''Christhu Charithaya'' ( si, ක්‍රිස්තු චරිතය, italic=yes) is a 1990

Sri Lanka Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්‍රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...

n Sinhala biographical film directed by

Sunil Ariyaratne Vidyodaya Vibhushana Sahithya Kala Shiromani Prof. Sunil Ariyaratne Kuruwita Bandara (born 28 July 1949 as සුනිල් ආරියරත්න), popularly as Sunil Ariyaratne, is a Sri Lankan scholar, film director, author, poet and a l ...

and produced by Alerik Lionel Fernando. It stars

Vijaya Kumaratunga Kovilage Anton Vijaya Kumaranatunga ( si, කොවිලගේ ඇන්ටන් විජය කුමාරණතුංග; ta, விஜய_குமாரணதுங்க; 9 October 1945 – 16 February 1988), popularly known as Vijaya ...

Jesus Jesus, likely from he, יֵשׁוּעַ, translit=Yēšūaʿ, label=Hebrew/Aramaic ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus of Nazareth (among other names and titles), was a first-century Jewish preacher and religious ...

along with ensemble cast of popular film artists. Music composed by

Premasiri Khemadasa Deshamanya Kala Keerthi Dr.Premasiri Khemadasa ( Sinhala: ආචාර්ය ප්‍රේමසිරි කේමදාස ) (25 January 1937 – 24 October 2008) also known as "Khemadasa Master" was a Sri Lankan music composer. Exploring ...

. It is the 712th Sri Lankan film in the

Sinhala cinema Sri Lankan cinema encompasses the Sri Lankan film industry. It is a fledgling industry that has struggled to find a footing since its inauguration in 1947 with '' Kadawunu Poronduwa'' produced by S. M. Nayagam of Chitra Kala Movietone. Sri Lanka ...

. The film is based on the life of Jesus Christ until

crucifixion Crucifixion is a method of capital punishment in which the victim is tied or nailed to a large wooden cross or beam and left to hang until eventual death from exhaustion and asphyxiation. It was used as a punishment by the Persians, Carthagin ...

. It was the first Sinhala film based on Christianity and directed by a Buddhist.

Production

The script of the film was written by Sunil Ariyaratne in 1980 under the guidance of film producer Alerik Lionel Fernando. They both agreed to choose Vijaya Kumaratunga as the lead role. The film shooting was started in 1981 under several controversies. However after in July 1982, the Sri Lanka Catholic Council appointed an Advisory Committee consisting of four priests. The Sinhalese section of the Catholic doctrine of the Chilaw Padaviya has sent a memorandum to the President and requested that the work of the Christian character be stopped immediately. Finally, on March 23, 1983, the cabinet bans the producing of the film. In the meantime, after the film began, threatening letters were ordered to stop the film. The principle character, Vijaya Kumaratunga, who was suspected of being a Naxalite, had been remanded by the then government, his image was shown on television and the publicity of his voice and name on the radio had been banned. Post production of the film was started in mid-1982 at Hendala Vijaya Studios. The screenplay of the film was first released as a Sirisumana Godage publication. It was re-released with 22 color photographs.

Plot

Cast

Jesus Christ Jesus, likely from he, יֵשׁוּעַ, translit=Yēšūaʿ, label=Hebrew/Aramaic ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus of Nazareth (among other names and titles), was a first-century Jewish preacher and religious ...

* Stefan Abeyesinhe as Baby Jesus *

Menik Kurukulasuriya Hyacinth Menik Kanthi Kurukulasuriya (born 22 October 1957), popularly as Menik Kurukulasuriya, is an actress in Sri Lankan cinema. Personal life She was born as the youngest of the family. Her father was Kurukulasuriyage Venus Anthony Fernando ...

Mary Magdalene Mary Magdalene (sometimes called Mary of Magdala, or simply the Magdalene or the Madeleine) was a woman who, according to the four canonical gospels, traveled with Jesus as one of his followers and was a witness to crucifixion of Jesus, his cru ...

