Discoveries from Sri Lanka World Cinema

This is a Tele film. Director is Satyajith maitipe.

A middle-Class parent struggles to admit their son to school. The-Five Year- Old who doesn't speak at the interview and oral tests held at grade one enrollment is denied admission. The exhausting process takes a toll on the parents marriage and leads to a temporary separation. The boys father who works for the Forest Department decides not to send his child to school anymore. Instead, he takes the boy to his work site and educates his son himself. Determined to change a system that denies all children a level playing field, he hatches a plan that he thinks will get the attention of the Minister of Education.

A pickpocket (Linton Semage) is blamed by his wife for bringing misery to other families and as well as to their own home. Although he has promised to reform himself, he cannot find another line of work which would bring him a living wage. One day, after a morning of picking pockets, Kamal finds a photograph of his wife in a man's purse he had just stolen. This turns his life into chaos. He does not tell his wife about this and goes on searching for the owner of the purse. What he finds is only the beginning of his tragedy.

While working as a mechanic to support a wife at home, Manju struggles to overcome every attempt made at discovering their assigned sex.

The childhood story of king Pandukabhaya (474 BC - 367 BC), the 6th monarch of Sri Lanka.

Thank You Berty (Sinhala: තෑන්ක් යු බර්ටි) is a 2010 Sinhalese language Sri Lankan action-comedy film written by Tennyson Cooray as his directorial debut and starring a number of Sri Lankan comedians, including Bandu Samarasinghe, Dilhani Ekanayake, Ananda Wickramage, Mahendra Perera, Anusha Damayanthi, Nilanthi Dias, and Cletus Mendis. The film had its world premiere August 7, 2010, in Melbourne, Australia.

Sath Samudura is a landmark Sri Lankan film directed by professor Siri Gunasinghe and released in 1967. This film was critically acclaimed and is considered a major work in Sri Lankan cinema. It depicts the plight of fishermen living in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka.

Manju, once aspiring to become a Catholic priest, is pulled into the violent underworld after his uncle's murder. Meanwhile, Lucky, a gangster turned political enforcer, rises to power by serving a powerful minister. As both work under rival ministers in the same political party, their clash over control of the underworld sparks a deadly conflict amid an escalating national crisis.

It's the 17th of March 1996. Wills Cricket World Cup Final between Australia and Sri Lanka is about to commence at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Meanwhile, in Colombo, a man and his wife board a bus carrying a strange cardboard box. Joined by an eloping young couple, several other interesting passengers aboard, they take off on a long night's journey. The seemingly peaceful bus ride shifts its pace when it enters a chase with a Defender jeep. An accident unexpectedly reveals the contents of the cardboard box promising the passengers a journey unlike any they have taken before.

Amit and Dasun are two youths. One day while they were at the park, someone from Amit's office secretly took a photo of them. Later, in the office, Amit's colleagues start to tease, ridicule and makes fun at Amit because of his sexual orientation.

Drama about a father who refuses to believe in his son's death at war.

Dedunu Akase is a 2017 Sri Lankan Sinhala romantic film directed by Priyantha Colombage and produced by EAP Network Swarnavahini Production. It stars Hemal Ranasinghe in the lead role, along with newcomers Chulakshi Ranatunga and Shanel Fernando, both professional models. The music was composed by Chitral Somapala. It is the 1288th Sri Lankan film in the Sinhala cinema. Supporting actor Dasun Nishan committed suicide on 27 September 2017, prior to the screening of the film.[8][9] The muhurath ceremony was held at Galadari Hotel, Colombo.[10] The film has received both positive and negative reviews from critics.[11]

The movie opens up with an accidental death of a 30 years old youth. At the autopsy, investigators find his identity card which belongs to ‘Revatha the Buddhist monk’. It stirs the hornet’s nest in the neighborhood where Revatha used to live, as at the time of his death, he had disrobed. Therefore, parishioners of his temple object to bringing his body to the temple and holding a monk’s funeral. Then the movie begins to reveal the backstory till his death.

Madol Duwa (Mangrove Island) is a 1976 Sri Lankan drama film directed by Lester James Peries and produced by Upasena Marasinghe. The film stars Ajith Jinadasa as Upali, a young rebellious youth who travels to a small island to get away from the restrictive society around him. The film is based on Martin Wickremasinghe's 1947 novel Madol Doova. It was a commercial success

Jaya Sikurui is the 597th movie in Sri Lankan cinema history.

