Contents
 |
Films produced in Sri Lanka in the 1950s.
| |
Films produced in Sri Lanka in the 1950s.
| Title | Director | Cast | Genre | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | ||||||
| Gambada Sundari | George S. Wijegunaratne | Sheela Peiris, Kingsley Jayasekera, E. C. Bulathsinhala, Vincent de Paul Peiris, Herbert Perera, Tilaka Siriwardena | Drama | Released on 27 January. First Sinhala colour movie produced in Ceylon. Only one was copy printed. A colour documentary on Kandy Esala Perahera was shown. | ||
| Hadisi Vinishchaya | B. A. W. Jayamanne | Rukmani Devi, B. A. W. Jayamanne, Bertram Fernando, Mabel Blythe, Stanley Mallawarachchi, Eddie Jayamanne, Herbie Seneviratne | Drama | Released on 26 May. | ||
| Title | Director | Cast | Genre | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | ||||||
| Seedevi | Sirisena Wimalaweera | D. R. Nanayakkara, N. R. Dias, Eddie Junior, B. N. Amaralatha, J. C. K. Rupawathie, K. W. Karuna Kumari, K. Hector Soysa | Drama | Released on 9 March. | ||
| Sengawunu Pilithura | B. A. W. Jayamanne | Rukmani Devi, Eddie Jayamanne, Stanley Mallawarachchi, Mabel Blythe, S. D. Elizabeth, B. A. W. Jayamanne, Leticia Peiris, Bertram Fernando | Drama | Released on 20 May 20. Tamil-dubbed version was released in December 1951 as Kusumalatha at Gamini (Maradana), Wembley (Kandy). The first Sinhala film to be dubbed in Tamil. | ||
| Title | Director | Cast | Genre | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 | ||||||
| Banda Nagarayata Pemineema | Raja Wahab Kashmeer A. B. Raj | Bernard Perera, Nanda Leelanayaka, Joseph Seneviratne, Malini Ranasinghe, Hugo Fernando, Berty Gunathilake, Chandanie Seneviratne | Drama | Released on 4 May. First movie produced entirely in Sri Lanka. | ||
| Umathu Vishvasaya | B. A. W. Jayamanne | Rukmani Devi, Eddie Jayamanne, Herbert M. Seneviratne, Sumith Bibile, Mabel Blythe, Leticia Peiris, Ruby de Mel | Drama | Released on 9 May. | ||
| Siri Sangabo | Vernon Jayawardena | Theresa Weerasinghe, Lakshmi Bhai, Edward Perera, Piyadasa Perera, Piyadasa Gunasekera | Religious | Released on 18 July. First movie to depict a Buddhist theme. | ||
| Title | Director | Cast | Genre | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1953 | ||||||
| Eda Rae | Shanthi Kumar | Thilakasiri Fernando, Seetha Jayawardena, Shanthi Kumar, Herbie Seneviratne, Austin Abeysekera, Michael Sannasliyanage, Premnath Moraes | Drama | Released on 14 February. Debut playback singing for Latha Walpola. | ||
| Prema Tharangaya | S. M. Nayagam | Aruna Shanthi, Ayesha Weerakoon, Laddie Ranasinghe, Mark Samaranayake, Hugo Fernando, Richard Albert, Dharma Sri Ranatunga | Romance | Released on 27 March. Debut playback singing for Dharmadasa Walpola. | ||
| Pitisara Kella | Sirisena Wimalaweera | Theresa Weerasinghe, A. Shanthapriya, Malini Ranasinghe, L. M. Fernando, E. Marshall Perera, S. D. Elizabeth, S. H. Jothipala, Ayesha Weerakoon, Hugo Fernando | Drama | Released on 24 April. | ||
| Kele Handa | B. A. W. Jayamanne | Rukmani Devi, Stanley Perera, Rita Ratnayake, B. A. W. Jayamanne, Eddie Jayamanne, Mabel Blythe, Millie Kahandawala, Wimala Kumari, Udula Dabare | Musical | Released on 27 May. First movie based on a Sinhala novel. | ||
