Nidhanaya

Nidhanaya
Directed by	Lester James Peries
Starring	Malini Fonseka Gamini Fonseka Shanti Lekha
Release date(s)	1972
Country	Sri Lanka
Language	Sinhala

Nidhanaya (English: The Treasure) is a 1972 Sinhalese language film directed by Lester James Peries, starring Gamini Fonseka and Malini Fonseka. Movie is based on a short story written by G.B.Senanayake in one of his short story collection known as "The Revenge". It revolves around a murder which is committed for the purpose of gaining access to a hidden treasure. The film won the Silver Lion of St. Mark award at the 1972 Venice International Film Festival and was also selected as one of the outstanding films of the year, receiving a Diploma, at the London Film Festival. It was also chosen as the best film of the first 50 years of Sri Lankan cinema.

Synopsis

A man known as Willy Abenayake (Gamini Fonseka) who belongs to a wealthy family in a village in Sri Lanka, is interested in superstitious things. One day he finds an old Ola Leaf manuscript, which states the where-abouts of a treasure in a rock cave that belongs to an ancient king. However, according to the manuscript, he has to sacrifice the life of a virgin woman who has four black birth marks in her neck, in order to gain access to the treasure.

One day when he walk by a river, he accidentally comes across a young lady (Malini Fonseka), who has four black birth marks in her neck. After following the lady and collecting information about her, he decides to marry her. He eventually marries the lady and spends time with her.

In the meantime, the lady notices that her husband always spends time thinking. One day she asks him as to what keeps the man thinking all the time. He replies that he has to do a religious custom to a god in a rock. So, his wife agrees with him and thereby arranges everything for it.

After going to the rock, the man starts to fulfill the custom and finally he kills his wife as a sacrifice, with the hope of gaining access to the hidden treasure. But, unfortunately he is yet unable to get the treasure.

Sadly he comes home and decides to write the complete story, in his diary. After completing the story, he commits suicide by hanging himself.^[1]

External links

• National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka - Official Website
• Official Website of Lester James Peries in association with Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Sri Lanka
• Nidhanaya at the Internet Movie Database

References

1. ^ "Nidhanaya". Lesternsumitra.com. http://www.lesternsumitra.com/lester/filmo61nidana.htm. Retrieved 2009-05-15.