View source for List of Sri Lankan films of the 1950s

{{Short description|none}}
{{Unreferenced|date=February 2020}}
{{SriLankanFilmList}}
Films produced in [[Sri Lanka]] in the 1950s.
==1950==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! width=15% | Title
! width=12% | Director
! width=30% | Cast
! width=8% | Genre
! width=26% | Notes
|-
| {{Year header}}| '''1950'''
|-
| ''[[Gambada Sundari]]''
|George S. Wijegunaratne
|Sheela Peiris, [[Kingsley Jayasekera]], E. C. Bulathsinhala, Vincent de Paul Peiris, Herbert Perera, Tilaka Siriwardena
|Drama
|Released on 27 January. First Sinhala colour movie produced in Ceylon. Only one was copy printed. A colour documentary on Kandy Esala Perahera was shown.
|-
| ''[[Hadisi Vinishchaya]]''
|[[B. A. W. Jayamanne]]
|[[Rukmani Devi]], B. A. W. Jayamanne, [[Bertram Fernando]], [[Mabel Blythe]], Stanley Mallawarachchi, [[Eddie Jayamanne]], [[Herbie Seneviratne]]
|Drama
|Released on 26 May.
|}
==1951==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! width=15% | Title
! width=12% | Director
! width=30% | Cast
! width=8% | Genre
! width=26% | Notes
|-
| {{Year header}} | '''1951'''
|-
|''[[Seedevi]]''
|[[Sirisena Wimalaweera]]
|[[D. R. Nanayakkara]], N. R. Dias, [[Eddie Junior]], B. N. Amaralatha, J. C. K. Rupawathie, K. W. Karuna Kumari, K. Hector Soysa
|Drama
|Released on 9 March.
|-
|''[[Sengawunu Pilithura]]''
|[[B. A. W. Jayamanne]]
|[[Rukmani Devi]], [[Eddie Jayamanne]], Stanley Mallawarachchi, [[Mabel Blythe]], S. D. Elizabeth, B. A. W. Jayamanne, [[Leticia Peiris]], [[Bertram Fernando]]
|Drama
|Released on 20 May 20. Tamil-dubbed version was released in December 1951 as ''Kusumalatha'' at Gamini (Maradana), Wembley (Kandy). The first Sinhala film to be dubbed in Tamil.
|}
==1952==
{| class="wikitable" width="100%"
|-
! width=15% | Title
! width=12% | Director
! width=30% | Cast
! width=8% | Genre
! width=26% | Notes
|-
| {{Year header}} | '''1952'''
|-
|''[[Banda Nagarayata Pemineema]]''
|Raja Wahab Kashmeer<br> A. B. Raj
|Bernard Perera, Nanda Leelanayaka, Joseph Seneviratne, Malini Ranasinghe, [[Hugo Fernando]], [[Berty Gunathilake]], Chandanie Seneviratne
|Drama
|Released on 4 May. First movie produced entirely in Sri Lanka.
|-
|''[[Umathu Vishvasaya]]''
|[[B. A. W. Jayamanne]]
|[[Rukmani Devi]], [[Eddie Jayamanne]], [[Herbert M. Seneviratne]], Sumith Bibile, [[Mabel Blythe]], [[Leticia Peiris]], [[Ruby de Mel]]
|Drama
|Released on 9 May.
|-
|''[[Siri Sangabo]]''
|Vernon Jayawardena
|Theresa Weerasinghe, Lakshmi Bhai, Edward Perera, Piyadasa Perera, [[Piyadasa Gunasekera]]
|Religious
|Released on 18 July. First movie to depict a Buddhist theme.
|}
==1953==
{| class="wikitable" width="100%"
|-
! width=15% | Title
! width=12% | Director
! width=30% | Cast
! width=8% | Genre
! width=26% | Notes
|-
| {{Year header}} | '''1953'''
|-
|''[[Eda Rae]]''
|[[Shanthi Kumar]]
|Thilakasiri Fernando, Seetha Jayawardena, Shanthi Kumar, [[Herbie Seneviratne]], Austin Abeysekera, Michael Sannasliyanage, [[Premnath Moraes]]
|Drama
|Released on 14 February. Debut playback singing for [[Latha Walpola]].
