Movie Details

Purahanda Kaluwara (පුරහන්ඳ කලුවර): ________________________________________ 🎬 Film Metadata • Title: Purahanda Kaluwara (පුරහන්ඳ කලුවර) — Death on a Full Moon Day • Release Year: 1997 (Sri Lanka) • Genre: Drama / Political • Language: Sinhala • Runtime: 90 minutes ________________________________________ 👨‍💼 Creative Team • Director: Prasanna Vithanage • Producer: Prasanna Vithanage • Writer (Screenplay): Prasanna Vithanage (adapted from a story by Leo Tolstoy — The Death of Ivan Ilyich) • Cinematography: Lal Wickramarachchi • Editor: Ravindra Guruge • Music: Rohana Weerasinghe ________________________________________ 🎭 Principal Cast • Joe Abeywickrama as Wannihami (the blind villager, central character) • Priyanka Samaraweera as Soma (daughter of Wannihami) • Saumya Liyanage as Bandara • Edna Sugathapala as Wannihami’s Wife • Other notable supporting actors include Hemasiri Liyanage and Somalatha Subasinghe. ________________________________________ 📖 Plot Overview Set against the backdrop of Sri Lanka’s civil war, the story follows Wannihami, an elderly blind man in a rural village, whose soldier son dies in battle. The government offers compensation for the body and funeral, but Wannihami refuses the payment, insisting on seeing (and verifying) his son’s death for himself. His quiet yet powerful defiance becomes an allegory for truth, dignity, and resistance against a system that seeks to commodify sacrifice. ________________________________________ 🏆 Recognition & Awards • Won Grand Prix at Fukuoka International Film Festival (1999, Japan) • Screened at numerous international festivals (London, Rotterdam, Kerala, Singapore, etc.) • Received multiple OCIC Awards and critical acclaim as one of the greatest films in Sri Lankan cinema history. • Joe Abeywickrama’s performance is celebrated as one of his finest, earning international recognition. ________________________________________ 📌 Significance • Considered a masterpiece of Sri Lankan cinema. • Faced initial censorship by the Sri Lankan government due to its anti-war sentiment; after legal battles, it was released in 2001 to widespread acclaim. • Represents the power of cinema as political critique, exploring themes of war, grief, and resistance through deeply personal storytelling. ________________________________________ 🗂️ Summary Table Attribute Details Title Purahanda Kaluwara (Death on a Full Moon Day) Year of Release 1997 (SL), released widely in 2001 Director Prasanna Vithanage Producer Prasanna Vithanage Based on Inspired by The Death of Ivan Ilyich (Leo Tolstoy) Cinematography Lal Wickramarachchi Music Rohana Weerasinghe Cast Joe Abeywickrama, Priyanka Samaraweera, Saumya Liyanage, Edna Sugathapala Genre Political Drama Awards Grand Prix – Fukuoka Film Festival (1999); OCIC Awards; critical international acclaim Significance Landmark anti-war film; faced censorship; iconic role of Joe Abeywickrama