| Sujatha | T. R. Sundaram | Florida Jayalath, Prem Jayanth, David Dharmakeerthi, Dommie Jayawardena, Shanthi Lekha, Gemini Kantha, Bertram Fernando | Drama | Released on 26 June. Based on Bollywood film Bari Behen . | ||
| Puduma Leli | A.S. Nagarajan | Prem Jayanth, Clarice de Silva, Hugo Fernando, Nanda Leelanayake, Dharma Sri Ranatunga, Mark Samaranayake, Girley Gunawardana, Richard Albert | Drama | Released on 4 December. | ||
| Title | Director | Cast | Genre | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | ||||||
| Warada Kageda? | T. R. Sundaram D. V. Chari | Prem Jayanth, Rita Ratnayake, Laddie Ranasinghe, Shanthi Lekha, Dommie Jayawardena, Udula Dabare, Christy Leonard Perera | Drama | Released on 9 April. Karunaratne Abeysekera made his film debut as a lyricist. | ||
| Iranganie | B. A. W. Jayamanne | Rukmani Devi, B. A. W. Jayamanne, Stanley Perera, Herbert M. Seneviratne, Herbie Seneviratne, Mabel Blythe, Eddie Jayamanne, Lilian Edirisinghe | Drama | Released on 10 April. | ||
| Saradiel | Sirisena Wimalaweera | Mathias Fernando, Theresa Weerasinghe, N. R. Dias, Girley Gunawardana, Devika Rani, S. H. Jothipala, Sebastian Jayasinghe, B. P. Wickremasinghe | Biographical | Released on 5 August. | ||
| Ahankara Sthree | A. Bhaskar Raj | Clarice De Silva, Ravindra Rupasena, Ratna Kumari, Hugo Fernando, Rohini Jayakody, Mark Samaranayake, Eddie Yapa, Leena de Silva | Thriller | Released on 17 September. | ||
| Radala Piliruwa | T. R. Sundaram | Laddie Ranasinghe, Rita Ratnayake, Dommie Jayawardena, Herbie Seneviratne, Millie Kahandawela, Shanthi Lekha, Udula Dabare | Drama | Released on 24 December. Based on W. A. Silva's novel with same name. | ||
| Title | Director | Cast | Genre | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | ||||||
| Surangani | Cyril P. Abeyratne | Eddie Junior, D. R. Nanayakkara, Pearl Vasudevi, Kanthi Gunatunga, Lilian Edirisinghe, Disna Ranjani, G. S. B. Rani | Drama | Released on 19 February. | ||
| Asoka | Sirisena Wimalaweera | Sumith Bibile, Pushpa Janet, Ananda Weerakoon, Eddie Yapa, Punya Heendeniya, Benjamin Fernando, Vimala Kumari, S. H. Jothipala | Romance | Released on 4 March. | ||
| Mathabhedaya | B. A. W. Jayamanne | Rukmani Devi, B. A. W. Jayamanne, Eddie Jayamanne, Mark Samaranayake, Senadheera Kuruppu, Peter Peiris, Mabel Blythe, Ruby de Mel | Thriller | Released on 14 April. | ||
| Seda Sulang | T. Somasekaran | Prem Jayanth, Florida Jayalath, David Dharmakeerthi, Piyadasa Gunasekera, Dharmasri Ranatunga, Lilian Edirisinghe, Dommie Jayawardena | Drama | Released on 24 June. | ||
| Mathalan | A. S. Nagarajan | Clarice de Silva, Shesha Palihakkara, Hugo Fernando, Mark Samaranayake, Peter Perera, Eddie Yapa, Bernard Perera, Pitipana Silva | Drama | Released on 27 August. | ||
| Perakadoru Bena | A. Bhaskar Raj | Rukmani Devi, Eddie Jayamanne, Mark Samaranayake, Ruby de Mel, Mabel Blythe, Kingsley Rajapakse, Baptist Fernando | Comedy | Released on 14 October. | ||
