Nidhanaya

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Nidhanaya
Nidhanaya.jpg
Directed by Lester James Peries
Written by G. B. Senanayake
Screenplay by Tissa Abeysekara
Produced by R Anthonypillai
Starring Malini Fonseka
Gamini Fonseka
Shanthi Lekha
Saman Bokalawela
Trilicia Gunawardena
Francis Perera
Wijeratne Warakagoda
Cinematography M. S. Ananda
Edited by Lester James Peries
Edvin Leetin
Gladvin Fernando
Music by Premasiri Kemadasa
Release date
  • 19 February 1972 (1972-02-19)
Running time
108 minutes
Country Sri Lanka
Language Sinhala

Nidhanaya (English: The Treasure) is a 1972 Sinhalese language film directed by Dr. Lester James Peries, the screenplay, dialogue and script by Dr. Tissa Abeysekara, starring Gamini Fonseka and Malini Fonseka. [1] The film stars Gamini Fonseka and Malini Fonseka in lead roles along with Shanthi Lekha, Saman Bokalawela and Trilicia Gunawardena in supportive roles. [2]

Contents

The 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 and was included among the top 100 films of the century by the Cinémathèque Française. [3] [4]

Synopsis

Willy Abenayake (Gamini Fonseka) is a wealthy man from a village in Sri Lanka who is interested in superstitious things. One day, he finds an old palm leaf manuscript which reveals the location of a treasure hidden in a rock cave belonging to an ancient king. However, according to the manuscript, he must sacrifice the life of a virgin woman with four black birthmarks on her neck to gain access to the treasure.

One day, while walking by a river, he comes across a young woman (Malini Fonseka) who has four black birthmarks on her neck. After following her and finding out more about her, he decides to marry her. Eventually, he marries her and spends time with her.

Meanwhile, she notices that her husband is always lost in thought. One day, she asks him what is making him think so much. He replies that he has to perform a religious ritual for a god in a rock. His wife agrees and arranges everything for it.

After going to the rock, he starts to fulfil the ritual, finally killing his wife as a sacrifice in the hope of gaining access to the hidden treasure. Unfortunately, he is still unable to find the treasure.

He goes home, saddened, and decides to write the whole story in his diary. After finishing it, he commits suicide by hanging himself.

Cast

Restoration

In 2013, Shivendra Singh Dungarpur collaborated with the World Cinema Foundation (WCF) for the restoration of the film. The film won the Silver Lion at the 1972 Venice International Film Festival.

Dr. Peries’ films are in poor condition and many of the original camera negatives have been lost. This restoration is a joint effort of the WCF, the Sri Lankan National Film Corporation, Mr. Padmarajah (the copyright holder), the National Film Archive of India (NFAI) and Sameera Randeniya of Film Team, Sri Lanka.

References

  1. ↑ "40 years for the greatest film ever produced in Sinhala cinema". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  2. ↑ "Incredible "Nidhanaya"". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  3. ↑ A call to preserve national cinematic history, The Island (Sri Lanka) (October 19, 2013), Retrieved 03-05-2018
  4. ↑ Gamini Fonseka and Lester James Peries Cinematic relationship of an actor and director by D. B. S. Jeyaraj, (Daily FT, 18 October 2014), Retrieved 03-05-2018
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