Maestro Lester James Peries and his movie treasure “Nidhanaya”

I have declared on more than one occasion that Lester James Peries is my favourite Sinhala film director. Lester’s 106th birth anniversary was on 5 April 2025. I have written about Lester and his films in the past. It is against this backdrop that this column deviates from its customary focus on politics and beams the spotlight — with the aid of earlier writings —on Nidhanaya and its creator Lester James Peries this week.

- By D.B.S. Jeyaraj

Nidhanaya was the eighth feature film made by Lester James Peries. The black and white film is 108 minutes long. Gamini and Malani Fonseka play the lead roles and about 75% of the scenes revolve around the couple. Gamini plays Willie Abeynayake the superstitious scion of a rich family facing financial ruin. Malani plays Irene his trusting, devoted wife. Sinhala Cinema’s foremost acting duo play their parts to perfection in Nidhanaya.

K.L. Coranelis Appuhamy and J.R.L. Fernando act as Willie Abeynayake’s elder brother and father respectively while Shanthi Lekha acts as Malani’s mother. Other actors are Saman Bokalawala as Julius, Francis Perera as Juwanis, Trilicia Gunawardene as Dulcie, Thilakasiri Fernando as Diyonis, Kumarasinghe Appuhamy as Gurunanse, Mapa Gunaratne as the doctor, Thalatha Gunasekara as the Nanny and Barry Whittington as the Government Agent. Willie Abeynayake was one of the finest roles acted by Gamini Fonseka in his illustrious movie career. Willie living in an aristocratic mansion faces financial decline as his contractor business is a failure. He stands to lose the mansion he dwells in and is reluctant to let go of it. Being superstitious he believes in an Ola leaf prediction which says a treasure would be in his hands if a virgin woman with four particular birthmarks is sacrificed atop a particular rock at a particular time.