| Podi Putha | Sirisena Wimalaweera | Sirisena Wimalaweera, Ananda Weerakoon, Pushpa Janet, N. R. Dias, Malani Ranasinghe, S. H. Jothipala, Eddie Junior | Drama | Released on 25 November. | ||
| Title | Director | Cast | Genre | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | ||||||
| Dosthara | K. Shankar | Rukmani Devi, Eddie Jayamanne, Herbert M. Seneviratne, Hugo Fernando, Mark Samaranayake, Shanthi Lekha, Sirimathi Rasadari | Drama | Released on 2 February. | ||
| Dingiri Menika | A. S. A. Sami | Cyrus W. Surendra, Theja Seneviratne, Vimala Venetia, Bandula Sri Sarachchandra, Seetha Nanayakkara, Luman Rajapakse, Joseph Seneviratne | Drama | Released on 11 May. | ||
| Daiva Vipakaya | B. A. W. Jayamanne | B. A. W. Jayamanne, Senadheera Kuruppu, Dharma Sri Ranatunga, Mabel Blythe, Ruby de Mel, Shirley Blythe, Grace Jayamanne, Dudley Wanaguru | Drama | Released on 23 May. | ||
| Duppathage Duka | T. R. Sundaram K. Mithradas | Laddie Ranasinghe, Hugo Fernando, Mark Samaranayake, Stanley Perera, Girley Gunawardana, Dommie Jayawardena, Kanthi Gunatunga | Drama | Released on 10 August. | ||
| Surathali | Cyril P. Abeyratne | Ravindra Rupasena, Leena de Silva, Ananda Jayaratne, Rohini Jayakody, L. M. Perera, Premila Kuruppu, Lilian Edirisinghe, Sirimathi Rasadari | Romance | Released on 12 September. First Sinhala film to be released through Ceylon Entertainments circuit. H. R. Jothipala made his film debut as a playback singer. | ||
| Ramyalatha | A. Bhaskar Raj | Aruna Shanthi, Clarice de Silva, Rita Ratnayake, Pujitha Mendis, Mark Samaranayake, Pitipana Silva, Boniface Fernando, Eddie Yapa | Drama | Released on 25 November. | ||
| Rekava | Lester James Peries | Ananda Weerakoon, Mallika Pilapitiya, D. R. Nanayakkara, Iranganie Serasinghe, Somapala Dharmapriya, Myrtle Fernando, Nona Zubeida | Musical | Released on 28 December. First Sinhala film photographed entirely "on location". | ||
| Sirakaruwa | Sirisena Wimalaweera | Sirisena Wimalaweera, Mathias Fernando, Marshal Perera, S. H. Jothipala, Upasena Wimalaweera, Shanthi Abeysekera, N. R. Dias, Piyadasa Wijekoon | Thriller | Released on 25 January. | ||
| Title | Director | Cast | Genre | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | ||||||
| Jeevitha Satana | Shanthi Kumar | Shanthi Kumar, Seetha Jayawardena, Herbie Seneviratne, Ayesha Weerakoon, Ananda Weerakoon, Shane Gunaratne, Millie Kahandawala, Shanthi Lekha | Drama | Released on 23 February. Based on Tamil film En Veedu (1953) & Hindi film Gumastha (1953). | ||
| Suraya | T. R. Sundaram | Laddie Ranasinghe, Herbie Seneviratne, Alfred Edirimanne, Rohini Jayakody, Kanthi Gunatinga, Hugo Fernando, S. D. Elizabeth | Action | Released on 29 March. Story based on Tamil film Thiruttu Raman (1956). | ||
| Siriyalatha | S. S. Rajan | Rukmani Devi, Herbert M. Seneviratne, Eddie Jayamanne, Mark Samaranayake, Ruby de Mel, Hugo Fernando, Leticia Peiris | Drama | Released on 27 June. | ||
| Le Kandulu | K. Wellington Silva | Ratna Kumari, Nanda Kumar, Arthur Titus, Shantha Wijesuriya, Noman Hettiarachchi, Oril Wanakulasuriya, Malani Fernando, Real Dewi | Drama | Released on 2 September. | ||
