Ranmuthu Duwa (English: Island of Treasures) was the first colour full-length Sinhalese language film to be produced in Sri Lanka in 1962. It was co-produced by Shesha Palihakkara, Arthur C. Clarke and directed by Mike Wilson, who also made his debut as a feature director. The film stars some of those who would go on to become big names in the Sinhala Cinema, such as Gamini Fonseka, Joe Abeywickrema and Jeevarani Kurukulasuriya in the leading roles. Playback singing was by Nanda Malini, Narada Disasekara and W.D. Amaradeva. The lyrics were written by Chandraratne Manawasinghe.[1]

Ranmuthu Duwa
danuthuruwa
Directed byMike Wilson
Written byMike Wilson
Produced byShesha Palihakkara
Mike Wilson
Arthur C. Clarke
StarringGamini Fonseka
Jeevarani Kurukulasuriya
CinematographyMike Wilson
M. S. Ananda
Edited byTitus Thotawatte
Music byW.D. Amaradeva
Production
company
Distributed byTharanga Film and Music
Release date
  • 8 October 1962 (1962-10-08)
CountrySri Lanka
LanguageSinhala

Ran Muthu Duwa was a landmark in the history of the Lankan cinema, which at the time was only 15 years old (having started in 1947).[2] It not only introduced colour to the Lankan movies, but also showed for the first time the underwater wonders of the seas around Ceylon, which had barely begun to be explored.

It was also a commercial success: seen by more than a million people on its first release during 1962-63 - a tenth of the island's then population.[3] But the cultural influence of the film went well beyond the box office. It starred in the leading roles talented young actors who would soon become big names in Lanka's film industry,[4] especially Gamini Fonseka and Joe Abeywickrama. It also launched or catapulted the careers of a number of other creative or technical professionals.[5][6]

Synopsis

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The film is about the discovery of an underwater treasure. It involves a mixture of ancient legends, human treachery and romance.

Ownership

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In the early 1980s ownership of the film was purchased by film and record producer, Vijaya Ramanayake. Tharanga films and music currently owns and distributes the film.[7]

Cast

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See also.

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References

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  1. ^ "All about the film Ranmuthu Duwa". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  2. ^ Cinema of Sri Lanka
  3. ^ Demographics of Sri Lanka
  4. ^ "Film History".
  5. ^ "Mike Wilson's Great Discovery at Trincomalee".
  6. ^ Mike Wilson
  7. ^ "රන්මුතුදූවේ අයිතිය මගේ විජය රාමනායක අවධාරණය කරයි". www.sarasaviya.lk. Archived from the original on 2015-05-17.
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