fiction.wikisort.org - Actor

Kalukapuge Don David (born 1 September 1913 – died 10 September 1987 as ඩේවිඩ් ධර්මකීර්ති), popularly known as David Dharmakeerthi was an actor Sri Lankan early Sri Lankan cinema.[1]

David Dharmakeerthi ඩේවිඩ් ධර්මකීර්ති
Born	Kalukapuge Don David (1913-09-01)1 September 1913 Padukka, Sri Lanka
Died	10 September 1987(1987-09-10) (aged 74)
Nationality	Sri Lankan
Occupation	Actor, politician
Years active	1953–1987
Spouse	Nandawathi Jayasuriya
Children	8
Parent	Odiris Appuhami (father)

Personal life

He was born on 1 September 1913 in Kotigamgoda village, Padukka. His father Odiris Appuhami was a farmer. He started school at village school and then from Wonakal College, Padukka and finally to the English English School in Homagama. After school, Dharmakeerthi first joined the Department of Agriculture at Alston Place, Colombo as an overseer.[2]

Dharmakeerthi was married to Nandawathi Jayasuriya. The couple has 5 sons and 3 daughters. He died on 10 September 1987 at the age of 74.[2]

Cinema career

In school times, he performed in a drama based on a novel "Rohini" written by Martin Wickremasinghe. There was a superintendent named Jasinghe in the Department of Agriculture where David worked. He saw Dharmakeerthi's acting skills in the dramas of the peasant army, who also produced the background music and art direction. Raja Tilakaratne, who was a Lake House Dinamina Journalist, is a relative of the superintendent Jasinghe. Jasinghe opened the cinema door to Dharmakeerthi. His first cinema acting came through 1953 film Sujatha directed by T. R. Sundaram. During his visit to the studio in India to film Sujatha, his father and friend T. Somasekaran both died.[2]

He also worked as a film assistant director, dialogue writer and a story writer in 1958 film Salli Malli Salli. In this film he emerged as a character actor. In 1981, he acted in the film Aradhana as a merciful father. He won the Best Supporting Actor Award at the 1982 Sarasaviya Awards. for that acting. This was the only award he received in 35 years of film career. He acted with his son Sarath Dharmakeerthi in the 1984 film Parasathuro.[2]

His final cinema appearance came through 1988 film Sagara Jalaya Madi Handuwa Oba Sanda directed by Sumitra Peries.[3]

Political career

His favorite political character was Philip Gunawardena. Dharmakeerthi contested for the Horana seat from the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna in the 1960 general election. However, he was placed third in the seat and received only 1555 votes.[2]

Filmography

Year	Film	Role	Ref.
1953	Sujatha	Mudali	[4]
1953	Prema Tharagaya
1954	Warada Kageda?
1955	Seda Sulang	Sir Edward Palipana
1958	Salli Malli Salli
1958	Vana Mohini
1959	Sirimali	Galgedera Mudalali
1960	Pirimiyek Nisa
1960	Sandesaya	Ekanayake 'Disawa'
1961	Suvineetha Lalani
1962	Suhada Divi Piduma	Ranatunga
1963	Deepashika	Lucky's father
1963	Sudu Sande Kalu Wala	Ralahamy
1963	Gamperaliya	Kaisaruwaththe Muhandiram	[5]
1964	Kala Kala De Pala Pala De
1964	Sithaka Mahima
1964	Sulalitha Sobani	Danapala Mudalali
1964	Suba Sarana Sepa Sithe	Karolis 'Appu'
1964	Samaje Api Okkoma Samanai
1965	Hathara Maha Nidhanaya	Keerthisena
1965	Landaka Mahima
1966	Athulweema Thahanam
1966	Mahadana Muththa	Mahadana Muththa
1966	Kapatikama	Mr. Fernando
1966	Seegiri Kashyapa	King Dhatusena	[6]
1966	Senasili Suwaya	Loku Unnahe
1967	Hathara Kendare
1967	Iwasana Dana
1968	Singithi Surathal
1968	Akka Nago
1968	Bicycle Hora
1968	Indunila
1968	Dehadaka Duka	Uncle
1968	Punchi Baba	Mala's uncle
1969	Kawuda Hari?	Mudalithuma
1969	Prewesamwanna	Mr. Basnayake
1969	Pancha
1971	Kathuru Muwath	Don David Pathirana
1972	Hathara Wate
1972	Lokuma Hinawa	Renuka's Pappa
1972	Ihatha Athmaya	Priyani's father
1973	Suhada Pathuma	Siriwardena	[7]
1973	Sinawai Inawai	Guru Sabha
1973	Sunethra
1975	Kokilayo
1975	Sadhana
1976	Madol Duwa	Mudalali	[8]
1978	Veera Puran Appu	Gunnepana Arachchi
1979	Divi Thibena Thuru
1979	Hari Pudumai	Mahathun
1980	Parithyagaya	Ralahamy
1981	Baddegama	Mudalithana	[9]
1981	Jeevanthi
1981	Aradhana		[10]
1984	Para Sathuro	Grand father
1987	Kiwulegedara Mohottala	Elderly Nilame
1988	Sagara Jala Madi Handuwa	Village Man
1994	Ahas Maliga

References

External links

• හොරණ ඉන්ද්‍රදාසට මත ගැටුම් වැඩිවෙයි! Archived 2 February 2020 at the Wayback Machine
• හින්දි චිත්‍රපටයක් කොපිකර ලංකාවේ නැගලා ගිය ‘සුජාතා’
• අපේ කලා ලෝකයෙන් අප්‍රකට කතා
• කිසිම චිත්‍රපටයක කොටස් කපන්නේ නෑ...

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