''Sooriya Arana'' () is a 2004

Sri Lanka Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, also known historically as Ceylon, is an island country in South Asia. It lies in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal, separated from the Indian subcontinent, ...

n Sinhala children's thriller film directed by

Somaratne Dissanayake Somaratne Dissanayake is a Sri Lankan film director, screenwriter and Film producer, producer. He was the Chairman of Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation and the president of the Film Makers Guild of Sri Lanka (FMG). He is the winner of the most nu ...

and produced by Renuka Balasooriya. It stars

Jackson Anthony Conganige Joseph Malsi Jackson Anthony (as ජැක්සන් ඇන්තනී; 8 July 1958 – 9 October 2023), commonly known as Jackson Anthony, was a Sri Lankan actor in film, theatre and television. One of the most popular artists in ...

and

Jayalath Manoratne Keselgaspe Manatunga Jayalath Manoratne (; 12 June 1948 – 12 January 2020) was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television. He was a lecturer by profession as well as a director and producer. A highly versatile actor from drama ...

in lead roles along with Sajitha Anthony and Dasun Madusanka. Music composed by

Rohana Weerasinghe Dr. Rohana Weerasinghe (born 18 February 1949) is a Sri Lankan musician, composer and singer. Early life Weerasinghe was born on 18 February 1949 in Algiriya, Matara in southern Sri Lanka. He was the youngest child to his parents Henry Weeras ...

. It is the highest-grossing film in Sri Lankan cinema history. It is the 1025th 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 ...

Plot

In a rural village, villagers don't have any idea about merit and demerits. Sediris, who is a hunter, often hunts animals with his son, Tikira in order to make their daily livelihood. One day, An elderly monk enters the village with his little disciple monk, who is same old as Tikira. They start live in a den in village to focus on meditation. Soon, the elderly monk sees the sins committed by villagers and advices them to prevent themselves from sins to lead a happy healthy life, explaining about merits and demerits. Villagers are impressed with kindness of two monks and start visiting them and doing good deeds. Sediris finds the two monks as biggest hurdles to his hunting career and tries to chase them away, but in vain. Soon, Tikira befriends with little monk and starts hanging out and playing with him. Tikira stops hunting animals after little monk explains him about the difference between goodness and evilness. Sedaris anger is increased due to Tikira's sudden change. He develops more hate to the elderly monk. However, villagers start chasing Sediris on learning his conspiracy to harm two monks. Sediris ends up getting badly injured by his own trap. Despite Sediris's evil deeds, two monks help him with humankind. Eventually, Sediris realizes his mistakes and seeks forgiveness from the monks, who forgive him without thinking twice. Finally, Sediris is impressed with Buddha Dharma and stops hunting starting a happy lifestyle while Tikira becomes a monk.

Cast

as Sediris *

as Loku Hamuduruwo * Sajitha Anthony as Tikira * Dasun Madusanka as Sumedha 'Podi Hamuduruwo' * G.R Perera as Arachchila, Village headman * D.B. Gangodathenna as Peethara Mama *

Duleeka Marapana Wasala Kulathun Wijekoon Mudiyanselage Duleeka Kumari Wijekoon Marapana commonly as Duleeka Marapana (; born 15 November 1975), is an actress in Sri Lankan stage, television and cinema as well as a public speaker, director, producer and philanth ...

as Sediris's wife *

Jayani Senanayake Kapuwela Vidanage Senanayake Mudiyanselage Jayani Chamathka Dharmadasa Senanayake (born as ජයනි සේනානායක; February 1, 1974), popularly as Jayani Senanayake, is an actress in Sri Lankan cinema, theater and television. Hig ...

as Sediris's concubine *

Giriraj Kaushalya Silmesthri Giriraj Kaushalya (born November 13, 1964) (), popularly known as Giriraj Kaushalya, is a Sri Lankan actor in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television. Highly versatile actor from drama to comedy, Kaushalya also has worked as an ...

as Salesman * Ariyasena Gamage as Korala * Pramudi Karunarathna as Tikira's sister * Bertie Nihal Susiripala * Nimal Jayasinghe as Guide

Box office

The film received positive reviews and became the highest grossing Sri Lanka film at that time with 12 SL Crores. It successfully passed 100 days and earned Rs.11 million for 104 days at Savoya Cinema alone. At the end of May 2004, it earned Rs. 78 million island wide.

Soundtrack

Awards and nominations

The film was critically adjudged by many local and international film festival and won many awards as well.

Houston International Film Festival

, - , , 2008 , , , ''Sooriya Arana'' , , Silver Remi Award for the Best Feature , , , -

Presidential Awards

, - , , 2005 , , , ''Sooriya Arana'' , , Award for The Most Popular Film of the Year , , , - , , 2005 , , , ''Sooriya Arana'' , , Award for The Best Lyrics , , , - , , 2005 , , , ''Sooriya Arana'' , , Award for The Best Singer ( Harshana Dissanayake) , , , - , , 2005 , , , ''Sooriya Arana'' , , Award for The Best Make-Up (Ebert Wijesinghe) , , , - , , 2005 , , , ''Sooriya Arana'' , , Award for The Best Sound (Shayamani Premasundara) , , , - , , 2005 , , , ''Sooriya Arana'' , , Award for The Best Cinematography (Channa Deshapriya) , , , - , , 2005 , , , ''Sooriya Arana'' , , Jury Award Performance (Dasun Madushanka) , , , - , , 2005 , , , ''Sooriya Arana'' , , Jury Award Performance (Sajitha Anuththara) , , , - , , 2005 , , , ''Sooriya Arana'' , , Award for The Best Actor (

) , , , - , , 2005 , , , ''Sooriya Arana'' , , Award for The Best Script (Somaratne Dissanayake) , , , -

References

External links

* {{IMDb title, 0499255
Synopsis
an
brief review
at FilmsLanka 2004 films 2000s Sinhala-language films