| Weerya වීර්යා | |
| Director: | Sunil Aruna Weerasiri [1] |
| Producer: | Arunakanthi Films |
| Story: | Sunil Aruna Weerasiri |
| Starring: | Jagath Chamila Sheshadri Priyasad Lucky Dias Sriyani Amarasena Duleeka Marapana |
| Music: | Pramod Narayana Amith Gurulawala |
| Cinematography: | Ayeshmantha Hettiarachchi |
| Editing: | Ajith Ramanayake |
| Distributor: | Ridma circuit |
| Runtime: | 115 minutes |
| Country: | Sri Lanka |
| Language: | Sinhala |
Weerya (Sinhala; Sinhalese: වීර්යා) is a 2024 Sri Lankan Sinhalese language action thriller film directed and produced by Sunil Aruna Weerasiri for Arunakanthi Films.[2] [3] It stars Jagath Chamila and Sheshadri Priyasad in lead roles along with Lucky Dias, Sriyani Amarasena and Duleeka Marapana in supportive roles.[4] [5] During the shooting, popular actor Anton Jude was hospitalized on 12 March 2012, where he later died in cardiac arrest.[6] [7] [8]
The film is released on 5 January 2024 in Ridma circuit cinemas.[9]
This is the second cinematic direction by Sunil Aruna Weerasiri,[12] where he previously directed the 2010 film Tikiri Suwanda[13] and produced the two films Sepata Dukata Sunny and Clean Out,[14] both were released in 2003. He also produced and made the story of the film. Kanthi Weerisiri is the production executive and production support is given by BI Jayatissa, Ajith Kumara, Nishantha De Silva and Salitha Pramoth. Lal Pagodaarachchi made the screenplay and Priyantha Pathirage, Ananda Kapuge and Sugath Lellampitiya are the assistant directors.
Cinematography done by Ayeshmantha Hettiarachchi assisted by Buddhika Serasinghe, edited by Ajith Ramanayake and art direction done by Manjula Ayagama with the assistance by Duleep Fernando. Sound mixing is handled by Aruna Priyantha Kaluarachchi and Indika Udara Lanka is the make-up artist with the assistance of Chamara Niroshan. Surendra Kumara managed lighting and lighting support co-handled by Upul Weerasinghe, Sudesh Samaratunga, KK Palitha, Rohan Paul, Rukshan Saman Kumar, Lalith Wasantha and Suresh Madhushankha.
Color combination done by Dinindu Jagoda, costumes designed by Nalaka Prasanna and Mahesh Nishantha made still photography. Alexander Fernando and Kung Fu Muy Thai performer Billy Wong are stunt directors.[15] Production Management done by Sumith Prasanna and assisted by Dhanushka Chaturanga, whereas Rusiru Pannila handled animation. Music co-directed by director's son Pramod Narayana along with Amith Gurulawala, where Nilar N. Cassim and Baila Santi wrote the song lyrics. Uresha Ravihari, Prabash Weerasiri Narayana, Kumara Thirimadura, Wimalajith Dombaghawatta and Rodney Warnakula made background vocals in the film.
Muhurath ceremony was celebrated in 2012 with the participation of the parliamentarians Ruwan Wijewardene and Mervyn Silva. The main scenes were shot in director's house since 15th March 2012. 75% of the rest of the shooting completed in and around Colombo, Kandy and Nuwara Elya in May, 2012.[16] [17] Shooting stopped in the mid way, due to Anton Jude's funeral.[18]