6. Nidhanaya (1970)

Alternative Title: The Treasure

Language: Sinhala

Director: Lester James Peries

Director Lester James Peries has been described as the Godfather of Sri Lankan cinema, enjoying a status comparable with that of Satyajit Ray in neighbouring India. On the evidence of Nidhanaya it not hard to see why. A portrayal of crumbling aristocracy, the film is set in colonial Sri Lanka at the time of the British Raj. A young aristocrat who is more British than the British wants to save his dwindling financial resources. He hears about a treasure that can be obtained by sacrificing a virgin. To this end, he finds a young girl, marries her and sacrifices her. When no treasure is found subsequently begins the aristocrat's descent into madness. Critic Priyath Liyanage describes the film as "Peries' best film without question". The film has been compared favourable to Ray's Jalsaghar, which also dealt with the theme of decaying aristocracy.