The Treasure - Sri Lankan Film By Dr. Lester James Peries

To commemorate 60 years of diplomatic relations between India and Sri Lanka, the Hyderabad Film Club, in collaboration with The High Commission for Sri Lanka, New Delhi, is presenting 60 Years Of Sri Lankan Cinema, from 14th to 22nd June, at the Sarathi Studios Preview Theatre, Ameerpet. 9 award-winning Sri Lankan films will be screened during the 9-day festival.

As part of this, The Treasure (Nidhanaya) is being screened on the 3rd day today. The film is directed by Dr. Lester James Peries, and has Gamin, Fonseka, Malini Fonseka, Saman Bokalawala and Francis Perera in the lead roles.

The movie is a tragic story of a man whose belief in superstition leads him to lust and grief. One day he comes across a young lady who has four black birthmarks on her neck. He marries her and spends time with her. She asks him what he keeps thinking all the time, and he replies that he has to perform a religious custom for a god in a rock. So his wife arranges everything for it. The man fulfills the custom, and finally kills his wife as sacrifice. Then he sadly returns home to write the complete story, and commits suicide.

The film won the Silver Lion of St. Mark (Critics Choice) Awards at the 1972 Venice International Film Festival, and was selected as one of the outstanding films of the year, receiving a Diploma, at the London Film Festival. It was also chosen as the best film of the first 50 years of Sri Lankan cinema.

The entry is free for everyone. Please contact Bh S S Prakash Reddy Of The Hyderabad Film Club, at 2373-0841/93910-20243 for further details.