fiction.wikisort.org - Actor

Sawunda Hannadige Martin Gunadasa (born 12 February 1930 – died 9 February 2010 as මාටින් ගුණදාස) [Sinhala]), popularly known as Martin Gunadasa, was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television.[1][2] His most popular role was that of Polee Mudalali in the television serial Kopi Kade.[3]

Martin Gunadasa
මාටින් ගුණදාස
Born	Sawunda Hannadige Martin Gunadasa (1930-02-12)February 12, 1930 Matara, Sri Lanka
Died	February 9, 2010(2010-02-09) (aged 79) Colombo
Resting place	Borella cemetery
Nationality	Sri Lankan
Occupation	Actor, Producer, Director, Singer
Years active	1965–2009

Personal life

Martin Gunadasa was born on 12 February 1930 in Matara.[1]

Gunadasa died on 9 February 2010 at the age of 79 after a brief illness. His remains were buried in Borella cemetery on 11 February 2010.[3]

Career

He acted in Vesak and Poson stage dramas during school times. Later he arrived Colombo to succeed his ambition to be an actor. Meanwhile, he worked in the government press. Then he became a trade unionist and lost the job during 1981 July strike. After losing his job, he started to produce stage dramas.[4]

In 1965, Gunadasa made his maiden cinema appearance in the film Saaravita. However, his second film Sudo Sudu screened before his first film. Then he acted in many supportive roles particularly as the arrogant "Mudalali" in many films including, Hatha Maha Nidhanaya, Hathara Wate, Kapatikama, Pickpocket, Indunila, Kalana Mithuro and Sinawai Inawai. He also worked as a singer and musician.[4] In 2007, he acted in the stage play Weyan Piyambahi, which centers around HIV/AIDS disease discussing the effects of the disease.[5]

In 1987, Gunadasa was selected to the television serial Kopi Kade by Thevis Guruge. His role as "Poli Mudalali" became highly popularized among the public and he was usually known by his character name rather than real name.[6] He appeared in the series from the beginning which first aired on 1 April 1987.[7][8] He continued to act in the series for more than 20 consecutive years in 1192 episodes.[4]

Filmography

Year	Film	Role	Ref.
1965	Sudo Sudu	Cow return suggester
1965	Saaravita
1965	Hathara Maha Nidhanaya
1966	Kapatikama	Street Mudalali
1967	Hathara Kendare
1968	Indunila
1969	Pickpocket	Abusive Mudalali
1970	Lakseta Kodiya	Gate closing guard
1971	Kesara Sinhayo	Mudalali with flat tire
1972	Ada Mehemai
1972	Hathara Wate	Mudalali
1973	Sinawai Inawai
1974	Surekha
1976	Deviyange Theenduwa	Mr. Ranatunga
1976	Nilla Soya
1984	Bambara Patikki
2004	Jolly Boys	Umpire
2008	Ali Pancha Mage Mithura

References

External links

• "කෝපි කඩේ" ටෙලි නාට්‍ය මාලාව: ශිල්පීන් ඇගයීම
• ඕපාදූපකාරයන්ට අබිලිං නම තැබූ කෝපි කඩේ අබිලිං මාමා
• කෝපි කඩේට තිස් වසරයි ග්‍රාමසේවක ආරියසේන හඳුවල විස්තර කරයි

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