|-
|''[[Prema Tharangaya]]''
|[[S. M. Nayagam]]
|[[Aruna Shanthi]], Ayesha Weerakoon, [[Laddie Ranasinghe]], [[Mark Samaranayake]], [[Hugo Fernando]], Richard Albert, Dharma Sri Ranatunga
|Romance
|Released on 27 March. Debut playback singing for [[Dharmadasa Walpola]].
|-
|''[[Pitisara Kella]]''
|[[Sirisena Wimalaweera]]
|Theresa Weerasinghe, A. Shanthapriya, Malini Ranasinghe, L. M. Fernando, E. Marshall Perera, S. D. Elizabeth, S. H. Jothipala, Ayesha Weerakoon, [[Hugo Fernando]]
|Drama
|Released on 24 April.
|-
|''[[Kele Handa]]''
|[[B. A. W. Jayamanne]]
|[[Rukmani Devi]], Stanley Perera, [[Rita Ratnayake]], B. A. W. Jayamanne, [[Eddie Jayamanne]], [[Mabel Blythe]], Millie Kahandawala, Wimala Kumari, [[Udula Dabare]]
|Musical
|Released on 27 May. First movie based on a [[Sinhala language|Sinhala]] novel.
|-
|''[[Sujatha (1953 film)|Sujatha]]''
|[[T. R. Sundaram]]
|[[Florida Jayalath]], [[Prem Jayanth]], [[David Dharmakeerthi]], [[Dommie Jayawardena]], [[Shanthi Lekha]], [[Gemini Kantha]], [[Bertram Fernando]]
|Drama
|Released on 26 June. Based on Bollywood film ''[[Bari Behen]]''.
|-
|''[[Puduma Leli]]''
|A.S. Nagarajan
|[[Prem Jayanth]], Clarice de Silva, [[Hugo Fernando]], Nanda Leelanayake, Dharma Sri Ranatunga, [[Mark Samaranayake]], [[Girley Gunawardana]], Richard Albert
|Drama
|Released on 4 December.
|}
==1954==
{| class="wikitable" width="100%"
|-
! width=15% | Title
! width=12% | Director
! width=30% | Cast
! width=8% | Genre
! width=26% | Notes
|-
| {{Year header}} | '''1954'''
|-
|''[[Warada Kageda?]]''
|[[T. R. Sundaram]] <br> D. V. Chari
|[[Prem Jayanth]], [[Rita Ratnayake]], [[Laddie Ranasinghe]], [[Shanthi Lekha]], [[Dommie Jayawardena]], [[Udula Dabare]], [[Christy Leonard Perera]]
|Drama
|Released on 9 April. [[Karunaratne Abeysekera]] made his film debut as a lyricist.
|-'
|''[[Iranganie]]''
|[[B. A. W. Jayamanne]]
|[[Rukmani Devi]], B. A. W. Jayamanne, Stanley Perera, [[Herbert M. Seneviratne]], [[Herbie Seneviratne]], [[Mabel Blythe]], [[Eddie Jayamanne]], [[Lilian Edirisinghe]]
|Drama
|Released on 10 April.
|-
|''[[Saradiel (1954 film)|Saradiel]]''
|[[Sirisena Wimalaweera]]
|Mathias Fernando, Theresa Weerasinghe, N. R. Dias, [[Girley Gunawardana]], Devika Rani, S. H. Jothipala, Sebastian Jayasinghe, B. P. Wickremasinghe
|Biographical
|Released on 5 August.
|-
|''[[Ahankara Sthree]]''
|A. Bhaskar Raj
|Clarice De Silva, [[Ravindra Rupasena]], Ratna Kumari, [[Hugo Fernando]], Rohini Jayakody, [[Mark Samaranayake]], Eddie Yapa, [[Leena de Silva]]
|Thriller
|Released on 17 September.
|-
|''[[Radala Piliruwa]]''
|[[T. R. Sundaram]]
|[[Laddie Ranasinghe]], [[Rita Ratnayake]], [[Dommie Jayawardena]], [[Herbie Seneviratne]], Millie Kahandawela, [[Shanthi Lekha]], [[Udula Dabare]]
|Drama
|Released on 24 December. Based on [[W. A. Silva]]'s novel with same name.
