Maharaja Gemunu

2021-08-10T05:19:56Z

2402:D000:A000:CE11:172:CC9F:CF02:3642: /* Cast */

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{EngvarB|date=June 2016}}
{{More citations needed|date=June 2016}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Maharaja Gemunu (2015)
| image = Maharaja Gemunu poster.jpg
| caption =
| director = [[Jayantha Chandrasiri]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/2015/02/12/?fn=sa15021239 |title=This is not a political story - Chandrasiri |publisher=Sarasaviya |access-date=11 March 2017}}</ref>
| producer = Sipvin Films
| writer = Jayantha Chandrasiri
| starring = [[Uddika Premarathna]]<br>[[Jackson Anthony]] <br> [[Sriyantha Mendis]]
| music = [[Nadeeka Guruge]]
| cinematography = Ruwan Costa
| editing = Ravindra Guruge
| distributor = EAP Films
| country = [[Sri Lanka]]
| released = {{Film date|2015|01|23}}
| runtime = 150 minutes
| language = Sinhala
| budget = Rs 110 million
}}
'''''Maharaja Gemunu (King Gemunu)''''' ({{lang-si|මහරජ ගැමුණු}}) is a 2015 [[Sri Lanka]]n Sinhala [[Epic film|epic]] film directed by [[Jayantha Chandrasiri]] and produced by Gunapala Rathnasekara for Sipvin Films.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dailynews.lk/?q%3Dfeatures%2Fmaharaja-gemunu-living-tradition-big-screen |title=Archived copy |access-date=16 November 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129171731/http://dailynews.lk/?q=features%2Fmaharaja-gemunu-living-tradition-big-screen |archive-date=29 November 2014 }}</ref> It stars [[Uddika Premarathna]] and [[Jackson Anthony]] in lead roles along with [[Sriyantha Mendis]] and [[Yashoda Wimaladharma]]. Its music was composed by [[Nadeeka Guruge]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/2016/09/22/?fn=sa16092222 |title=Sri Lankan Screened Films |publisher=Sarasaviya |access-date=11 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160929062111/http://www.sarasaviya.lk/2016/09/22/?fn=sa16092222 |archive-date=29 September 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It is the 1221st Sri Lankan film in the [[Cinema of Sri Lanka|Sinhala cinema]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.nfc.gov.lk/films-history.php | title=Sri Lanka Cinema History | publisher=National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka | access-date=3 October 2016}}</ref>

The movie is based on the odyssey of [[Dutugamunu|King Gemunu]] (ruler of [[Sri Lanka]] 161–137 BC) who is renowned for defeating and overthrowing [[Ellalan|King Elara]], the usurping [[Tamil people|Tamil]] prince from the [[Chola dynasty|Chola]] Kingdom, who had invaded the Kingdom of Rajarata in 205 BC.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/090607/Magazine/sundaytimestvtimes_09.html | title=Chandrasiri brings the tale of 'Dutugemunu' to cinema | publisher=Sunday Times | access-date=16 December 2019}}</ref>

==Synopsis==
{{more plot|reason=The lead says the film is about the odyssey of Gemunu (Gamani), but 90% of the plot synopsis is about Elara. Something has to change for consistency.|date=March 2017}}
King Elara is a former soldier and spy under King Kharawela of Kalinga, who rules the Southern Kingdoms of India during the second century BC. Elara arrives at Lankadveepa, in the guise of an overseas naval chief, in order to threaten the prosperity of the Kingdom. Elara is victorious against the Kingdom of Rajarata, having killed King Asela. However, he is not satisfied with his victory because the kingdom of Ruhuna continues to be independent and he is haunted by a prophecy inscribed by [[King Devanampiyatissa]].

Bhattara, an advisor to Elara, found the inscribed prophecy which alluded to a King named [[Dutugamunu|Gamani Abhaya (Dutu Gemunu)]] who would later secure the Kingdom of Rajarata and build a massive [[pagoda]] (dageba) at its center. Bhattara and Elara scheme against the prophecy.

King Gamani Abhaya deploys strategies to overcome the tactics of Elara and vanquish him. However, because of his spiritual ideology, he does not allow his people to forget the humanity that was rooted within the enemy. This act universalizes King Gamani's profound humanity.

