K. Gunaratnam

Kanagasabai Gunaratnam (20 July 1917 – 9 August 1989; ; ), popularly known as K. Gunaratnam was a prolific film producer in Sri Lankan cinema. Started his film producing career during post-independent Ceylon, Gunaratnam is the pioneer to establish two Sinhala film studios: 'Cinemas Limited' and 'Vijaya Studios', where he produced more than 20 blockbuster and commercial movies.

Personal life He was born on 20 July 1917 in Athiyadi, Jaffna as the youngest son of the family. His father Manikkam Kanakasabey was a merchant in Jaffna. His mother Manikkam Murugesu was a housewife. He studied at Jaffna Central College up to junior class.

In 1941 he married Padma Selvadurai, however her untimely death led to him marrying her sister, Kamala Selvadurai. Apart from cinema, he was also a planter. Horseback riding and tennis were his main hobbies and he was an active member of the Tamil Union Sports Club and the Orient Club.

Career

Gunaratnam came to Colombo hoping to get a job as a representative of a film distribution company in Sri Lanka. In 1934, he worked for two years as an agent for a film distribution company called Windsor Talkies. When the company was bought by Chittampalam Abraham Gardiner and ruled under a new administration called Ceylon Theatres, he worked for about three months before retiring in 1941 and buying the soft drink business at No. 117, New Chetty Street, Colombo where his ice cream business was known as Nelwani & Co. which made a new era in Sinhala cinema industry. Even though the story of the film was chosen by imitating the then popular Hindi film Bari Behen, several new faces were introduced into Sinhala Cinema, who later became pillars in Sinhala cinema, including: Prem Jayanth, Florida Jayalath, Dommie Jayawardena, Shanthi Lekha and David Dharmakeerthi. to the film and included several Sri Lankan scenes such as Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya and Katharagama in the film which was produced entirely at the Modern Studio in India. After that in the same year, he agreed to produce the novel "Radala Piliruwa" by W. A. Silva into a film after Ilangaratne's proposal.

Determined to promote his films as well as other Sinhala films, Gunaratnam released the magazine 'Kala' on 20 August 1955. In 1956, he produced the film Dosthara. Before screening the film, Cinemas Limited released the book 'Mage Jeevitha Viththi' written by Rukmani Devi who acted in the film. This is the first book written by a Sinhala actress. In 1956, Gunaratnam won the award for the second most popular film in the 1956 'Dinamina' newspaper 'Rangamadala' film competition with 11,243 votes. In the following years, he produced many commercially successful films such as Duppathage Duka (1956), Suraya (1857), Vana Mohini (1958). Gunaratnam also took steps to credit the proceeds of the premiere to the Deaf and Dumb Fund in Ratmalana.

Gunaratnam was responsible for half of its production of the first color full-length Sinhalese language film Ranmuthu Duwa directed by Mike Wilson. At the time of death, he was going from his office to his residence for lunch.

Filmography Year Film Roles Ref. 1953 Sujatha Producer 1954 Warada Kageda Radala Piliruwa 1956 Dosthara Duppathage Duka 1957 Suraya 1958 Vana Mohini 1960 Sandesaya Veera Vijaya 1963 Adata Vediya Heta Hondai 1964 Udarata Menike 1965 Allapu Gedara Dheewarayo Chandiya 1966 Oba Dutu Da 1967 Sura Chowraya 1968 Ataweni Pudumaya 1970 Lakseta Kodiya Aathma Pooja 1973 Hondai Narakai 1978 Apsara

Dubbed films Pathiwatha 1957

Vira Putha 1959

Zimbo 1961

Angulimala 1963