Pura Handa Kaluwara

Purahanda Kaluwara (Death on a Full Moon Day) (Sinhala: පුරහඳ කළුවර) is a 2001 Sri Lankan Sinhala drama film directed and produced by Prasanna Vithanage.[3] It stars Joe Abeywickrama and Priyanka Samaraweera in lead roles along with Linton Semage and Mahendra Perera. Music composed by Nadeeka Guruge.[4][5] The film has received mainly positive reviews.[6] It is the 967th film in Sri Lankan cinema.[7]

Purahanda Kaluwara
පුරහඳ කළුවර
DVD poster
Directed byPrasanna Vithanage'[1]
Written byPrasanna Vithanage
Screenplay byPrasanna Vithanage
Produced byPrasanna Vithanage
Starring
CinematographyM.D Mahipala
Edited byK. Sekar Prasad
Production
company
Gemini Studios
Release date
  • 9 October 2001 (2001-10-09) (Colombo)
[2]
Running time
72 minutes
CountrySri Lanka
LanguageSinhala

Synopsis

In a draught-stricken land marred by ethnic conflict, the sons of the rural poor are dying in a bitter civil war.

However, Wannihami, the blind old man, knows that rain will come soon. On the Buddhist holiday of the full moon, the body of Bandara, Wannihami's soldier son, is brought home in a sealed coffin. The rains fall on the day Bandara is buried. But Wannihami refuses to sign the papers which entitles the family to Government compensation.

Despite pressure from his desperate community, Wannihami still retains clarity of vision which transcends his blindness. He decides to dig up his son's sealed coffin, even though he knows it will invalidate the compensation claim. His greater purpose is to believe that the war cannot kill his son.[5]

Cast
  • Joe Abeywickrama as Vannihamy
  • Priyanka Samaraweera as Sunanda
  • Linton Semage as Sunanda's husband
  • Mahendra Perera as Village Officer
  • Nayana Hettiarachchi as Yamuna
  • Kumara Karunananda as Pala
  • Harshajith Abeysuriya as Vannihamy's Grandson
  • K. A. Milton Perera as Schoolmaster

Release

With the Supreme Court ruling that the post of competent authority was illegal, the film was finally allowed to be released on fifth circuit from 28 July.[8] However, the screening was delayed again when minister Sarath Amunugama, made the order under section 6 of the NFCSL Act of 1971 that the exhibition of the film had been deferred.[9]

Box office

The film recorded the highest gate collection at the Colombo Regal cinema and earned Rs. 2,420,284.00 within 61 days to break the previous box office record set by Saroja by Somaratne Dissanayake which earned Rs. 2,414,000.00 after running for 126 days. Within last 50 days, the film earned Rs. 7,621,643.34 showing in thirteen theatres around the country.[10]

Accolades

The main actor, Joe Abeywickrama won Best Actor award at 12th Singapore International Film Festival for his role "Wannihami". In 1991, the film won Grand Prix award, Jury award and NETPAC at 19th Amiens International Film Festival as well as International Film Critic's award at Fribourg International Film Festival in the same year.[10]

References
  1. "'Purahanda Kaluwara' to go on 5th circuit soon". Sunday times. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  2. "'Kaluwara' finally wins". Sunday Times. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  3. "Sri Lankan movies". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 24 June 2017.
  4. "How war has shattered the life of a Sri Lankan village". World Socialist Web Site. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  5. Wonder Phil Productions. "Death on a full moon day | Under Construction - UC Films". Archived from the original on 26 March 2011. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
  6. ""Pura Handa Kaluwara" (Death on a Full Moon Day) a film by Prasanna Vithanage". Refugee Watch Online. 30 August 2010. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  7. "Sri Lanka Cinema History". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  8. "Prasanna's new film: a test case". Sunday Times. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  9. "Purahanda Kaluwara kept in the dark". Sunday Times. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  10. "'Purahanda' earns a record gate". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 December 2019.



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