As the rage against British colonization in Sri Lanka continues, civilians are having a new hope about their new activists.

Samath's humble and patient demeanor is also highlighted in the movie and contrasts vehemently with the sense of entitlement we see in children educated in major cities. His innate desire to ensure that his village receives electricity and find a practical method of supplying water to his parents' paddy field are what motivate him. Will he succeed - '5 Samath'.

Asela, a young teacher comes to the Hatagala Elementary School situated in a remote rural village. In a short period of time, he is able to create a new educational awakening in the school with attractive, teaching methods.

Scientist Anandi visits Hanuman Island to perform the last rites ritual for her father. She is immediately placed in quarantine in a remote hotel due to a pandemic caused by a machine-dominant world. When a mysterious star starts following her, she escapes and seeks refuge with a mother and her transgender daughter.

A surreal and disturbing tale centred on two divided villages in a civil war where women are unable to conceive and a remedy is desperately sought.

Uthuru Sulanga unfolds an unknown side of life of a person who seeks refuge in a then boarder village in the dry zone of Sri Lanka. The village has just buried all the memories of the staggering Northern war. He (Sunimal) finds shelter in the house of chieftain of the village 'Ralahami mama' who does not bother about his past but present. Sunimal whilst trying hard to get over his indelible memories of war, faces his second battle of life as he couldn't resist the charm of Yasho, Ralahami mama's daughter. When he loses his battle, the dark shadows of an unforeseen future surrounds him....again. Yet he has to discover himself, his real family and his future.

Story of two small girls, one Sinhala and the other Tamil, amidst war.

Three Sri Lankan filmmakers renowned for their internationally acclaimed films based on the Sri Lankan civil war, join in to make one film to express their views on post-war reality.

A young owner of a tea plantation falls in love with a gypsie woman and they face many obstacles in their way.

Kannagi (Pooja) born in the Chola kingdom, one of the three kingdoms in South India around 1,500 years ago, is happily married to Kovalan (Uddika), a millionaire. Kovalan attends the crowning ceremony of the Chola dancing queen, Princess Madhavi (Aruni). Pleased with he performance the king wants Madhavi to indicate whom she would pick to become her husband from among the wealthy male guests present. She selects Kovalan. Spellbound by Madhavi's beauty and her dancing skills, Kovalan too likes Madhavi. The happy marriage crashes. Kovalan spends all his wealth on Madhavi. Broken-hearted, the weeping Kannagi bears up the agony.

This mythological film depicts the romantic relationship between Hindu god Kartikeya and the aboriginal princess Valli.

Amila comes from a small village in Sri Lanka. After losing his parents, he moves to Colombo. He works as a construction worker in a Chinese building site and looks after his four siblings. His sister Inoka suffers from a congenital heart defect and the only way to save her is an urgent and expensive surgery to be performed in India. While Amila is trying to find the money he needs, he just meets the wrong person at the right time, and gets caught up in the child trafficking business…

Warenya encounters Sumadya, a student capable of entering a deep hypnotic trance. Sumadya becomes a conduit for Rajini, a famous actress from the past, leading to complications as their love blossoms across two lives and two ages.

Group of fishermen engaged in their vocation in the mid seas. They suddenly bump into a guy called malan who had stealthily hidden in their fishing trawler with the sole intention of illegally migrating to australia.. one morning they find something mysterious floating in the seas and jointly pull it into their trawler believing that it must be a god-sent fortune. but they ultimately find it to be a sex doll. though dejected, the entry to the female sex doll causes the feelings to these men to run amok. the attitudes of the guys who had since then got on well selflessly, gradually begin to corrode.

A young doctor returns to Sri Lanka with a dream to serve his country, only to find himself caught in a web of love, loyalty, and a dangerous fight against a corrupt system. As he confronts the darker truths behind the healthcare industry, his courage and integrity are put to the ultimate test.

A young Tamil girl named Rajini who travels from the North to Colombo for the first time after the civil war ends. She arrives in Colombo searching for her missing sister, who was previously a member of the LTTE. She encounters Samantha, who, along with an underworld associate named Ajith, possesses an ancient script. The script claims that a treasure can be unearthed by sacrificing a virgin with four birthmarks on her neck—marks that Rajini happens to have.