| Sukumali | M. K. Samy M. Masthan | Laddie Ranasinghe, Ayesha Weerakoon, Rita Ratnayake, Ananda Weerakoon, Christy Leonard Perera, Sudas Maskorala | Drama | Released on 14 October. | ||
| Saradam | T. Somasekaran | Florida Jayalath, Stanley Perera, Joe Abeywickrama, Kingsley Rajapakse, Richard Albert, Sunil Premadasa | Drama | Released on 29 November. Film debut for Joe Abeywickrama. | ||
| Surasena | S. M. S. Naidu | Herbie Seneviratne, Kanthi Gunatunga, Rohini Jayakody, Eddie Jayamanne, Mark Samaranayake, Ruby de Mel, Dommie Jayawardena | Action | Released on 13 December. | ||
| Title | Director | Cast | Genre | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | ||||||
| Ekamath Eka Rataka | Sirisena Wimalaweera | Turin Fernando, Rita Doreen, Nanda Hettiarachchi, S. H. Jothipala, N. R. Dias, Malini Ranasinghe, Lilian Edirisinghe, Daya Karunaratne | Drama | Released on 14 February. | ||
| Vanaliya | B. A. W. Jayamanne | B. A. W. Jayamanne, Shirley Blythe, Dharmasri Ranatunga, Patricia Walker, Sumithra Walker, Mabel Blythe, Grace Jayamanne, Austin Abeysekera | Drama | Released on 21 February. Based on Tamil film Minnalkodi . | ||
| Sohoyuro | A. Bhaskar Raj L. S. Ramachandran | Clarice de Silva, Aruna Shanthi, Ravindra Rupasena, Leena de Silva, Ananda Jayaratne, Pitipana Silva, Eddie Yapa, Joseph Seneviratne | Drama | Released on 15 March. Angeline Gunathilake made his first film as a playback singer. | ||
| Deiyanne Rate | L. S. Ramachandran | Senadheera Kuruppu, Punya Heendeniya, Dommie Jayawardena, Piyadasa Gunasekera, Rohini Jayakody, Jennie Winifrida, Alfred Edirimanne | Drama | Released on 1 May. Based on the novel by W. A. Silva. | ||
| Salli Malli Salli | M. R. S. Mani | Prem Jayanth, David Dharmakeerthi, Shanthi Lekha, Rosalind Fernando, Manel Samaranayake, Daya Abeysekera | Thriller | Released on 18 July. | ||
| Daskama | Jyotish Sinha | Ravindra Rupasena, Disna Ranjani, Dudley Wanaguru, Bertram Fernando, Millie Kahandawala, Shanthi Abeysekera | Action | Released on 25 July. | ||
| Suneetha | P. Neelakantan | Ravindra Rupasena, Rita Ratnayake, Kingsley Rajapakse, Leena de Silva, Christy Leonard Perera, Punya Heendeniya, L. M. Perera | Romance | Released on 21 August. | ||
| Sepali | W. M. S. Tampoe | Stanley Perera, Florida Jayalath, Mark Samaranayake, Rita Ratnayake, Anthony C. Perera, Christy Leonard Perera, Vincent Vaas | Drama | Released on 10 October. Story based on Hindi film Dulari (1949). | ||
| Vana Mohini | A. Bhaskar Raj T. R. Sundaram | Herbie Seneviratne, Kanthi Gunatunga, Rohini Jayakody, Piyadasa Gunasekera, Hugo Fernando, David Dharmakeerthi, Richard Albert, Vincent Vaas | Drama | Released on 12 December. Story based on Tamil film Vana Mohini (1941). | ||
| Title | Director | Cast | Genre | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | ||||||
| Avishvasaya | T. Somasekaran | Prem Jayanth, Florida Jayalath, Joe Abeywickrema, Baptist Fernando, M. V. Balan, Kingsley Rajapakse, Sudam Wanigatunga | Thriller | Released on 4 February. | ||
