fiction.wikisort.org - Actor

Bandula de Silva Vithanage (born 11 September 1940 – died 1 September 2014 as බන්දුල විතානගේ) [Sinhala]) was an actor and director in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television as well as a translator, director, playwright and script writer.[1][2] One of the earliest pillars of Sri Lankan art and drama, Vithanage has produced several critically acclaimed television serials and stage dramas during his five decades of drama career.[3] He is the pioneer to introduce Shakespearean theater to Sri Lankan theater with several plays such as Veniciye Velenda, Macbeth, Twelfth Night, Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet.[4][5]

Bandula Vithanage
බන්දුල විතානගේ
Born	Bandula de Silva Vithanage (1940-09-11)September 11, 1940 Gonagala, Sri Lanka
Died	September 1, 2014(2014-09-01) (aged 73) Colombo National Hospital
Nationality	Sri Lankan
Education	Carey College, Colombo Dharmasoka College
Occupation	Actor, Dramatist, Director
Years active	1963–2014
Children	Nalaka Vithanage
Relatives	Yashoda Wimaladharma (niece)

He died on 1 September 2014 at Colombo National Hospital at the age of 73.[6][7]

Personal life

He was born on 11 September 1940 in Gonagala. He attended to Athuruwella Primary School for primary education and then moved to Carey College, Colombo to complete up to G.C.E O/L. He completed A/L education from Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda.[4] He entered to University of Colombo for higher education and came under the influence of renowned dramatist Ediriweera Sarachchandra's university drama circle. He graduated with a master's degree in Dramaturgy and Acting.[8]

His son Nalaka Vithanage is a popular filmmaker.[9] He has produced three stage dramas - Rathri Bojanaya (2004), Kasi Malla (2006) and Upanda Maranaya (2009).[10] Nalaka is an old boy of Nalanda College, Colombo. Bandula Vithanage's niece Yashoda Wimaladharma is a popular actress in Sinhala television and cinema.[8][11]

Career

In 1963, he started stage drama acting with P. Velikala's production Rathnavali with the role 'Vidushaka'.[4] In 1965, he produced his first theater play Megha Garjana, which is a translation of Harold Pinter's The Collection. He acted in Simon Navagattegama's Gangavak and then directed Sapaththu Kabalak Saha Maranayak.[8] Along with fellow dramatist Tony Ranasinghe, Vithanage produced the popular stage play Veniciye Velenda in 1980.[4]

He continued to produced several critically acclaimed foreign drama adaptations, which includes Jean Anouilh's 'Becket, Romaya Gini Gani (based on Ray Cooney's Run for your wife), Sikuru Sanekeli.Senehebara Dolly (based on Thornton Wilder's The Matchmaker), Hiru Dahasa (based on Wilder's Our Town), Macbeth (2006), Twelfth Night (1988), Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, and A Comedy of Errors.[8][2]

He acted in small number of films where compare with efforts in theater and television. He worked with and assisted Vasantha Obeysekera in Wes Gaththo, and later acted in Dharmasena Pathiraja's Ahas Gawwa.[8] His maiden cinema acting came through 1974 film Dahakin Ekek directed by Merril Albert. His most notable television production came through Bumuthurunu, Aththa Bindei and Asal Wasiyo,[2] which were telecast in Rupavahini.[4] In 2011, he produced the play Romaya Gini Gani-2 as a joint effort with actor Roger Seneviratne. Romaya Gini Gani-2 was based on Cooney's play Caught in the net. He directed the television comedy serials I Love Jennie[12] in 2007 and Paththara Gedara in 2008.[13] In 2009, he acted in the stage play produced by his son Nalaka, Upanda Maranaya.[14]

He joined the Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) in its early years and had a brief serving period.[15] He lived in England for three and a half years after the expulsion from SLRC along with Lucien Bulathsinhala.[5]

Selected stage plays

• 1963 - Rathnavali
• 1965 - Megha Garjana
• 1971 - Gangavak Sapattu Kabalak saha Maranayak
• 1974 - Becket
• 1980 - Venisiye Velenda
• 1982 - Dolosveni Rathriya (co-produced with Tony Ranasinghe)
• 1986 - Senehebara Dolly
• 1990 - Hiru Dahasa
• 1996 - Romaya Gini Gani
• 1998 - Sikuru Senakeli
• 2001 - Macbeth
• 2002 - Eliya
• 2003 - A Sonduru Minisa
• 2011 - Romaya Gini Gani 2[16]

Selected television serials

Author work

He translated several Shakespearean plays into Sinhala language.[2]

• Hamlet[35]
• Veniciye Velenda[36]
• Shekshpiyer Hadunaganimu[37]
• Macbeth[38]
• Haemotama Waeradila[39]
• Romaya Gini Gani - 2[40]
• Romeo Juliet[41]
• Hamlet Sandeepanee[42]
• Sikuru Sanakeli
• Senehabara Dolly
• Jeewana Rekawa[43]
• Itu Pathuma[44]
• Gilbert, Wilbert saha Anette[45]
• A Sonduru Minisa[46]

Death

He died on 1 September 2014 at Colombo National Hospital while receiving treatments. His remaining were kept at Jayaratne Funeral Parlour in Borella on 2 September and brought to National Art Gallery on 4 September. Final rites performed at 4.00 pm and buried at Borella Cemetery on the same day.[47]

Awards and accolades

His play Sapaththu Kabalak Saha Maranayak won many awards at State Drama Festival in 1971 including Best Actress and Best Stage Designing. In 1996, the play Romaya Gini Gani won major awards including the Best Production, Best Script, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Supporting actor at State Drama Festival. On 30 January 2011, a felicitation program was held at John de Silva Theatre to celebrate 70 years of his life.[4][2]

State Drama Festival

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
1987	Senehebara Dolly	Best Translation production	Won
1990	Hiru Dahasa	Best Translation production	Won
1997	Romaya Gini Gani	Best Direction and Adaptation	Won

Filmography

Year	Film	Role	Ref.
1970	Wes Gaththo
1973	Dahakin Ekek	Drunken person
1974	Ahas Gauwa	Trip friend
1977	Pembara Madhu	University boy
1978	Selinage Walawwa	Shashiya
1978	Jodu Walalu
1980	Sinhabahu
1980	Api Dedena
1981	Sathara Pera Nimithi	Chief monk
1987	Viragaya	Chief clerk
1993	Guru Gedara	Stage director
1998	Dorakada Marawa		[48]
1999	Re Ru		[49]
1999	Theertha Yathra		[50]
2001	Mathu Yam Dawasa		[51]
2002	Agnidahaya		[52]
2003	Sudu Kaluwara	Monk	[53]
2003	Sulang Kirilli	Doctor	[54]
2005	Sulanga	Senarathne's father	[55]
2008	Machan	Drunken person	[56]
2011	Nino Live	Nino's grandfather	[57]
2013	Anithya	Milan's father	[58]
2015	Sulanga Gini Aran		[59]
2016	Sulanga Apa Ragena Yavi	Doctor	[60]
2017	Nilanjana	Densil	[61]

References

External links

• SIGNIS Director Tomorrow short film festival and felicitation
• Resplendent extravaganza in Melbourne

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