|}
==1955==
{| class="wikitable" width="100%"
|-
! width=15% | Title
! width=12% | Director
! width=30% | Cast
! width=8% | Genre
! width=26% | Notes
|-
| {{Year header}} | '''1955'''
|-
|''[[Surangani (film)|Surangani]]''
|Cyril P. Abeyratne
|[[Eddie Junior]], [[D. R. Nanayakkara]], [[Pearl Vasudevi]], Kanthi Gunatunga, [[Lilian Edirisinghe]], Disna Ranjani, [[G. S. B. Rani]]
|Drama
|Released on 19 February.
|-
|''[[Asoka (1955 film)|Asoka]]''
|[[Sirisena Wimalaweera]]
|Sumith Bibile, Pushpa Janet, Ananda Weerakoon, Eddie Yapa, [[Punya Heendeniya]], Benjamin Fernando, Vimala Kumari, S. H. Jothipala
|Romance
|Released on 4 March.
|-
|''[[Mathabhedaya]]''
|[[B. A. W. Jayamanne]]
|[[Rukmani Devi]], B. A. W. Jayamanne, [[Eddie Jayamanne]], [[Mark Samaranayake]], Senadheera Kuruppu, Peter Peiris, [[Mabel Blythe]], [[Ruby de Mel]]
|Thriller
|Released on 14 April.
|-
|''[[Seda Sulang]]''
|T. Somasekaran
|[[Prem Jayanth]], [[Florida Jayalath]], [[David Dharmakeerthi]], [[Piyadasa Gunasekera]], Dharmasri Ranatunga, [[Lilian Edirisinghe]], [[Dommie Jayawardena]]
|Drama
|Released on 24 June.
|-
|''[[Mathalan]]''
|A. S. Nagarajan
|Clarice de Silva, [[Shesha Palihakkara]], [[Hugo Fernando]], [[Mark Samaranayake]], Peter Perera, Eddie Yapa, Bernard Perera, Pitipana Silva
|Drama
|Released on 27 August.
|-
|''[[Perakadoru Bena]]''
|A. Bhaskar Raj
|[[Rukmani Devi]], [[Eddie Jayamanne]], [[Mark Samaranayake]], [[Ruby de Mel]], [[Mabel Blythe]], [[Kingsley Rajapakse]], [[Baptist Fernando]]
|Comedy
|Released on 14 October.
|-
|''[[Podi Putha]]''
|[[Sirisena Wimalaweera]]
|[[Sirisena Wimalaweera]], Ananda Weerakoon, Pushpa Janet, N. R. Dias, Malani Ranasinghe, S. H. Jothipala, [[Eddie Junior]]
|Drama
|Released on 25 November.
|}
==1956==
{| class="wikitable" width="100%"
|-
! width=15% | Title
! width=12% | Director
! width=30% | Cast
! width=8% | Genre
! width=26% | Notes
|-
| {{Year header}} | '''1956'''
|-
|''[[Dosthara]]''
|[[K. Shankar]]
|[[Rukmani Devi]], [[Eddie Jayamanne]], [[Herbert M. Seneviratne]], [[Hugo Fernando]], [[Mark Samaranayake]], [[Shanthi Lekha]], [[Sirimathi Rasadari]]
|Drama
|Released on 2 February.
|-
|''[[Dingiri Menika]]''
|[[A. S. A. Sami]]
|Cyrus W. Surendra, Theja Seneviratne, Vimala Venetia, Bandula Sri Sarachchandra, Seetha Nanayakkara, Luman Rajapakse, Joseph Seneviratne
|Drama
|Released on 11 May.
|-
|''[[Daiva Vipakaya]]''
|[[B. A. W. Jayamanne]]
|B. A. W. Jayamanne, Senadheera Kuruppu, Dharma Sri Ranatunga, [[Mabel Blythe]], [[Ruby de Mel]], Shirley Blythe, Grace Jayamanne, [[Dudley Wanaguru]]
|Drama
|Released on 23 May.
