Sujatha is considered a landmark in early Sinhala cinema. It was one of the first Sinhala films to be produced entirely in Sri Lanka after the pioneering success of Kadawunu Poronduwa (1947). The film starred renowned stage and film actress in the title role.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Sujatha dominated the Sinhala film scene, starring in a string of blockbuster movies that showcased her remarkable range as an actress. Her notable films include:
For many years, finding a high-quality print of Sujatha was difficult. Original reels decayed, and copies were poor VHS transfers. However, thanks to the National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka and international restoration efforts (partially funded by the World Cinema Foundation), Sujatha has been digitally restored. The restored version has been screened at festivals like the Venice Film Festival's "Classics" section.
. It is credited with introducing the "star concept" to Sri Lanka and was the first Sinhala film to use promotional trailers.