| Ma Alaya Kala Tharuniya | Sirisena Wimalaweera | Aruna Shanthi, Ananda Weerakoon, Kumari Manel, Bandu Munasinghe, N. R. Dias, S. H. Jothipala, E. Marshall Perera, Piyadasa Wijekoon | Drama | Released on 20 February. | ||
| Daivayogaya | S. K. Ojha | Rukmani Devi, Senadheera Kuruppu, Eddie Jayamanne, Gamini Fonseka, Mark Samaranayake, Sirimathi Rasadari | Drama | Released on 18 April. Story based on novel by W. A. Silva. | ||
| Purusha Rathnaya | A.S. Nagarajan | Prem Jayanth, Clarice de Silva, Millie Kahandawala, Baptist Fernando, Eddie Yapa, Pitipana Silva, Piyadasa Wijekoon | Drama | Released on 9 May. Swarna Abeynayake became the first woman to produce a Sinhala film. | ||
| Sri 296 | Premnath Moraes | Punya Heendeniya, Joe Abeywickrema, Henry Jayasena, Sudam Wanigatunga, Kingsley Rajapakse, Sirimathi Rasadari, M. V. Balan | Thriller | Released on 20 May. Story based on Hindi film C I.D. (1956). | ||
| Sihinaya | T. Janaki Ram | Dommie Jayawardena, Rohini Jayakody, Senadheera Kuruppu, Asoka Ponnamperuma, Lilian Edirisinghe, Ayesha Weerakoon, D. R. Nanayakkara | Crime | Released on 3 July. Story based on English film Vendetta (1950?). | ||
| Gehenu Geta | Jyotish Sinha Kingsley Rajapakse T. Somasekaran | Henry Jayasena, Kumari Bibile, Dudley Wanaguru, Udula Dabare, Florida Jayalath, Vincent Weerasekera, Joe Abeywickrema | Musical comedy | Released on 24 July. Story based on English film The Fabulous Senorita (1952), Hindi film Albela (1951) and Tamil film Manamagan Thevai (1957). | ||
| Sirimalee | Robin Tampoe | Boniface Fernando, Sujatha Wijesekera, Asoka Ponnamperuma, Joe Abeywickrema, David Dharmakeerthi, Rita Carmaline, Christy Leonard Perera | Romance | Released on 11 September. | ||
| Hadisi Vivahaya | B. A. W. Jayamanne | B. A. W. Jayamanne, Shirley Blythe, Dharmasri Ranatunga, Ruby de Mel, Dudley Wanaguru, Mabel Blythe, Austin Abeysekera, Patricia Walker | Drama | Released on 14 November. | ||
Sri Lanka, historically known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an island country in South Asia. It lies in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal, separated from the Indian peninsula by the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait. It shares a maritime border with the Maldives in the southwest and India in the northwest.
Mass media of Sri Lanka consist of several different types of communications media: television, radio, newspapers, magazines, and Web sites. State and private media operators provide services in the main languages Sinhala, Tamil and English. The government owns two major TV stations, radio networks operated by the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC), and newspaper titles in Sinhala, Tamil, and English.
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.
Wanniarachchige Malini Senehelatha Fonseka, popularly known as Malini Fonseka is a Sri Lankan actress, theatre artist and a director. Often considered the "Queen of Sri Lankan Cinema", Fonseka first became widely known when she won the 'Best Actress Award' at the 1969 National State Drama Festival, followed by Sarasaviya Best Actress Awards for Hingana Kolla in 1980, Aradhana in 1982 andYasa Isuru in 1983.
