Cyril Wickramage

Cyril Wickramage (born 26 January 1932: Sinhala:සිරිල් වික්‍රමගේ) is an actor and director in Sri Lankan cinema, theater and television as well as a singer.[1] Wickramage is known for participating mainly in artistic Sinhala films.[2] Performed as a charismatic actor in all three art forms: stage, cinema, and teledrama, Wickramage is most notable for the dramatic roles in the films, Bambaru Avith, Karumakkarayo, Seilama and Dheewari.[3]

Cyril Wickramage
සිරිල් වික්‍රමගේ
Born (1932-01-26) 26 January 1932
NationalitySri Lankan
EducationThurstan College, Colombo
Occupation(s)Actor, Dramatist
Years active1965–present
SpouseWinifreda Perera
Children4
Parents
  • Charles Wickrama (father)
  • Lydia Wickrama (mother)
AwardsBest Supporting Actor

Personal life

Wickramage was born on 26 January 1932 in Kohila Gedera village, Kurunegala, Sri Lanka. His father Charles Wickrama, was a farmer. His mother was Lydia, a daughter of Wel Vidane. Cyril is the fifth sibling in the family with four brothers and four sisters. His father was a dancer and folk drummer in the village. He first walked 9 miles to a school run by the Salvation Army.[4]

At a young age he joined the army but later trained as a teacher at Peradeniya University in 1954. During this time, he joined Cyril Perera's Art Institute in Mulgampola, Kandy to study music and learned to play the violin. As a teacher, Wickramage received posts at Rathmalane Deaf School. While completing his diploma at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Wickramage was drawn to acting.[5] During this time, Wickramage met Somawansa Pattiarachchi who worked for the National Broadcasting Corporation and excelled violin for about two years. In the meantime, he was transferred to Wesley College, Colombo.[3]

He is married to Winifreda Perera, the sister of music director and film actor Vincent Premasiri. The couple has two sons: Chandana, Lakshitha and two daughters: Wathsala, Disala.[3]

Drama career

During his tenure in Wesley College, he met Sri Jayana, who worked as the dance teacher of the school. Together they produced the ballet Rana Thisara. Wickramage gained some prestige with his role in Gunasena Galpaththi's play Muhudu Puththu,[4] his maiden acting in stage dramas. He subsequently appeared in Devatha Eliya, Kuveni, Thavath Udasanak, Dawasak Wenas, Elowa Gihin Melowa Awaa, Kada Walallu, Pabawathi, Liyathambara, Natukkaraya, Wes Muhunu, Ahasin Watunu Minissu and Idama.[5] In the play Pabawathi, Wickramage played the role of 'King Okkaka'.[3]

On Sisira Senaratne's invitation, Wickramage made his debut as a film actor in 1965 with a supporting role in the film Handapana. His true breakthrough came however in 1967 with the role of Gunadasa in the groundbreaking Sath Samudura.[4] The film was highly praised in Sri Lanka and swept the 1968 Sarasaviya Film Festival. Wickramage rounded up the 1960s with roles in the art film Mokade Vune and the popular Binaramalee.[5]

In the late-60s, Wickramage began a successful collaboration with Vasantha Obeysekera and producer Dr. Linus Dissanayake. Year 1970 saw the release of the first Vasantha-Cyril-Linus film Ves Gaththo.[3] Dealing with such issues as alienation among rural youth, the film was expanded upon with Walmath Wuvo in 1976. Cyril made his first foray into directing with Dr. Linus in 1972 making Sihina Lowak which he also starred in.[5] The film produced the popular song "Ma Mala Pasu Sohon Kothe" sung by W. D. Amaradeva.[4]

Wickramage was a favorite of Dharmasena Pathiraja, appearing in almost all of his films including Ahas Gauwa, Eya Dan Loku Lamayek, Bambaru Awith, Soldadu Unnahe. The role in Bambaru Awith (1978) in particular was a major role for Wickramage. Other major directors that used Wickramage include Tissa Abeysekera in Karumakkarayo - 1980 and Dharmasiri Bandaranayake in Suddilage Kathaawa - 1985.[5]

Wickramage has expanded into television work with roles in Numba Nadana Senehelatha, Palingu Manike, Andukole, Mihikathage Daruwo, Saapa Nokaraw Daruwane (directed by Rodney Widanapathirana[6]), Gauwen Gauwa and Alle Lange Walauwa.[5]

Selected television serials

  • Andukole
  • Kota Uda Mandira
  • Mihikathage Daruwo
  • Numba Nadana Senehelatha
  • Palingu Manike
  • Saapa Nokaraw Daruwane
  • Sathya[7]

Filmography

YearFilmRolesRef.
1965Handapana
1967Sath SamuduraGunadasa[8]
1969Mokada UnePaala
1969BinaramaleeSinger[9]
1969Paara Walalu
1970Nim Walalla
1970Wes Gaththo
1972Sihina Lowak
1973Hathdinnath TharuPremadasa
1974Ahas GauwaCyril
1976WalmathwuwoSaman Weeratunga
1977Eya Dan Loku LamayekFighting card dealer
1978Selinage WalawwaSamson
1978Bambaru AwithCyril
1979DutugemunuDutugemenu
1979Chuda ManikyaPercy Ranatunga
1979Wisihathara PeyaSilva
1980KarumakkarayoPiyadasa[10]
1981Soldadu UnneheTaxi Malli
1984ParasathuroIhalagama
1985Suddilage KathaawaRomiel[11]
1985Karadiya Walalla
1987Mangala TheggaDhamme
1987Podi Vijay
1989SirimeduraAlbert
1990Palama YataSolomon[12]
1991Sthree
1992KulageyaHoneymoon crasher
1994Ekada Wahi
1994Ambu SamiyoPiyadasa
1994Mee HarakaBus Conductor
1995SeilamaBande
1995MaruthayaDharmawardena
1996Bithu Sithuwam
1996Thunweni Aehe
1997Blendings
1998Sexy Girl
1999NagaranMinister
2000Anuragaye AnanthayaDharmasena
2002Thahanam Gaha
2004Gini Kirilli
2011Dheewari
2014Que Sera
2016WeerawarnaDon Almeida
2016SakkarangPitawela Gurun
2017BandhanayaMenik Hami

References

  1. "I am satisfied with my journey". සරසවිය. 1 September 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  2. "This image of an actor is broken by me". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  3. "I still love Helen: Cyril Wickramage". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  4. "Cyril Wickramage who paved the way for charismatic actors". Silumina. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  5. Kumara, Nuwan Nayanajith (2005). Sri Lankeya Cinema Vanshaya (Sri Lankan Film Chronicle). Sarasavi Publishers. ISBN 955-573-367-8.
  6. https://www.facebook.com/rodney.widanapathirana?fref=ts
  7. "Muhurath ceremony for 'Sathya'". Sunday times. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  8. "All about "Sath Samudura"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  9. "All about Binaramalee". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  10. "All about the film "Karumakkarayo"". sarasaviya. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  11. "All about the film "Suddilage Kathawa"". sarasaviya. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  12. "All about the film "Palama Yata"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
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