|-
|''[[Duppathage Duka]]''
|[[T. R. Sundaram]]<br> K. Mithradas
|[[Laddie Ranasinghe]], [[Hugo Fernando]], [[Mark Samaranayake]], Stanley Perera, [[Girley Gunawardana]], [[Dommie Jayawardena]], Kanthi Gunatunga
|Drama
|Released on 10 August.
|-
|''[[Surathali]]''
|Cyril P. Abeyratne
|[[Ravindra Rupasena]], [[Leena de Silva]], [[Ananda Jayaratne]], Rohini Jayakody, L. M. Perera, Premila Kuruppu, [[Lilian Edirisinghe]], [[Sirimathi Rasadari]]
|Romance
|Released on 12 September. First Sinhala film to be released through Ceylon Entertainments circuit. [[H. R. Jothipala]] made his film debut as a playback singer.
|-
|''[[Ramyalatha]]''
|A. Bhaskar Raj
|[[Aruna Shanthi]], Clarice de Silva, [[Rita Ratnayake]], Pujitha Mendis, [[Mark Samaranayake]], Pitipana Silva, Boniface Fernando, Eddie Yapa
|Drama
|Released on 25 November.
|-
|''[[Rekava]]''
|[[Lester James Peries]]
|Ananda Weerakoon, Mallika Pilapitiya, [[D. R. Nanayakkara]], [[Iranganie Serasinghe]], Somapala Dharmapriya, Myrtle Fernando, Nona Zubeida
|Musical
|Released on 28 December. First Sinhala film photographed entirely "on location".
|-
|''[[Sirakaruwa]]''
|[[Sirisena Wimalaweera]]
|Sirisena Wimalaweera, Mathias Fernando, Marshal Perera, S. H. Jothipala, Upasena Wimalaweera, Shanthi Abeysekera, N. R. Dias, [[Piyadasa Wijekoon]]
|Thriller
|Released on 25 January.
|-
|}
==1957==
{| class="wikitable" width="100%"
|-
! width=15% | Title
! width=12% | Director
! width=30% | Cast
! width=8% | Genre
! width=26% | Notes
|-
| {{Year header}} | '''1957'''
|-
|''[[Jeevitha Satana]]''
|[[Shanthi Kumar]]
|Shanthi Kumar, Seetha Jayawardena, [[Herbie Seneviratne]], Ayesha Weerakoon, [[Ananda Weerakoon]], Shane Gunaratne, Millie Kahandawala, [[Shanthi Lekha]]
|Drama
|Released on 23 February. Based on Tamil film ''[[En Veedu]]'' (1953) & Hindi film ''[[Gumastha (1953 film)|Gumastha]]'' (1953).
|-
|''[[Suraya (1957 film)|Suraya]]''
|[[T. R. Sundaram]]
|[[Laddie Ranasinghe]], [[Herbie Seneviratne]], [[Alfred Edirimanne]], Rohini Jayakody, Kanthi Gunatinga, [[Hugo Fernando]], S. D. Elizabeth
|Action
|Released on 29 March. Story based on Tamil film ''[[Donga Ramudu (1955 film)|Thiruttu Raman]]'' (1956).
|-
|''[[Siriyalatha]]''
|S. S. Rajan
|[[Rukmani Devi]], [[Herbert M. Seneviratne]], [[Eddie Jayamanne]], [[Mark Samaranayake]], [[Ruby de Mel]], [[Hugo Fernando]], [[Leticia Peiris]]
|Drama
|Released on 27 June.
|-
|''[[Le Kandulu]]''
|K. Wellington Silva
|Ratna Kumari, Nanda Kumar, Arthur Titus, Shantha Wijesuriya, Noman Hettiarachchi, Oril Wanakulasuriya, Malani Fernando, Real Dewi
|Drama
|Released on 2 September.
|-
|''[[Sukumali]]''
|M. K. Samy<br> M. Masthan
|[[Laddie Ranasinghe]], Ayesha Weerakoon, [[Rita Ratnayake]], [[Ananda Weerakoon]], [[Christy Leonard Perera]], Sudas Maskorala
|Drama
|Released on 14 October.
|-
|''[[Saradam]]''
|T. Somasekaran
|[[Florida Jayalath]], Stanley Perera, [[Joe Abeywickrama]], [[Kingsley Rajapakse]], Richard Albert, Sunil Premadasa
|Drama
|Released on 29 November. Film debut for [[Joe Abeywickrama]].