Rex Kodippili Rex Joseph Kodippili (born 6 October 1938: Sinhala:රෙක්ස් කොඩිප්පිලි) is a Sri Lankan film actor and film director. Primarily acted as a villain for the most of his career, Kodippili appeared in more than 130 ...

Pontius Pilate Pontius Pilate (; grc-gre, Πόντιος Πιλᾶτος, ) was the fifth governor of the Roman province of Judaea, serving under Emperor Tiberius from 26/27 to 36/37 AD. He is best known for being the official who presided over the trial of J ...

* Neil Alles as

Judas Judas Iscariot (; grc-x-biblical, Ἰούδας Ἰσκαριώτης; syc, ܝܗܘܕܐ ܣܟܪܝܘܛܐ; died AD) was a disciple and one of the original Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ. According to all four canonical gospels, Judas betraye ...

* Nathali Anne Greet as

Mary, mother of Jesus Mary; arc, ܡܪܝܡ, translit=Mariam; ar, مريم, translit=Maryam; grc, Μαρία, translit=María; la, Maria; cop, Ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ, translit=Maria was a first-century Jews, Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Saint Joseph, Jose ...

* Prasanna Wickramasinghe as

Joseph Joseph is a common male given name, derived from the Hebrew Yosef (יוֹסֵף). "Joseph" is used, along with "Josef", mostly in English, French and partially German languages. This spelling is also found as a variant in the languages of the mo ...

Rosy Senanayake Bernadine Rose Senanayake, JP, UM (known as ''Rosy Senanayake'') (née Ramanayake; born 5 January 1958) is a Sri Lankan politician, a former beauty queen and also an activist. She is the current Mayor of Colombo, and former Prime Minister's S ...

Roy de Silva Chathurartha Devadithya Gardiyawasam Lindamulage Roy Aloysius Felix de Silva, popularly known as Roy de Silva (රෝයි ද සිල්වා; 30 August 1937 – 30 June 2018), was a Sri Lankan actor and film director in Sri Lankan cinema a ...

Caiaphas Joseph ben Caiaphas (; c. 14 BC – c. 46 AD), known simply as Caiaphas (; grc-x-koine, Καϊάφας, Kaïáphas ) in the New Testament, was the Jewish high priest who, according to the gospels, organized a plot to kill Jesus. He famously p ...

Sathischandra Edirisinghe Patikirige Sathischandra Edirisinghe (born 11 February 1941 as Patikirige Sathischandra Edirisinghe, සතිස්චන්ද්‍ර එදිරිසිංහ) inhalais an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television. Considere ...

as Peduru * Inoka Amarasena as Veronica *

Vishaka Siriwardana Mukthagara Adhikari Muidayanse Ralahaminalage Vishaka Siriwardana ( si, විශාඛා සිරිවර්ධන; 28 August 1956 – 23 October 2021),Sinhala Cinema Database cited she was born in 1957. However leading cinema source ''Saras ...

Martha Martha (Hebrew: מָרְתָא‎) is a biblical figure described in the Gospels of Luke and John. Together with her siblings Lazarus and Mary of Bethany, she is described as living in the village of Bethany near Jerusalem. She was witness to ...

* Dayananda Jayawardena as 1st Herod *

Sumana Amarasinghe Denipitiya Vithanage Sumana Amarasinghe ( si, සුමනා අමරසිංහ; 21 February 1948 – 5 June 2022) was an actress in Sri Lankan cinema and television. Highly versatile actress from drama to comedy, she is usually known as th ...

Herodias Herodias ( el, Ἡρῳδιάς, ''Hērǭdiás''; ''c.'' 15 BC – after AD 39) was a princess of the Herodian dynasty of Judaea during the time of the Roman Empire. Christian writings connect her with John the Baptist's execution. Family relat ...

* Samanthi Lanerolle as

Bethlehem Bethlehem (; ar, بيت لحم ; he, בֵּית לֶחֶם '' '') is a city in the central West Bank, Palestine, about south of Jerusalem. Its population is approximately 25,000,Amara, 1999p. 18.Brynen, 2000p. 202. and it is the capital o ...

girl *

Hyacinth Wijeratne Threeris Hyacinth Wijeratne ( si, හයසින්ත් විජේරත්න; 3 October 1946 – 31 July 2021), was an actress in Sri Lankan cinema, theatre and television. In a career spanned more than four decades, she was known for h ...

