive reviews from critics. It is the 1023rd Sri Lankan film in the Sinhala cinema. Initially titled as ''Samanala Uyana'' by director, popular poet Arisen Ahubudu found that the name was inauspicious. In December 2003, a book titled “Lankeeya Cinemawe Sakman Maluwa” was published by young film critique, Ajith Galappaththi on the film to celebrate 75th anniversary of Ceylon Theatres. The film was screened at Fukoka International Film Festival, Japan in 2004. Plot Cast * Sanath Gunathilake as Tissa * Vasanthi Chathurani * Kanchana Mendis as Prema * Iranganie Serasinghe as Tissa's mother * ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Gehenu Lamai
''Gehenu Lamai'' ( / English: ''Girls'') is a 1978 Sri Lankan drama film written and directed by Sumitra Peries and produced by her husband Lester James Peries. The film introduced Vasanthi Chathurani into Sinhala cinema. Along with her, film stars Ajith Jinadasa and Jenita Samaraweera in lead roles along with Shyama Anandan and Cyril Kothalawala. Music composed by Nimal Mendis. It is the 390th Sri Lankan film 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 .... The film received positive reviews from critics and earned box office success. Plot Kusum witnesses Nimal leading a procession into their village. Kusum then recalls her childhood spent with friend Nimal. She is taught by the older boy. Kusum then starts boarding school with a transition to her at ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Sumitra Peries
Sumitra Peries (March 24, 1935–January 19, 2023) was a Sri Lankan filmmaker. She was the first female film director from Sri Lanka. and was known as the "Poetess of Sinhala Cinema". She also held the post of Sri Lanka's ambassador to France, Spain and the United Nations in the late 1990s. Of her films the more popular ones are ''Gehenu Lamai'', ''Ganga Addara'' and ''Yahaluvo''. She was married to the most prolific Sri Lankan film director Dr. Lester James Peries. Early life Education Peries began her education in Avissawella, then later enrolled to Visakha Vidyalaya in Colombo, and finally joined the Aquinas College Colombo to do the London Advanced Level. At the age of 20 Sumitra managed to find some money and traveled to Europe by ship to meet her elder brother Gamini. She was going to build her own career there, although she didn't know it at the time. Peries studied filmmaking at the London School of Film Technique and was awarded a Diploma in Film Direction and Product ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Thun Man Handiya
''Thun Man Handiya movie'' ( Sinhala for ''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. Plot The film is set in a small village and follows progression in painter Abilin's ( Joe Abeywickrema) life through the eyes of his nephew Sirisena (Kumara Balasooriya, Karunarathna Ranasinghe). Abilin is an alcoholic and drifts through his life in debt and without focus. After getting into arguments with other villagers and his own brother (Dharmadasa Kuruppu), Abilin decides to take a job with a rich landowner (A. P. Gunarathna). Sirisena then goes to art college inspired by his uncle. He develops his art skill there and dreams of showing his talent to Abilin. Abilin's situation, however, deteriorates due to alcoholism, juxtaposing serenely with Sirisena's foray into art in the city. Cast * Joe Abeywickrama as Abilin Singho 'Mama' * Kumara Balasooriya as Adol ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Mahagama Sekera
Mahagama Sekera (Mahagamage Sekera) ( Sinhala:මහගම සේකර / මහගමගේ සේකර ) (7 April 1929 – 14 January 1976) was a famed Sri Lankan poet, lyricist, playwright, novelist, artist, translator and filmmaker. He is considered to be a groundbreaking figure in Sinhalese poetry and literature. He is best remembered as a poet and songwriter with several of his works even becoming popular songs in Sri Lanka. His works occasionally have an introspective Buddhist-influenced outlook. His poems and songs remain widely quoted on the island nearly thirty years after his death. Early life and education Mahagama Sekera was born on 7 April 1929 in Radawana, Gampaha. His father was Maha Gamage John Singho, mother was Ranawaka Arachchige Roslin Ranawaka. He had his initial education at Government School in Radawana and Kirindiwela Maha Vidayalaya. Sekera started life as an artist and in his later paintings and book covers he tended towards modern art. He got ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Ahas Gauwa