|-
|''[[Surasena (1957 film)|Surasena]]''
|S. M. S. Naidu
|[[Herbie Seneviratne]], Kanthi Gunatunga, Rohini Jayakody, [[Eddie Jayamanne]], [[Mark Samaranayake]], [[Ruby de Mel]], [[Dommie Jayawardena]]
|Action
|Released on 13 December.
|}
==1958==
{| class="wikitable" width="100%"
|-
! width=15% | Title
! width=12% | Director
! width=30% | Cast
! width=8% | Genre
! width=26% | Notes
|-
| {{Year header}} | '''1958'''
|-
|''[[Ekamath Eka Rataka]]''
|[[Sirisena Wimalaweera]]
|Turin Fernando, Rita Doreen, Nanda Hettiarachchi, S. H. Jothipala, N. R. Dias, Malini Ranasinghe, [[Lilian Edirisinghe]], Daya Karunaratne
|Drama
|Released on 14 February.
|-
|''[[Vanaliya]]''
|[[B. A. W. Jayamanne]]
|B. A. W. Jayamanne, Shirley Blythe, Dharmasri Ranatunga, Patricia Walker, Sumithra Walker, [[Mabel Blythe]], Grace Jayamanne, Austin Abeysekera
|Drama
|Released on 21 February. Based on Tamil film ''[[Minnalkodi]]''.
|-
|''[[Sohoyuro]]''
|A. Bhaskar Raj<br> L. S. Ramachandran
|Clarice de Silva, [[Aruna Shanthi]], [[Ravindra Rupasena]], [[Leena de Silva]], [[Ananda Jayaratne]], Pitipana Silva, Eddie Yapa, Joseph Seneviratne
|Drama
|Released on 15 March. [[Angeline Gunathilake]] made his first film as a playback singer.
|-
|''[[Deiyanne Rate]]''
|L. S. Ramachandran
|Senadheera Kuruppu, [[Punya Heendeniya]], [[Dommie Jayawardena]], [[Piyadasa Gunasekera]], Rohini Jayakody, Jennie Winifrida, [[Alfred Edirimanne]]
|Drama
|Released on 1 May. Based on the novel by [[W. A. Silva]].
|-
|''[[Salli Malli Salli]]''
|M. R. S. Mani
|[[Prem Jayanth]], [[David Dharmakeerthi]], [[Shanthi Lekha]], Rosalind Fernando, Manel Samaranayake, Daya Abeysekera
|Thriller
|Released on 18 July.
|-
|''[[Daskama]]''
|Jyotish Sinha
|[[Ravindra Rupasena]], Disna Ranjani, [[Dudley Wanaguru]], [[Bertram Fernando]], Millie Kahandawala, Shanthi Abeysekera
|Action
|Released on 25 July.
|-
|''[[Suneetha (1958 film)|Suneetha]]''
|[[P. Neelakantan]]
|[[Ravindra Rupasena]], [[Rita Ratnayake]], [[Kingsley Rajapakse]], [[Leena de Silva]], [[Christy Leonard Perera]], [[Punya Heendeniya]], L. M. Perera
|Romance
|Released on 21 August.
|-
|''[[Sepali]]''
|W. M. S. Tampoe
|Stanley Perera, [[Florida Jayalath]], [[Mark Samaranayake]], [[Rita Ratnayake]], [[Anthony C. Perera]], [[Christy Leonard Perera]], [[Vincent Vaas]]
|Drama
|Released on 10 October. Story based on Hindi film ''[[Dulari (film)|Dulari]]'' (1949).
|-
|''[[Vana Mohini (1958 film)|Vana Mohini]]''
|A. Bhaskar Raj<br> [[T. R. Sundaram]]
|[[Herbie Seneviratne]], Kanthi Gunatunga, Rohini Jayakody, [[Piyadasa Gunasekera]], [[Hugo Fernando]], [[David Dharmakeerthi]], Richard Albert, [[Vincent Vaas]]
|Drama
|Released on 12 December. Story based on Tamil film ''[[Vana Mohini]]'' (1941).
