Golu Hadawatha
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Golu Hadawatha | |
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Reggie Siriwardena Karunasena Jayalath (book) | |
Produced by | P. E. E. Anthonypillai |
Starring | Wickrama Bogoda Anula Karunathilaka |
Cinematography | M. S. Ananda |
Edited by | Sumitra Gunawardena Edwin Leetin |
Music by | Premasiri Khemadasa |
Distributed by | Lanka Studio |
Release date |
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Running time | 120 minutes |
Country | Sinhala |
Golu Hadawatha (Translation: The Silent Heart) was a popular 1968
It was awarded the Best Film, Best Director and Best Actress of the year at the prestigious Sarasaviya Awards Festival. The film, which depicts the love affair between two school going teenagers, created a sensation among Sri Lankan film lovers, both young and old, and is considered a landmark in the history of Sri Lankan cinema.[1]
The original script was being written by Piyasiri Gunaratne and Karunasena Jayalath. Before being finished, Piyasiri Gunaratna casually mentioned he was working on the script to
Plot
The first half of the film depicts the story through the eyes of Sugath and the next half the audience see the story through the eyes of Dhammi. Damayanthi "Dhammi" Kariyawasam (Anula Karunathilaka) is a mischievous school girl. Sugath Weerasekara (Wickrama Bogoda) is a shy and introverted boy who is new to Dhammi's school. He is quiet and gifted at schoolwork. Dhammi is immediately attracted to him and they become friends. The friendship eventually develops into a special relationship.
Sugath, who has lost his parents when he was very young, has a brother who is attending university. He tells his brother, Sarath (Wijeratne Warakagoda) about his relationship with Dhammi.
On the day of the final exam, Dhammi tells Sugath not to keep any further hopes about her.
Sugath is heartbroken and comes home to meet Sarath. In the meantime, he passes his exams with flying colors and Sarath marries Champa (Sriyani Amarasena), who is willing to accept Sugath as her own brother.
But Sugath is unable to forget Dhammi, and keeps thinking about her and begins to drink heavily to alleviate his pain. He also loses his job as a teacher and leaves the home he shares with his brother's family.
One day, Dhammi comes to meet Sugath and reveals the secret for her sudden change. She tells Sugath that she loved him despite knowing that she would never have the chance to become his wife. She begs for forgiveness from him for playing with his feelings and asks him to change for her sake. Dejected, Sugath returns home, broken-hearted.
Cast
- Wickrama Bogoda as Sugath Weerasekera
- Anula Karunathilaka as Damayanthi
- Wijeratne Warakagoda as Sarath
- Sriyani Amarasena as Champa
- Sudesh Gunaratne as Wimal
- Grace Jayamanne
- Mapa Gunaratne
- Sunila Abeysekera
- Chitra Wakishta
- Somi Meegama
- Somapala Dharmapriya
- A. P. Gunaratne
- Thalatha Gunasekara
- Malkanthi Nandasiri as Classmate
Popularity
Movie impacted the then literature, music, and popular culture among the young generation in the 60s. Sugath and Dhammi became icons of love. Indrani Wijebandara and Sisira Senaratne duo sang a duet "Aadarei mama Aadarei - Dhammi thavamath aadarei, Sugath thavamath aadarei", in which, the words were composed by Karunasena Jayalath, became quite a popular radio song after the movie but was not sung for the film, and not in it.