fiction.wikisort.org - Actor

Daya Bandara Tennakoon (born 29 November 1941 – died 17 April 2020 as දයා තෙන්නකෝන්) [Sinhala]), was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television.[1][2]

Daya Thennakoon
දයා තෙන්නකෝන්
Born	Daya Bandara Tennakoon (1941-11-29)29 November 1941 Kandy, Sri Lanka
Died	17 April 2020(2020-04-17) (aged 78) Maharagama
Nationality	Sri Lankan
Education	Dharmaraja College
Alma mater	University of Ceylon
Occupation	Actor, Dramatist
Years active	1965–2020
Spouse	Grace Ariyawimal

Personal life

He was born on 29 November 1941 in the small village Galabadawatta, in Rangala, Kandy. He started primary education from Galabadawatta Primary School and then completed secondary education from Dharmaraja College, Kandy.[3] His father was a tea estate keeper.[4] After school times, he was selected to the University of Ceylon, Peradeniya and graduated with an arts degree.[5]

He was married to fellow actress Grace Ariyavwimal. He met Grace during the 1965 stage play Manaranjana Wedawarjana produced by Henry Jayasena.[6]

Thennakoon died on 17 April 2020 at the age of 78 while receiving treatments at Apeksha Cancer Hospital, Maharagama.[7][8] The funeral took place on Sunday 19 April at 11:00 am at Thalahena Cemetery, Malabe.[9]

Career

While Thennakoon was studying at the University of Peradeniya, his school as well as university friend Dharmasena Pathiraja invited him to attend several discussions done with filmmaker Sugathapala Senarath Yapa, for his film script Hanthane Kathawa in 1969.[9] Tennakoon was selected for the role "Naatha" in that film, which made his acting debut. He entered the stage through the drama Bosathaneni which was produced by Bandula Jayawardena.[6][10]

He also worked as a journalist in the newspaper Lassana before entering cinema.[11]

There were vacancies in the Ceylon Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) when he left the university where he obtained a job there.[9] In 1969, he worked as an Operations Assistant at CBC.[12] During this time however, he was selected for many stage dramas directed by Sugathapala de Silva including Dunnu Dunugamuwe in 1972, Satha Satha, and Pathiraja's Kora Saha Andhaya in 1970.[13] His performance with Malini Weeramuni in Dunnu Dunugamuwe was one of the most spectacular performances the audience has ever seen.[11] He has been mostly involved in the work of university mate Dharmasena Pathiraja. Later he involved in the play Nettukkari by Namel Weeramuni and play Hitha Honda Ammandi by De Silva.[6][3][5]

He was promoted to producer of the radio education service. The Japanese Award for Special Evaluation of the Year was awarded in 1979 to the program Muhude Yuddhe by Thennekoon. He acted in the television serial Thattu Gewal, which gained enormous popularity.[7] He was awarded with a merit award for his performance in the film Sakman Maluwa in 2003.[3][11][9] Shortly thereafter, he partnered with a television production company called "Cine Video". He was involved in the creation of a number of commercials such as the National Savings Bank and DSI, which were very popular at the time. He directed a number of documentaries and teledramas for Swarnavahini in early years.[14]

It was for the first time in Sri Lanka television that he filmed a song as his concept. It was the first video song ever made for a television media in Sri Lanka. Tennakoon is the pioneer of Sri Lankan television music videos.[14]

He has acted in several supporting roles in many popular films such as Ahas Gawwa, Eya Dan Loku Lamayek, Seilama, Bambaru Avith, Karumakkarayo, Kinihiriya Mal, Sakman Maluwa, Soldadu Unnehe, Swaroopa, Dedunu Akase and 28.[9][5]

Selected stage plays

• Bosathaneni
• Deegeka Awith Kandoskiriyawa [15][16]
• Dunnu Dunugamuwe
• Esala Sandaha Awanhala
• Hitha Honda Ammandi
• Kora Saha Andhaya
• Muthu Kumari
• Nettukkari
• Satha Satha
• The Dictator [17]

Selected television serials

• Andukola [14]
• Anuththara [18]
• Hathe Kalliya [19]
• Pinketha
• Sansungama Andaraya [14]
• Thattu Gewal
• Wes

Awards

He has received several awards.[20]

• 1st FIPRESCT Critics Award 1994 for the Best Performance - Tharanaya
• 7th Swarna Sanka Cinema Awards 1996 for the Best Supporting Actor - Seilama
• 26th Sarasaviya Award 1998 for the Best Performance - Tharanaya

Filmography

Year	Film	Role	Ref.
1969	Hanthane Kathawa	Naatha	[21][22]
1970	Wes Gaththo
1972	Sihina Lowak
1974	Ahas Gauwa	Sirisena
1974	Sihasuna	Sirisena
1976	Walmathwuwo	Gunapala
1977	Eya Dan Loku Lamayek	Lustful temple worker
1978	Bambaru Awith	Francis
1978	Anupama	Hippi
1980	Kanchana
1980	Karumakkarayo	Kankanam Mahattaya	[23]
1980	Paara Dige
1981	Soldadu Unnehe	Soldier
1984	Wadula	Dingirala
1992	Sisila Giniganee	Watchman
1995	Seilama	Hunter
1995	Maruthaya	Nimal's father
1997	Tharanaya		[24]
1997	Visidela	Piyadasa
1998	Anthima Reya
2001	Kinihiriya Mal	Amadoris
2003	Sakman Maluwa	Gardener	[25]
2006	Ammawarune	Appuhamy
2010	Viyapath Bambara
2014	Swaroopa
TBD	Ice Cream
TBD	Girivassipura

References

External links

• දයා තෙන්නකෝන් කලාකරුවාත් සමුගනී
• රංගන ශිල්පී දයා තෙන්නකෝන් අභාවප්‍රාප්ත වෙයි
• දයා තෙන්නකෝන් සමුගනී
• ප්‍රවීන රංගන ශිල්පී දයා තෙන්නකෝන් මහතා අභාවප්‍රාප්ත වෙයි
• රංගන ශිල්පී දයා තෙන්නකෝන් දිවියෙන් සමුගනියි
• About Daya Thennakoon's death
• Return of the Dictator
• He became my husband - Grace
• ටික දිනකට දිව්‍ය ලෝකයට
• Art World with Daya Thennekoon

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