|}
==1959==
{| class="wikitable" width="100%"
|-
! width=15% | Title
! width=12% | Director
! width=30% | Cast
! width=8% | Genre
! width=26% | Notes
|-
| {{Year header}} | '''1959'''
|-
|''[[Avishvasaya]]''
|T. Somasekaran
|[[Prem Jayanth]], [[Florida Jayalath]], [[Joe Abeywickrema]], [[Baptist Fernando]], [[M. V. Balan]], [[Kingsley Rajapakse]], Sudam Wanigatunga
|Thriller
|Released on 4 February.
|-
|''[[Ma Alaya Kala Tharuniya]]''
|[[Sirisena Wimalaweera]]
|[[Aruna Shanthi]], [[Ananda Weerakoon]], Kumari Manel, [[Bandu Munasinghe]], N. R. Dias, S. H. Jothipala, E. Marshall Perera, [[Piyadasa Wijekoon]]
|Drama
|Released on 20 February.
|-
|''[[Daivayogaya]]''
|[[S. K. Ojha]]
|[[Rukmani Devi]], Senadheera Kuruppu, [[Eddie Jayamanne]], [[Gamini Fonseka]], [[Mark Samaranayake]], [[Sirimathi Rasadari]]
|Drama
|Released on 18 April. Story based on novel by [[W. A. Silva]].
|-
|''[[Purusha Rathnaya]]''
|A.S. Nagarajan
|[[Prem Jayanth]], Clarice de Silva, Millie Kahandawala, [[Baptist Fernando]], Eddie Yapa, Pitipana Silva, [[Piyadasa Wijekoon]]
|Drama
|Released on 9 May. Swarna Abeynayake became the first woman to produce a Sinhala film.
|-
|''[[Sri 296]]''
|[[Premnath Moraes]]
|[[Punya Heendeniya]], [[Joe Abeywickrema]], [[Henry Jayasena]], Sudam Wanigatunga, [[Kingsley Rajapakse]], [[Sirimathi Rasadari]], [[M. V. Balan]]
|Thriller
|Released on 20 May. Story based on Hindi film ''[[C.I.D. (1956 film)|C I.D.]]'' (1956).
|-
|''[[Sihinaya]]''
|T. Janaki Ram
|[[Dommie Jayawardena]], Rohini Jayakody, Senadheera Kuruppu, [[Asoka Ponnamperuma]], [[Lilian Edirisinghe]], Ayesha Weerakoon, [[D. R. Nanayakkara]]
|Crime
|Released on 3 July. Story based on English film ''[[Vendetta (1950 film)|Vendetta]]'' (1950?).
|-
|''[[Gehenu Geta]]''
|Jyotish Sinha<br> [[Kingsley Rajapakse]]<br> T. Somasekaran
|[[Henry Jayasena]], Kumari Bibile, [[Dudley Wanaguru]], [[Udula Dabare]], [[Florida Jayalath]], Vincent Weerasekera, [[Joe Abeywickrema]]
|Musical comedy
|Released on 24 July. Story based on English film ''[[The Fabulous Senorita]]'' (1952), Hindi film ''[[Albela (1951 film)|Albela]]'' (1951) and Tamil film ''[[Manamagan Thevai]]'' (1957).
|-
|''[[Sirimalee]]''
|[[Robin Tampoe]]
|Boniface Fernando, Sujatha Wijesekera, [[Asoka Ponnamperuma]], [[Joe Abeywickrema]], [[David Dharmakeerthi]], Rita Carmaline, [[Christy Leonard Perera]]
|Romance
|Released on 11 September.
|-
|''[[Hadisi Vivahaya]]''
|[[B. A. W. Jayamanne]]
|B. A. W. Jayamanne, Shirley Blythe, Dharmasri Ranatunga, [[Ruby de Mel]], [[Dudley Wanaguru]], [[Mabel Blythe]], Austin Abeysekera, Patricia Walker
|Drama
|Released on 14 November.
|}
==See also==
* [[Cinema of Sri Lanka]]
* [[List of Sri Lankan films]]
[[Category:Lists of Sri Lankan films by decade|1950s]]
[[Category:1950s in Ceylon|Films]]
[[Category:Lists of 1950s films|Sri Lanka]]