Anna Anna may refer to: People Surname and given name * Anna (name) Mononym * Anna the Prophetess, in the Gospel of Luke * Anna (wife of Artabasdos) (fl. 715–773) * Anna (daughter of Boris I) (9th–10th century) * Anna (Anisia) (fl. 1218 to 12 ...

Mervyn Jayathunga Pitiyage Mervyn Piyadasa Jayatunga ( si, මර්වින් ජයතුංග; 9 March 1940 – 1 November 1993), popularly known as Mervyn Jayathunga, was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema and stage drama. He was a highly versatile actor, who ...

as 2nd Herod * Lakshman Mallawarachchi as Thomas * Baptist Fernando as

Annas Annas (also Ananus or Ananias;Goodman, Martin, "Rome & Jerusalem", Penguin Books, p.12 (2007) , ; grc-x-koine, Ἅννας, ; 23/22 BC – death date unknown, probably around AD 40) was appointed by the Roman legate Quirinius as the first High ...

Alexander Fernando Joseph Manuel Alexander Fernando ( ''Æleksænḍar Pranāndu''; 25 August 194029 April 2020) was a Sri Lankan actor and stunt director in Sinhala cinema. Considered one of the best villains in Sinhala cinema, Fernando acted in over 120 Sinhala ...

as Nikandevumas * Ananda Wickramage as

Joseph of Arimathea Joseph of Arimathea was, according to all four canonical gospels, the man who assumed responsibility for the burial of Jesus after his crucifixion. The historical location of Arimathea is uncertain, although it has been identified with several t ...

Tissa Wijesurendra Don Bhathiyatissa Wijesurendra (තිස්ස විජේසුරේන්ද්‍ර 3 April 1949 – 11 May 2020), popularly as Tissa Wijesurendra, was a Sri Lankan actor. One of the most popular actors of the 1970s, Wijesurendra played ma ...

Simeon Simeon () is a given name, from the Hebrew (Biblical ''Šimʿon'', Tiberian ''Šimʿôn''), usually transliterated as Shimon. In Greek it is written Συμεών, hence the Latinized spelling Symeon. Meaning The name is derived from Simeon, son ...

Vijaya Nandasiri Ilukpitiya Mudiyanselage Vijaya Nandasiri (born 6 May 1944 – died 8 August 2016 as විජය නන්දසිරි) was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television. Considered a leading dramatist in Sri Lankan cinema, ...

as Shadipathiya *

Vincent Vaas Andara Vaas Patabedige Vincent (7 November 1922 – 6 May 2004 වින්සන්ට් වාස්), popularly known as Vincent Vaas was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema. Often considered one of the best character actors in Sinhala cinema, ...

as Vandana Nadaya leader *

Somy Rathnayake Somi Nanda Ratnayake (born October 27, 1946, as සොමී රත්නායක) inhala, also known as Somi Ratnayake, is a Sri Lankan actor in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television. A highly versatile actor with a career spanning mo ...

as Snawaka Juwam * Sumana Gomes as Salomi * Piyatillaka Atapattu * Senaka Perera * Arthur Gunawardena as Kireniye Simone *

Ranjan Ramanayake Sadda Vidda Rajapakse Palanga Pathira Ambakumarage Ranjan Leo Sylvester Alphonsu (born 11 March 1963) (රන්ජන් රාමනායක), popularly known as Ranjan Ramanayake, is a former Sri Lankan politician, actor, film director, si ...

* Nimal Pallewatte as Soldier *

Wilson Karunaratne Wilson Karunaratne, popularly known as Wilson Karu (28 October 1942 – 3 May 2022) was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, and stunt director. Considered one of the best villains in Sinhala cinema, Karunaratne acted in more than 240 films across ma ...

as Left side thief * Premasiri Kalpage * Suneetha Wimalaweera

References

1990 films 1990s Sinhala-language films Films set in Sri Lanka (1948–present) {{SriLanka-film-stub