Vijaya Nandasiri
Vijaya Nandasiri | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Ilukpitiya Mudiyanselage Vijaya Nandasiri May 06, 1944 |
| Died | August 8, 2016 (aged 72) Colombo South Teaching Hospital, Kalubowila |
| Cause of death | Cardiac arrest |
| Nationality | Sri Lankan |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, Director, Producer, Singer |
| Years active | 1970 - 2016 |
| Notable work | Maname, Sinhaba, Subha Saha Yasa, Ananda Jawanika, Nari Baena, Jasaya Saha Lenchina, Naadeyo, Ethuma, Bangali Walalu, Bahuboothayo, Sikuru Hathe, Sir Last Chance, Suhada Koka |
Ilukpitiya Mudiyanselage Vijaya Nandasiri, popularly as Vijaya Nandasiri (c. 06 May 1944 – 8 August 2016)[1] was a Sri Lankan dramatist and actor.[2] Considered as a leading Comedy Star in Sri Lankan cinema, he was also a talented singer, a producer and one of the best stylized drama actors in Sri Lanka.[3]
He had a varied career beginning in theater and extending into film as a dramatic actor; his most recent roles were steeped in comedy and include credits in Sinhala sitcoms like Nonawaruni Mahathwaruni, Ethuma and Kathura.
Life and career
Early life
Born in 1944 in a family of three[3], Nandasiri attended the Vidyakara Vidyalaya in Maharagama. He became interested in acting during his tenure there, and made his theater debut in 1966 in the stage drama Vidura-Diva produced by Amaradasa Gunawardena for the State Drama Festival. He first came to prominence from the movie Ran Kenda. He next obtained a role in Naribena, Jasaya saha Lenchina made by veteran drama producer Dayananda Gunawardena, who personally invited Nandasiri to become part of the cast.[4]
Theater work
Nandasiri was briefly a catering officer at the Katunayake Airport in the late-'60s as his acting career developed. His debut was in 1966, in Vuduru Diva by Amaradasa Jayathunga. He subsequently played in many stage dramas including Bakmaha Akunu by Dayananda Gunawardena, Thahanchi and Baka Thapas by Sathischandra Edirisinghe, Kontharaya, Wahalak Nathi Geyak and Sarade Sina by Prema Ranjith Thilakarathna and Bedde Goranaduwa by Ananda S. Wijesiri.
After Ran Kanda, Nandasiri was on demand, and starred in the plays Subha Saha Yasa, Nariya Saha Keju Kella, Ekadipathi, Tharawo Egilethi, Kuweni and Hunuwataye Kathawa among others. Over the next years he played the character of king Maname in Prof. Ediriweera Sarachchandra's Maname more than 1000 times, and appeared in Singha Bhahu, Mahasara and Ratnawalee. Nandasiri finally achieved fame in 1971 in the play Ran Kanda.[4] In all, he has done over 40 plays staged island-wide.[4]
As a dramatist, he has helmed several successful plays. These include Vrushaba Raja,[5] and Kusa Pabawathie.[4]
When he reached 46th anniversary as an actor in 2012, he celebrated his personal milestone by organizing Wijayanandaya' film festival from 20-25th of March 2012 at John de Silva Theatre performing his most popular stage dramas.[3]
He was working on with comedy drama Aluth horek one of Ajith Mendis at the Wayambe provincial council auditorium, Kurunegala, where he got sick next day and passed away.
Film
In 1976, Nandasiri met K.A.W. Perera while staging T. B. Ilangaratne's Shailasanaya. Perera gave him his first film role in the movie Nedayo නදෑයෝ The character was a blind person(the song Sanasum Susuman Pavila සැනසුම් සුසුමන් පාවීලා is still a popular song among people as his starring in the scene was absolutely realistic), he has had roles in such films as Yasa Isuru, Sandakada Pahana, Bengali Walalu, Sasara and Rail Para.[4] He won The Best Actor award for his role of the match maker in Sikuru Hathe and later in 2011 as the Best Comedian for King Hunther.
- No. denotes the Number of Sri Lankan film in the Sri Lankan cinema.[6]
| Year | No. | Film | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 357 | Nedayo නදෑයෝ' | |
| 1980 | 461 | Mage Amma මගේ අම්මා | |
| 1981 | 500 | Bangali Walalu බංගලි වළලු | |
| 2002 | 985 | Bahubuthayo බහුබූතයෝ | Drunken god |
| 2004 | 1035 | Left Right Sir ලෙෆ්ට් රයිට් සර් | |
| 2007 | 1092 | Sikuru Hathe සිකුරු හතේ | Mangala Jaya |
| 2009 | 1122 | Sir Last Chance සර් ලාස්ට් චාන්ස් | Detective Sir Last Chance |
| 2010 | 1137 | Mago Digo Dayi මගෝ ඩිගෝ ඩයි | Mago |
| 2011 | 1158 | King Hunther කින් හන්තර් | King Hunther |
| 2011 | 1165 | Ethumai Methumai එතුමයි මෙතුමයි | Minister |
| 2012 | 1168 | Sakwithi Dadayama සක්විති දඩයම | |
| 2014 | 1217 | Ko Mark No Mark කෝ මාර්ක් නෝ මාර්ක් | Mark |
| 2015 | 1237 | Suhada Koka සුහද කොකා | Minister |
Television
Nandasiri's early television credits include Perera's Gamana and Pramada Wedei. He was later a producer of the teledrama Humalaya.
He became famous as a comedy actor with the character of "Premachandra" in the teledrama "Nonawaruni Mahathwaruni" and later through Yes Boss as "Senarath Dunusinghe".[4] He was also acted in numerous teledramas like Kawda Bole Ethuma 1, Kathura, Class Sinhala Class as "Chaminda Sir", Satakapata Bhagya[7].
Personal life
Nandasiri was married to actress Devika Mihirani,[8] who herself holds the record to be the main actress in Sri Lanka's first ever tele-drama, Dimuthu Muthu.[9] Their first encounter was at Sudarshi Visual Arts Center, where Mihirani studied for dancing. Nandasiri was the one who invited Mihirani for the drama Subha Saha Yasa in 1974. They have two children, Navanjana and Rasanjana Suchitra.[4] His daughter lives in Australia and son in America.[10]
Death
On 8 August 2016, Nandasiri died while being taken to the Kalubowila Teaching Hospital after suffering from a cardiac arrest.[11][12]
References
- ^ Renowned dramatist and actor Vijaya Nandasiri has passed away
- ^ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4731433/
- ^ a b c "Wijaya Nandasiri celebrates 46th anniversary". Lanka Help Magazine. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g "A Thespian with rare talent". The Island. 2000. Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-04-17.
- ^ "Fiftieth performance of Vrushaba Raja". Sunday Observer. 2002. Retrieved 2007-04-17.
- ^ "Sri Lankan Cinema History". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
- ^ "Bhagya". Torana Video, 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
- ^ "Which way year 2004 ?". Sunday Observer. 2004. Retrieved 2007-04-17.
- ^ "Her face was her fortune". Sunday Observer. 2008. Retrieved 2016-08-08.
- ^ "Story related in the company of wife Devika by Wijaya Nandasiri who left us". Gossip Lanka News. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
- ^ "Veteran actor Vijaya Nandasiri passes away". ITN. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
- ^ "Veteran actor Vijaya Nandasiri passes away". News Radio.