“Nidhanaya” (The Treasure) is a Sri Lankan drama film directed by Lester James Peries. The film tells the story of Willie Abeynayake, a poor schoolteacher, who goes on a fishing trip with his friend and comes across a treasure. The discovery of the treasure leads to a series of events that change Willie’s life and expose the greed and corruption of those around him.
“Nidhanaya” is an adaptation of a short story by Martin Wickramasinghe and is set in the 1950s, a time of transition for Sri Lanka, which was still recovering from the effects of colonialism. The film explores themes of colonialism, class struggle, and human greed through its characters and their actions.
“Nidhanaya” received critical acclaim for its realistic portrayal of life in Sri Lanka, its social commentary, and the performances of its cast. It was also recognized at several international film festivals, including the Manila International Film Festival, where it won the Best Film award, and the London Film Festival, where it was screened in the “Films of Lester James Peries” retrospective.
Overall, “Nidhanaya” is regarded as a landmark film in Sri Lankan cinema and has had a significant impact on the country’s film industry. The film is considered a classic and is regularly studied and analyzed by scholars and filmmakers. It is also widely regarded as one of the best films ever made in Sri Lanka.
| Directed by | Lester James Peries |
|---|---|
| Produced by | R Anthonypillai |
| Written by | G. B. Senanayake |
| Screenplay by | Tissa Abeysekara |
| Starring | Malini Fonseka, Gamini Fonseka, Shanthi Lekha, Saman Bokalawela, Trilicia Gunawardena, Francis Perera, Wijeratne Warakagoda, |
| Music by | Premasiri Kemadasa |
| Cinematography | M. S. Ananda |
| Edited by | Lester James Peries Edvin Leetin Gladvin Fernando |
| Release date | 19 February 1972 |
| Running time | 108 minutes |
| Country | Sri Lanka |
| Language | Sinhala |