The Sinhala film industry was born in the 1910s, with the production of the first-ever Sinhalese film, "Rajinda" (1913). During this period, films were primarily influenced by Western cinema, with an emphasis on biblical and mythological themes. The 1920s and 1930s saw the rise of legendary filmmakers like Lester Peries and Senerat Disanayake, who introduced new storytelling techniques and paved the way for future generations.