Yama Raja Siri
Yama Raja Siri is a 2018 Sri Lankan, Sinhala language, comedy film that is written, directed, edited and produced by Sajeewa Sankalpa. The film features comedy duo Bandu Samarasinghe and Tennyson Cooray for the one last time in lead roles, along with Rex Kodippili, Kumara Thirimadura and Nadeesha Hemamali in pivotal roles. The film was released on 29 March 2018, at the Tharangani Theatre. It is the 1301st Sri Lankan film in the Sinhala cinema. Director Sajeewa Sankalpa worked in multiple roles on the production of this film; as director, producer, cinematographer, music director and editor, as  well as working on background vocals, special sound effects, special visual effects, color and sound coordination, and song production. Plot. John (Bandu Samarasinghe) and Martin (Tennyson Cooray) are two friends who work as security guards at a cemetery. Soma (Gayathrie Dias) is John's wife and the couple have 11 children. Martin and his wife Padma (Shiromika Fernando) have 9 children. Both families live in poverty and endure very poor living conditions. One day, while John and Martin are guarding the cemetery, a very bright light appears in the sky, coming closer and closer, until finally two men emerge from  the light dressed in magnificent robes. John and Martin think these men must be actors participating in some sort of street theatre, but, to their great surprise and disbelief, the men turn out to be King Yama (Ronnie Leitch), the King of Hell, and his assistant (Kumara Thirimadura). At first John and Martin refuse to believe that it truly is King Yama himself. In order to convince them, the King creates an illusion of fire which amazes the two friends. Both are terrified and, bowing down to the King, ask him why he has come to Sri Lanka. The King  informs them that he has come to find a virgin to marry. He orders John and Martin to carry out the search on his behalf, and provides them with everything they need in order to complete their quest. The King then returns to the underworld. By chance the two friends meet a beautiful girl named Nil Nayani (Nadeesha Hemamali) and they tell her of the King's search. She is horrified at first, but John and Martin succeed in talking her into wanting to accept the proposal and marry the King of Hell. However, in the course of persuading Nil  Nayani to marry the King, John and Martin both fall in love with the beautiful girl and forget all about their duty to report back to King Yama. The King waits in vain and, when he does not receive any word, becomes unhappy and cross. The changes in his behaviour make his wife, Yama Devi (Vinu Siriwardena), suspicious. In an attempt to find out the truth, Yama Devi travels to Sri Lanka where, using magic, she takes Nil Nayani's guise in order to trick the King and reveal his deception. Production. On 28 January 2017, the director Sajeewa and  the Aiba Films team announced that they were going to produce this film in collaboration with the comic duo Bandu Samarasinghe and Tennyson Cooray. Lanka Dharmawickrama had invited the duo to participate in the film with the intention of getting Bandu and Tennyson on board as directors. Bandu had previously directed "Rodaya" (1995), "Pem Mal Mala" (1997), "Left Right Sir" (2004), and "Peter One" (2011), and Tennyson had directed "Thank You Berty" (2011). However Bandu and Tennyson rejected the team's proposal. After further discussions, Bandu suggested Sajeewa as director. Bandu was impressed with Sajeewa's credentials in film producing , composing, writing and singing, and asked "If he is doing editing, cinematography and music direction, what's wrong with directing?" Following Bandu's proposal, Sajeewa was engaged on the film as director. Bandu Samarasinghe and Tennyson Cooray's double act began with "Nommara Ekai" in 1987. Since then they featured together in a large number of productions such as "Cheerio" trilogy, "Ra Daniel Dawal Migel" trilogy, "Rodaya", "Jundai Gundai", "Kolompoor", "Somy Boys" and "Thank You Berty". Bandu and Tennyson had not appeared in a film together since Thank You Berty in 2011. Many critics and newspapers said that this was  due to problems between the two actors, although they did host the television reality program Hiru Mega Stars - season 2 together. However, after 10 years, director Sanjeewa was able to bring the comic duo back together in this film. Music. The film music was composed by Sajeewa Sankalpa, with Bandu Samarasinghe featuring as playback singer in a duet with his son Kanchana. One track, "Mumuna Kiyana". was officially released on 21 April 2018. Lyrics are by Kalum Srimal and Sheham Galahitiyawa, and the singers include Sajeewa Sankalpa, Kavindya Adhikari, Hashini Wedanda, with Kavindya Adhikari making his debut in this movie  as playback singer in cinema.