Looking back on Dr. Lester James Peries's trailblazing career in Sinhala cinema and the evolution of Sinhala cinema from studio-shot formula films to artistic films of international repute, what is obvious is that it is Dr. Peries's pioneering attempt with the production of Rekawa that altered the course of Sinhala cinema. 'Gamperaliya' (Change in the Village -1964) which has recently been restored is still appreciated worldwide by diverse audiences. It is one of the instances where a cinematic masterpiece was made based on a classic Sri Lankan novel by Martin Wickramasinghe. Gamperaliya as a restores classic is considered as one of the ten best films of the twentieth century.'Nidhanaya', (The Treasure),a brilliant cinematic exploration into the human psyche is not only a superb cinematic analysis of human psyche but also a masterpiece of Sinhala cinema, marked for its mature cinematic diction which is peerless in the annals of Sri Lankan cinema. A significant facet of Dr. Peries's career in cinema is the sheer diversity of his creations; 'Gamperaliya' is recognised for its non-dramatic and realistic depiction of the village, 'Madol Duwa' (The Enchanted Island -1976) may be evaluated for capturing the lives of youthful escapade in a Southern coastal village. A living legend, Dr. Lester James Peries is the only Sri Lankan filmmaker, who belongs to a generation of legendary filmmakers such as Akira Kurasawa, Satyajith Ray, Ingmar Bergman.
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