''Ahas Gauwa'' ()(One League of Sky) is a 1974 Sri Lankan drama film directed by Dharmasena Pathiraja. It stars Amarasiri Kalansuriya and Swarna Mallawarachchi in lead roles along with Vijaya Kumaratunga, Wimal Kumara de Costa and Cyril Wickramage. Music composed by Premasiri Khemadasa. Cast * Amarasiri Kalansuriya as Vijay * Wimal Kumara de Costa as Gune * Vijaya Kumaratunga as Mahathun * Swarna Mallawarachchi as Vijitha * Wickrama Bogoda as Bandu * Cyril Wickramage as Cyril * Somasiri Dehipitiya as Somey * Pathiraja L. S. Dayananda as Daya * Nilwathuru Wijewardena as Japana * Shanthi Lekha as Vijay's Amma * Gamini Ganegoda as Vijay's Thaththa * Menik Kurukulasuriya as Vijay's sister * Daya Thennakoon Daya Bandara Tennakoon (born 29 November 1941 – died 17 April 2020 as දයා තෙන්නකෝන්) inhala, was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television. Personal life He was born on 29 November 1941 in the small ... as Sirisena * Piyase ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Bambaru Awith
''Bambaru Avith (The Wasps are Here)'' () is a 1978 Sri Lankan Sinhala drama film directed by Dharmasena Pathiraja and produced by director himself with Thilak Godamanne for Saranga Salaroo. 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. Plot In a fishing village, Anton ''Aiya'' is an exploiter who outwardly resembles and acts like a regular fisherman, but he exploits and feeds off the other fishermen. In this setting, members of the urban entrepreneurial youth. They have adapted to Western culture, dressing like Westerners and preferring Western music. Conflict arises between Anton ''Aiya'' and Baby ''Mahattaya'' (Victor), a representative of the urban youth. A middle-class leftist, Weerasena, is also part of this group. The arrival of these youths has clearly caused a social crisis requiring a solution, and all Weerasena can do is stand on a platf ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Dharmasena Pathiraja
Pathiraja Navaratne Wanninayake Mudiyanselage Ranjith Dharmasena (28 March 1943 – 28 January 2018) was a Sri Lankan film director and screenwriter. He has been referred to as a 'rebel with a cause', an ‘''enfant terrible'' of the '70s', and is widely recognized as the pioneer of Sri Lankan cinema’s 'second revolution'. He is also renowned as an academic, playwright and poet. Early life Educated at Dharmaraja College, Kandy, Pathiraja graduated from the University of Peradeniya with an honours degree in Sinhala and Western Classical Culture in 1967. Subsequently he began work as a lecturer in Drama and Performance Arts, and later obtained a PhD in Bengali cinema from Monash University. His thesis was ''The Dialectic of Region and Nation in the Films of Bengali Independents: Ghatak, Ray and Sen (2001)''. He learned the language of cinema from the film society movement, which was popular in Sri Lanka in the early sixties. He also recognized their sociopolitical limitation ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Indian Films
The cinema of India, consisting of motion pictures made by the Indian film industry, has had a large effect on world cinema since the second half of the 20th century. Indian cinema is made up of various film industries, each focused on producing films in a specific language, such as Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Bengali, Marathi, Gujarati, Punjabi, Bhojpuri, Assamese, Odia and others. Major centres of film production across the country include Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Kochi, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar-Cuttack, and Guwahati. For a number of years, the Indian film industry has ranked first in the world in terms of annual film output. In 2022, Indian cinema earned ($1.9 billion) at the box-office. Ramoji Film City located in Hyderabad is certified by the Guinness World Records as the largest film studio complex in the world measuring over 1,666 acres (674 ha). Indian cinema is composed of multilingual and multi-ethnic film art. The term 'Bolly ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |