Christhu Charithaya (Sinhala: ක්‍රිස්තු චරිතය) is a 1990 Sri Lankan Sinhala biographical film directed by Sunil Ariyaratne and produced by Alerik Lionel Fernando.[3] It stars Vijaya Kumaratunga as Jesus along with ensemble cast of popular film artists.[4] Music composed by Premasiri Khemadasa. It is the 712th Sri Lankan film in the Sinhala cinema.[5]

Christhu Charithaya
ක්‍රිස්තු චරිතය
Directed bySunil Ariyaratne
Written bySunil Ariyaratne
Produced byAlerik Lionel Fernando
StarringVijaya Kumaratunga
Menik Kurukulasuriya
Neil Alles
Nathali Anne Greet
CinematographyDonald Karunarathna
Edited bySextus Aponso
Music byPremasiri Khemadasa
Release date
  • 9 October 1990 (1990-10-09)[1]
Running time
138 minutes [2]
CountrySri Lanka
LanguageSinhala

The film is based on the life of Jesus Christ until crucifixion.[1][6] It was the first Sinhala film based on Christianity and directed by a Buddhist.[7]

Production

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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.[8] 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 principal 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.[9]

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.[7]

Plot

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Cast

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References

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  1. ^ a b "All about Christhu Charithaya". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  2. ^ "Kristhu Charithaya DVD". toranavideo. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  3. ^ "Sinhala screened films". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  4. ^ "Kristhu Charithaya - ක්‍රිස්තු චරිතය cast". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  5. ^ "Sri Lanka Cinema History". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 23 August 2016. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  6. ^ "Four Sri Lankan Movies Based On Real Life Events". roar. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  7. ^ a b "Christhu Charithaya film". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  8. ^ "'I don't mind pretending to be Christ' The story told by Vijaya Kumaratunga then". Silumina. Retrieved 2021-06-07.
  9. ^ "How Christ made the film despite the many obstacles". Lankadeepa. Retrieved 29 February 2020.