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 languages, the dominant languages of the country. Cinema of Sri Lanka is also referred to as Follywood as many famous Sri Lankan actors had surnames starting with an "F."
Sri Lankabhimanya Lester James Peries was a Sri Lankan film director, screenwriter, and film producer. Considered as the father of Sri Lankan cinema, Lester worked as a filmmaker from 1949 to 2006, and was involved in over 28 films, including shorts and documentaries.
Sunil Santha was a Sri Lankan composer, singer and lyricist. He was pivotal in the development of Sinhala music and folk songs in the mid to late 1940s and early 1950s. He composed the beloved soundtracks to Lester James Peries' films Rekava and Sandesaya in 1956 and 1960. In a later comeback, he produced several experimental works.
David Sydney Loku Palihakkara, 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 and as producer of Getawarayo, Saravita and Ranmuthu Duwa.
Sandesaya is a 1960 film. The film based on the war between the Sinhalese people and the Portuguese invaders in Sri Lanka. It was directed by Sri Lankan film director Lester James Peries. It was produced by K. Gunaratnam on behalf of the Cinemas Company on the request of Raj Kapoor.
Ranmuthu Duwa was the first colour full-length Sinhalese language film to be produced in Sri Lanka in 1962. It was co-produced by Shesha Palihakkara, 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, such as Gamini Fonseka, Joe Abeywickrema and Jeevarani Kurukulasuriya in the leading roles. Playback singing was by Nanda Malini, Narada Disasekara and W.D. Amaradeva. The lyrics were written by Chandraratne Manawasinghe.
Golu Hadawatha was a popular 1968 Sinhalese language romance movie directed by Maestro Lester James Peiris. Wickrama Bogoda and Anula Karunathilaka acted the lead roles of Sugath and Dhammhi. The movie's story is built on the novel Golu Hadawatha written by Karunasena Jayalath in 1962, based on his school time experiences and memories. Regi Siriwardena wrote the screenplay and Veteran Sinhala musician Premasiri Khemadasa composed the music. Golu Hadawatha is acclaimed as a movie that set a milestone in Sinhala moviemaking. It introduced a new cinematic format to the romance and love movie genre. The movie departs from the then traditional movie style; no hero, heroine, no enemy or villain, Joker, no songs, and fights etc. Based on a romantic and emotional attachment between a teenage boy and a girl who study in the same class of their school, Golu Hadawatha is regarded as one of the landmarks in Sri Lankan Cinema.
Ran Salu is a 1967 Sri Lankan drama film directed by Lester James Peries. The film follows the parallel paths of Sujatha and Sarojini Perera.
Akkara Paha is a 1970 Sri Lankan drama film directed by Dr. Lester James Peries, with the screen play dialogue and script by Dr. Tissa Abeysekara. The film stars Milton Jayawardena as Sena, Anoma Wattaladeniya as Sadha and Malini Fonseka as Kumari.
Kala Keerthi Iranganie Roxanna Meedeniya,, popularly as Iranganie Serasinghe, is an actress in Sri Lankan cinema, theater and television. Since her debut in Rekava, Serasinghe has become recognized for playing motherly figures in various films and television serials. She is the aunt of President Ranil Wickramasinghe.
Thotawattege Don Manuel Titus de Silva, popularly as Titus Thotawatte, was a Sri Lankan director and editor who made several popular Sri Lankan action movies in the 1960s and 1970s and later developed Sinhala children's programmes. Thotawatte died on 15 October 2011 in Colombo.
The Forsaken Land is a 2005 Sri Lankan drama film directed by Vimukthi Jayasundara and co-produced by Phillip Amril and Francisco Vilolobos. It stars Kaushalya Fernando and Mahendra Perera in lead roles along with Nilupuli Jayawardena and Hemasiri Liyanage. Music composed by Nadeeka Guruge. It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Caméra d'Or. It is the 1,055th Sri Lankan film in the Sinhala cinema.
Sisira Senaratne, was a Sri Lankan singer and lyricist also worked as a playback singer in Sinhala cinema. A career spanned for more than six decades, Senaratne has sung several popular songs Olu Nelum Neliya, Seeta Diyareli, Nuhuru Nupuruda, Mage Puthuta Mal, and Gaya Geethayan Game. He along with wife Indrani Wijebandara played a pivotal role in ushering in a new era in Sinhala music in the 1950s.
Don Ananda Weerakoon was one of the early Sri Lankan film actors in the 1950s.
Anula Karunathilaka is a Sri Lankan film actress and theatrical performer. Her work is noted during the 70s film and cinema history in Sri Lanka. One of the most popular actresses in Sinhala cinema in 1960s, she is best known for the popular role 'Dammi' in the blockbuster film Golu Hadawatha.
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.
Trelicia Abeykoon ), popularly as Trelicia or Trilicia Gunawardena, was an actress in Sri Lankan cinema, theater and television as well as a singer. She is best known for the critically acclaimed roles in films Gamperaliya, Nidhanaya, Kaliyagaya and Beddegama.
Kala Suri Koddul Arachchige Wilson Perera [Sinhala]), popularly known as K.A.W. Perera, was a director in Sri Lankan cinema. Considered as the pioneer of Sri Lankan public cinema, Perera was also a screenwriter, dialogue writer, lyricist and producer who contributed to Sri Lankan drama career for more than five decades.
Kala Suri Gnai Seenar Bangsajayah,, popularly known as G. S. B. Rani, was a Sri Lankan actress in Sri Lankan cinema, theater as well as a songstress, politician and a media personality. She was one of the most popular playback singers in early Sri Lankan cinema industry with a career spanned over five decades.
Indrani Wijebandara, was a Sri Lankan singer, also worked as a playback singer in Sinhala cinema. A career spanned for more than six decades, she has sung several popular children's songs Vesak Kekulu, Sudu Sanda Eliye, Olu Nelum Neriya, Rathu Pata Mal and Mal Sutikko. She along with husband Sisira Senaratne played a pivotal role in ushering in a new era in Sinhala music in the 1950s.
