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Piyadasa Gunasekera

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Piyadasa Gunasekera
පියදාස ගුණසේකර
Born
Hilla Liyanage Don Piyadasa Gunsekera

1915
Died5 April 1980 (aged 65)
Colombo, Sri Lanka
NationalitySri Lankan
EducationAnanda College
OccupationFilm actor
Years active1950–1980
ChildrenLankarajini Gunsekera
RelativesJinadasa Gunasekera (brother)
Irene de Alwis (niece)

Hilla Liyanage Don Piyadasa Gunsekera (born 1915 – died 5 April 1980 as Sinhala: පියදාස ගුණසේකර), popularly as Piyadasa Gunasekera, was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema. In a career spanning more than three decades, Gunasekera is considered the greatest villain ever to appear in Sinhala cinema after Dommie Jayawardena at the time.[1]

Personal life

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Cyril was born on 12 February 1926 in Maligakanda, Colombo, Sri Lanka. He was educated at Industrial College, Campbell Place and Ananda College, Colombo. After school life, he worked as a travel agent of Tram car driver for Trans International and enlisted in the Army during World War II.[2]

His daughter Lankarajini is a talented singer who started her career in Sunen Gokula's 'Sangeetha Sandyawa' program in radio. She was educated at St. Paul's College, Milagiriya.[2]

He died on 22 September 1992 at the age of 65. His death from alcohol poisoning was a controversial event.[3]

Career

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He started his acting career as a theater actor where he performed in the popular stage plays Rodi Kella and Samudra Devi produced by Sirisena Wimalaweera. Then in 1952, he made his maiden cinematic appearance with the drama religious film Siri Sangabo.[3] The film is unique in Sinhala cinema history, as its story and dialogue were written by a Buddhist monk, Ven. Wathuregama Somalankara Thero. However, his most dramatic and critic acclaim performance came through the 1955 film Seda Sulang directed by T. Somasekaran.[4] Also his role as 'Podi Ralahamy' in the film Handapana. Some of his other popular films include: Daru Duka, Sāraviṭa, Maha Rǣ Hamu Vū Sthriya, Lasanda, Romeō Julieṭ Kathāvak, Veeduru Geval, Baḍuth Ekka Horu, Binaramalī, and Sikuruliyā.[2]

Apart from Sinhala films, he also starred in two English films Kommissar X – Drei gelbe Katzen (The Three Yellow Cats) and The Green Emeralds. As a technician, he worked for Arthur Rank and M.G.M. film productions such as Purple Plain, Elephant Walk, Star of Colombo, and Laughing Anne.[2] After many villain roles, he made a white role in the film Senasuma Kothanada. In the film Haara Lakshaya, he played the role of James Seneviratne, the main antagonist.[5] The film was based on the first horrific robbery and murder in Sri Lanka, known as the turf club robbery that occurred on 27 January 1949.[6][7] After the success in the film, he received several villain roles again in the films: Hathara Wate, Vanaraja, Aparadaya Saha Danduwama, Kalyani Ganga, Jeevana Ganga and Tom Pachaya. In 1981, he played the role of 'Devadatta' in the film Ajasaththa, which became one of his other milestone.[8]

In 1965 at the 2nd United Lanka Fans Society Award Ceremony, he won the award for Best Co Actor for his role in the film Suba Sarana Sapa Sithe. In 1968, he won the Special Awards at 5th Sarasaviya Awards for the film Daru Duka.[9] Then in 1970 at 7th Sarasaviya Awards, Gunasekera won the Best Supporting Actor award for the critics acclaimed role in Binaramalee.[3] Later in 1974, he won the Deepashika Special Award at 4th Deepashika Award Ceremony for his contribution to the Sinhala cinema.[1]

In 2013, For the first time in the country, the Stamp Bureau has released four stamps of four villain actors including Piyadasa Gunasekera.[10]

Filmography

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Year Film Roles Ref.
1952 Siri Sangabo
1953 Laughing Anne Technical crew
1954 The Purple Plain Technical crew
1954 Elephant Walk Technical crew
1954 Star of Colombo Technical crew
1955 Seda Sulang Playback Singer, Anton
1957 Surasena Romiel [11]
1958 Deyyange Rate
1958 Vana Mohini
1958 Sihinaya
1963 Sunilaa
1963 Deepashika Mr. Gunasekara
1964 Suba Sarana Sepa Sithe
1965 Handapana
1965 Saaravita Jackie [12]
1966 Segawena Sewanella
1966 Senasuma Kothanada
1966 Maha Ra Hamuwu Sthriya
1966 Athulweema Thahanam
1966 Sampatha
1966 Kommissar X – Drei gelbe Katzen
1967 Rena Giraw Kolamba Hamu [13]
1967 Hathara Kendare
1967 Sorungeth Soru
1967 Daru Duka Podi Ralahamy
1967 Sadol Kandulu
1967 Hitha Giya Thena
1968 Pini Bindu
1968 Hangi Hora
1968 Dehadaka Dura Heen Hamu's henchman
1969 Hari Maga Norbert henchman
1969 Baduth Ekka Horu Nambiyar
1969 Binaramalee Gunman
1969 Romeo Juliet Kathawak Gajanayake
1969 Paara Walalu
1970 Nim Walalla [14]
1971 Davena Pipasa
1971 Haara Lakshaya J. L. D. 'Seney' Senaratne [15]
1971 Maha Hene Riri Yaka John Rathsingha
1972 Hathara Wate
1972 Vanaraja
1972 Veeduru Gewal Uncle
1973 Aparadaya Saha Danduwama
1974 Kalyani Ganga Mudalali
1974 Jeewana Ganga
1974 Sihasuna
1974 Lasanda Silva
1975 Obai Mamai Piyadasa
1975 Sikuruliya Haramanis
1976 Nedeyo Adwagath Hamu
1977 Hithuvoth Hithuwamai Piyadasa 'Piya' [16]
1977 Niluka
1977 Vanagatha Kella
1977 Hariyanakota Ohoma Thamai
1977 Sajaa
1977 Siripala Saha Ranmenika Nagaran [17]
1977 Janaka Saha Manju Police Inspector
1978 Sasara
1978 Vishmaya Ralahamy
1979 Hingana Kolla Peduru
1979 Divi Thibena Thura Jokeenu
1979 Sugandi Doctor
1979 Sawudan Jema Kahathudawe Ralahamy
1979 Raja Kollo Jamis
1980 Seetha
1980 Sasaraka Pathum Shanthi's father
1980 Muwan Palessa 2 Gunman
1980 Raja Dawasak Adikaram
1981 Ajasaththa Devadaththa
1982 Sandaa Babarala
1982 Re Manamali
1982 Miss Mallika
1982 Sudu Ayya Mr. Ranatunga
1985 Mawbima Nathinam Maranaya

References

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  1. ^ a b "Piyadasa Gunasekara filmography". Digital Identity of Sinhala Cinema. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d "Although Piyadasa is a bad man on screen, he is a good man". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  3. ^ a b c "Piyadasa Gunasekera who fell from a soldier and broke his leg". Divaina. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  4. ^ "Piyadasa Gunasekara commemoration". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  5. ^ "The best villains in Sri Lankan cinema". lifie. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  6. ^ "This is how the robbery of four lakhs that shook Sri Lanka at that time came to the cinema". Lankadeepa. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  7. ^ "True stories of Sri Lanka in films". lifie. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  8. ^ "World renowned actor – Piyadasa Gunasekara". mirrorarts. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  9. ^ "Movie stars who mixed acting for the first time direction". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  10. ^ "Commemorative stamps for the villains on the screen". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  11. ^ ""Malaikallan" and "Asad" are the "Surasena" in Sinhala cinema". Lankadeepa. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  12. ^ "Gunahami of the Sabaragamuwa Perahera wearing Saraiya". Lankadeepa. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  13. ^ "Rena Giraw: Laughing parrot lips glistening at night". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  14. ^ "It is now 50 years since Ananda Boys produced Nimwalala". Silumina. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  15. ^ "Priceless four lakhs". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  16. ^ "All about Hithuvoth Hithuwamai". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  17. ^ "Siripala and Ranmenika highlighted the poetic mind of the misguided man". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
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