|
List of Sri Lankan films of the 1950s
Films produced in Sri Lanka in the 1950s.
1950
| 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.
|
1951
| 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.
|
1952
| 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.
|
1953
| 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.
|
1954
| 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.
|
1955
| 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.
|
1956
| 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.
|
1957
| 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.
|
1958
| 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).
|
1959
| 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.
|
See also
|
