Films produced in Sri Lanka in the 1950s.
width=15% | Title | width=12% | Director | width=30% | Cast | width=8% | Genre | width=26% | 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. |
width=15% | Title | width=12% | Director | width=30% | Cast | width=8% | Genre | width=26% | 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. |
width=15% | Title | width=12% | Director | width=30% | Cast | width=8% | Genre | width=26% | 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. |
width=15% | Title | width=12% | Director | width=30% | Cast | width=8% | Genre | width=26% | 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 | 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. |
width=15% | Title | width=12% | Director | width=30% | Cast | width=8% | Genre | width=26% | 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. |
width=15% | Title | width=12% | Director | width=30% | Cast | width=8% | Genre | width=26% | 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. |
width=15% | Title | width=12% | Director | width=30% | Cast | width=8% | Genre | width=26% | 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. | |||||
width=15% | Title | width=12% | Director | width=30% | Cast | width=8% | Genre | width=26% | 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. |
width=15% | Title | width=12% | Director | width=30% | Cast | width=8% | Genre | width=26% | 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). |
width=15% | Title | width=12% | Director | width=30% | Cast | width=8% | Genre | width=26% | 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. |