An Indian tourist couple arrive in the hill country of crisis ridden Sri Lanka to celebrate their 5th wedding anniversary. But, when things take an unexpected turn, conflicts deepen revealing cracks in their relationship.

Piyal is a handsome young teacher who is hired to teach English to Nanda, a member of a high class family. They fall in love, but can't elope because Piyal is of a lower class. Nanda's parents instead push her into a marriage with Jinadasa, who is of the same class as them. With economic downturn in Sri Lanka, both families lose their status and Jinadasa leaves to try to make a better life for himself; he never achieves his goal and dies penniless. Piyal and Nanda can now finally come together. They have changed however, and the earlier idylic nature of their relationship is not recaptured.

Seya (Sinhala: සේයා) is a 2018 Sri Lankan Sinhala horror film written and directed by Kalyana Chandrasekara and co-produced by A. Parister and Tharanga Athuraliya for Niro Films. It stars an all-female cast of 36 actresses, including, Udari Perera, Dilhani Ekanayake and Menik Wijewardena in lead role along with Deepani Silva, Vishaka Siriwardena and Gayathri Dias. Music composed by Sarath Wickrama. This is Sri Lanka's first all-female featuring movie. It is the 1299th Sri Lankan film in the Sinhala cinema.

The film is based on the life of Jesus Christ until the crucifixion. It was the first Sinhala film based on Christianity and directed by a Buddhist.

Two friends, Bhanuka and Kalana, arrive in a remote village where Bhanuka falls for Samadhi, the beautiful daughter of the revered Ayurvedic healer, Mr. Wickramasinghe. As their stay unfolds, they uncover a hidden crime in the village.

A sprawling portrait of rural life in Sri Lanka; the story revolves around a boy and his friend--a blind girl who he accidentally 'heals' by giving her sight. Though the girl believes the boy healed her, in reality the boy has no such powers. The father of the boy fools the village folk into believing he's a healer, but ultimately the sham is exposed, causing the village to revolt against the boy and his family.

Two young journalists fight against an evil spirit.

OIC Gaddafi is a Sinhala action drama based on a true story. The film follows a fearless police officer who stands up against corruption, injustice, and powerful political forces. As he fights to protect the law and ordinary people, he is drawn into dangerous conflicts that test his courage, loyalty, and sense of justice.

Nommara 17 (Sinhala: නොම්මර 17) is a 1989 Sri Lankan Sinhala action thriller film directed by Hemasiri Sellapperuma and produced by Preethiraj Weeraratne for Weeraratne Enterprises. It stars Vijaya Kumaratunga, Sanath Gunathilake and Jeewan Kumaranatunga in lead roles along with Mervyn Jayathunga, Freddie Silva and Sabeetha Perera. The music was composed by Ernest Soysa. It is the 691st film in the Sinhala cinema. The film was screened after the assassination of lead actor Vijaya Kumaratunga, which influenced the fans to come and watch his famous movie star for the last time on the silver screen. Thus recorded as one of the huge blockbuster hit in Sinhala cinema, which also won Sarasaviya Award as well. It successfully passed 200 days at theatres.

A Silver screen idol of yesteryear a faded star today. In the web of a scandal the limelight is all her again. A long forgotten secret resurfaces making her undertake the most painful journey ever.

Film starring Vijaya Kumaranatunga and Malani Fonseka.

Anil Ruwanwalla, a young photographer meets beautiful Deepthi in a pub and later the friendship turns into love.

A hearing-impaired taxi driver is exploiting a loophole in the law to make a living. But when he gets entangled with the criminal-political underworld of Sri Lanka after a fateful taxi ride, the next few hours will decide the rest of his life.

An elderly man who regrets certain events in his past life displays his struggle to relieve the bottled-up feelings which had disturbed him throughout his life. Opening with the funeral of the elderly Guneris' wife the film follows the revelation of his past which is filled with a number of tragic events including a triple murder he had committed 52 years ago.

Two pampered girls are married against their wishes to two crazy boys. As soon as trouble starts brewing, the girl’s father decides to bring in another girl to cause jealousy and re-ignite their relationship.

After witnessing her politician father's assassination by Soththi, Daughter Pooja a crucial witness, becomes a target herself. Leader is hired to safeguard her due to her pivotal role in proving Soththi's guilt.

In a land where a 17-year-old poor schoolgirl goes to the probation prison for stealing eight nuts of coconut, while corrupted officials, businessmen and drug lords, go scot free. A saddened honest police officer stands against the social injustice and corruptions, hoping to create a just and fair society for the sake of Good Governance, but in trouble as the Mafia want him dead or silence forever. Then the poor girl in prison decides, that it is their duty to challenge the existing system.

Young Buddhist monk Ananda, arrives at a temple in order to restore its paintings. These paintings depict Thelapaththa Jathakaya, a moral story where Lord Buddha said that a man with a big target in life must not be swayed by passion (Keles), the five senses and especially beautiful women. One day, Ananda picks up a hair pin belonging to a young woman. While attempting to return this object to its owner, his repressed feelings are awoken by the beauty and sensuality of the woman. The young monk's inner spiritual world is plunged into turmoil. Then one day the paintings are destroyed. While restoring them for the second time Ananda begins to realize that he is trapped in a web of his worldly desires and attachments.

Railway Redemption tells the story of a seventy year-old busker's final journey home. After hearing the news that his brother is dying, Vijay decides to face up to his past and confront his family, with whom he has had no contact for twenty-five years.

During Sri Lanka’s Independence Day on its eve, the holiday and the day after, and involves the participation of four oppressed souls: a World War II veteran, a prostitute, her thieving pimp and a clerk who have chosen the base of a tree as their asylum from the spectacle of pageantry.

The film weaves together three narratives set against the backdrop of the Sri Lankan Civil War.

A group of housewives form the same neighbourhood engage in a WhatsApp group chat are curious about a new young female tenant in a house nearby and her interaction with a young Muslim woman. In the backdrop of Easter Sunday bombing in Sri Lanka members of the WhatsApp group are very suspicious about the young Muslim woman but they finally realize the nature of the relationship between the two young women and their sexual orientation.

Based on the character of the infamous bandit Marusira, Maruwa Samaga Wase is another movie that was directed by Titus Thotawatte. Marusira A.K.A Siripala is a criminal who escaped death three times but was finally put to rest, which actually caused a huge controversy in society.

A pick-up truck driver leaves Kathmandu airport for a two-day drive with a delivery to a remote mountain village. On the high road, a solitary figure slowly makes his way, wheeling a small red suitcase toward the same village.

A Coincidental meeting of a Soldier and an Army officer at a dark night, in a forest burning with war, between Sri Lankan Army and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The Soldier's efforts born out of sheer respect to save the life of his critically wounded senior Officer become futile at the end. At the Senior officer's death, the soldier nagged constantly by his conscience and its questioning, feels that he too was responsible for the death of his Senior Officer. in the face of this, the soldier begins to probe into the past of the Senior Officer's life and engages in boundless sacrifice to bring justice to him, and in that process soldier gets Senior Officer's past wrongs corrected.

A continuation of “Bawa Duka”; via Peduru’s family, the narrative exposes the social stasis/class discrimination encouraged by the local Sinhalese Buddhist clergy, while the arrival of the Christian missionaries signals a more progressive mindset, though at the cost of conversion to a monotheistic faith. Tyranny is not only practiced by the British colonials but equally facilitated by local traditional institutions--thus, the resultant suffering (Duka) of Peduru is a combination of the two.

Dudu, a young man from a slum with dreams of becoming an actor, faces numerous struggles and sacrifices to achieve his goal. Along the way, he finds love, but unexpected challenges test his determination, shaping his journey of ambition and resilience.

In 2011 Channel 4 exposed damning evidence of atrocities committed in the war in Sri Lanka. Jon Snow presents this powerful follow-up film, revealing new video evidence.

Heena Hoyana Samanallu (Dreaming Butterflies) (Sinhalese: හීන හොයන සමනල්ලු) is a 2017 Sri Lankan Sinhala family drama film directed by Rohan Perera and produced by Sunil T Fernando for Sunil T Films. Shehan, who belongs to a higher middle class family is the only child of Madhavi (Dilhani Ekanayake) and Adithya (Saumya Liyanage). Their lives changed unexpectedly when Shehan is diagnosed with leukemia.