Kumara Vidugalage Dona Geetha Samanmalee Kumarasinghe, popularly known as Geetha Kumarasinghe, is a Sri Lankan film actress and Member of a Parliament. She is the current State Minister of Women and Child Affairs.
Udaya Prasanna Vithanage is widely regarded as one of the most talented and influential filmmakers in South Asia. He is known for thought-provoking films that often deals with social, political and cultural issues. His films have received numerous awards accolades, both locally and internationally and have been praised for their innovative storytelling.
Nita Fernando in Negombo, Sri Lanka, is an actress in the Sri Lankan cinema. She has starred in films like Duhulu Malak and Pavuru Walalu.
of release.
Mohammed Gauss also known as Mohamed Ghouse, was a Sri Lankan film music composer. His compositions for Sinhala cinema in the 1950s are credited by music critics as having been influential in developing a Sri Lankan style of film composition distinct from that of Indian films.
Pathiraja Navaratne Wanninayake Mudiyanselage Ranjith Dharmasena 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.
Sumitra Peries 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.
Chandran Rutnam is a Sri Lankan filmmaker and entrepreneur.
Upeksha Swarnamali, popularly known as "Paba", is an actress in Sri Lankan cinema and television and a former member of the Sri Lanka Parliament. She gained popularity for her role on the television series "Paba" broadcast on Independent Television Network.
Dr. Diongu Badaturuge Nihalsingha was an accomplished Sri Lankan film director, cinematographer, editor, producer. He was noted for his versatility : as a film cameraman, as a film director, as a (pioneering) television director, as an administrator, and as a teacher. He is a pioneer who introduced professional television production to Sri Lanka, commencing with Sri Lanka's and South Asia's first color teledrama, Dimuthu Muthu. He was the founding Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of Sri Lanka's National Film Corporation and a distinguished alumni of the then University of Ceylon, Peradeniya. He is the only Sri Lankan who has been conferred Life Fellowship of the Society of Motion picture and Television Engineers USA, the oldest film organisation in the world, established in 1915. The Society determines film and television standards worldwide.
Deshabandu Tissa Ananda Abeysekara was a Sri Lankan filmmaker, actor, writer, director, screen playwright and political activist. He is better known as a script writer for the cinema as well as a film director. In 1996, his book Bringing Tony Home won the prestigious Gratiaen Prize for the new creative writing in English. He was the chief coordinator of FOSWAL in Sri Lanka and honoured awardee of SAARC Literary Award.
Sumithra Arachchige Don Bandula Chandrasiri Gunawardane is a Sri Lankan politician, teacher, and film producer, who is a member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka for Colombo District, and a former government minister.
Sri Lankan Tamil cinema is a small filmmaking industry based in Sri Lanka, which has made under 100 Tamil language films as of 2013. it is separate from its Indian counterpart, the Tamil cinema of Kodambakkam in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, as many Sri Lankan Tamil actors work in Sri Lankan films or independent Tamil films overseas, although a few noted Tamil actors in India were born in Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan Tamil cinema's growth has largely been stalled due to the Sri Lankan Civil War.
Vishvanath Buddhika Keerthisena, also known as Boodee Keerthisena, is a Sri Lankan filmmaker. He began his career drawing comics before moving into painting, dress design, and visual arts. He moved into music in the late 1980s, and performed in a band called "Boo-Dee and the Woo-Zees" (1986–1992) as the lead singer.
Somaratne Dissanayake is a Sri Lankan film director, screenwriter and 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 number of international awards for cinema in Sri Lanka. In 2007, he received Presidential award for directing Samanala Thatu (2006).
Niranjani Shanmugaraja also known as Niranjani Shanmugarajah is a Sri Lankan award-winning actress in Sri Lankan Sinhalese and Tamil Cinema. She also works as a television host in Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation.