• Source: Christhu Charithaya

Christhu Charithaya (Sinhala: ක්‍රිස්තු චරිතය) is a 1990 Sri Lankan Sinhala biographical film directed by Sunil Ariyaratne and produced by Alerik Lionel Fernando. It stars Vijaya Kumaratunga as Jesus along with ensemble cast of popular film artists. Music composed by Premasiri Khemadasa. It is the 712th Sri Lankan film in the Sinhala cinema.
The film is based on the life of Jesus Christ until crucifixion. 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 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.
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


Vijaya Kumaratunga as Jesus Christ
Stefan Abeyesinhe as Baby Jesus
Menik Kurukulasuriya as Mary Magdalene
Rex Kodippili as Pontius Pilate
Neil Alles as Judas
Nathali Anne Greet as Mary, mother of Jesus
Prasanna Wickramasinghe as Joseph
Rosy Senanayake
Roy de Silva as Caiaphas
Sathischandra Edirisinghe as Peduru
Inoka Amarasena as Veronica
Vishaka Siriwardana as Martha
Dayananda Jayawardena as 1st Herod
Sumana Amarasinghe as Herodias
Samanthi Lanerolle as Bethlehem girl
Hyacinth Wijeratne as Anna
Mervyn Jayathunga as 2nd Herod
Lakshman Mallawarachchi as Thomas
Baptist Fernando as Annas
Alexander Fernando as Nikandevumas
Ananda Wickramage as Joseph of Arimathea
Tissa Wijesurendra as Simeon
Vijaya Nandasiri as Shadipathiya
Vincent Vaas as Vandana Nadaya leader
Somy Rathnayake as Snawaka Juwam
Sumana Gomes as Salomi
Piyatillaka Atapattu
Senaka Perera
Arthur Gunawardena as Kireniye Simone
Ranjan Ramanayake
Nimal Pallewatte as Soldier
Wilson Karunaratne as Left side thief
Premasiri Kalpage
Suneetha Wimalaweera




References

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Christhu Charithaya
• Vijaya Kumaratunga
• List of films based on the Bible
• List of actors who have played Jesus
• Ranjan Ramanayake
• List of Christian films
• Deaths in April 2020
• Deaths in May 2020
• Somy Rathnayake
• Deaths in October 2021