==Cast==
* [[Uddika Premarathna]] as King [[Dutugemunu]]
* [[Jackson Anthony]] as King [[Ellalan]]
* [[Sriyantha Mendis]] as King [[Kavan Tissa]]
* [[Kusum Renu]] as Queen [[Viharamahadevi]]
** Tharuka Wanniarachchi as Young Queen [[Viharamahadevi]]
* [[Saranga Disasekara]] as [[Saddha Tissa]]
* [[Yashoda Wimaladharma]] as Queen Dharatri (Elara's wife)
* [[Buddhadasa Vithanarachchi]] as Monk Mahasiva
* Sandun Bandara as Bhattara
* Ajith Weerasinghe as Nandimithra
* [[Arjuna Kamalanath]] as Suranimala
* Anura Dharamasiriwardana as Welusumana
* [[Umali Thilakarathne]] as Elara's daughter
* [[Damitha Abeyratne]] as Rohini
* Buddhini Purnima as Kathee
* [[Lucky Dias]] as Minister Mahananda
* [[Rebeka Nirmali]] as Dancer
* Meena Kumari as Dancer
* Randiv Ranga Jayawardena as Deeghabaya
* Uditha Nishantha as Nandi
* Muditha Wijesundera as Tissa Senevi
* Hemantha Randunu as Panimuththa Senevi
* Maithree Peramuna as Ghotagaththa Tissa
* Anuruddha Chamila as Gotaimbara
* Lahiru Prasanna as Pussadeva
* Don Vipularatne as Kanchadeva
* Mahesh Premathilake as Therapuththabhya
* Asitha Nuwan as Bharana
* Ajith Silva as Labiya Wasabha
* Jagath Jayawardene as Maha Sona

==Music==
The music for ''Maharaja Gemunu'' was composed by [[Nadeeka Guruge]], with lyrics written by Jayantha Chandrasiri and Rev. Pallegama Hemarathana Thero.
{{Track listing
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| title1= Sanda Payanne
|note1= title song
| extra1= [[Nadeeka Guruge]] and the crew
| music1= Nadeeka Guruge
| length1= 5.27
| title2= Sanda Mandala Vee
| extra2= [[Nirosha Virajini]]
| length2= 2.19
| title3= Aranyani Devduwa Avidin
| extra3= Chandrika Siriwandhana, Dilika Abesekara
| length3= 6.01
}}

==Release and reception==
The film premiered on 23 January 2015 in [[EAP Holdings|EAP Circuit]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eapmovies.com/component/eapmovies/?controller=movies&view=movie&task=displayMovie&cid=175&Itemid=155 |title=EAP Films and Theaters Private Limited |website=Eapmovies.com |date= |access-date=2016-06-24}}</ref> cinema halls. Released on 23 January 2015, the film was highly acclaimed by critics and fans alike, who considered it to be a landmark in Sinhala film-making and an achievement in the epic film genre. The film earned 1000 Lakhs of Sri Lankan rupees until December 2017.

===Awards and Nominations===
[[Sarasaviya Awards|Sarasaviya Film Awards]] 2016{{clarify|reason=which are nominations and which won?|date=March 2017}}
* Best Movie
* Most Popular Movie of the Year
* Best Actor in a Leading Role (Male) – Jackson Anthony as King Elara
* Best Cinematography – Ruwan Kostha
* Best Editing – Raveendra Guruge
* Best Music Direction – Nadeeka Guruge
* Best Art Direction – Rohan Samaradiwakara and Aruna Priyantha Dharmapala
* Best Playback Singer (Female) – [[Nirosha Virajini]] for the song "Sanda Mandala Vee"
* Best Makeup – Jayantha Ranawaka
* Best Sound Design – Priyantha Kaluarachchi
* Best Lyricist – Ven. Pallegama Hemarathana for the song "Sanda Mandala Vee"

[[Hiru Golden Film Award]]s 2016
* Most Popular Movie
* Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Female) – Kusum Renu as Queen Viharamahadevi
* Best Playback Singer (Female) – Nirosha Virajini for the song "Sanda Mandala Vee"
* Best Lyricist – Ven. Pallegama Hemarathana for the song "Sanda Mandala Vee"
* Special Jury Award – Jackson Anthony as King Elara

==See also==
* [[List of Asian historical drama films]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title|3471472}}

[[Category:2015 films]]
[[Category:2010s historical films]]
[[Category:Sri Lankan films]]
[[Category:Films set in the Anuradhapura period]]
[[Category:Sri Lankan historical films]]

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Maharaja Gemunu