Mark Samaranayake

Hettiarachchige Don Marcus Conrad Senarathna Samaranayake (born 8 April 1914 – died 4 June 2000 as මාක් සමරනායක) [Sinhala]), popularly as Mark Samaranayake, was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema and stage drama.[1] One of the earliest pillars in Sinhala cinema, Samaranayake acted in several critically acclaimed films such as Peralena Iranama, Perakadoru Bena, Kapati Arakshakaya, Duppathage Duka and Daivayogaya.[2]

Mark Samaranayake
මාක් සමරනායක
Born
Hettiarachchige Don Marcus Conrad Senarathna Samaranayake

(1914-04-08)April 8, 1914
DiedJune 4, 2000(2000-06-04) (aged 86)
Colombo, Sri Lanka
NationalitySri Lankan
EducationSaint Joseph's College, Colombo
Occupation(s)Actor, Dramatist, Producer, Assistant director
Years active1945–1992
SpousePearl Jayawardena (m. 1950)
Children3
Parents
  • Charles Samaranayake (father)
  • Dona Isabella Perera (mother)
Awards"Swarna Jayanthi" Award

Personal life

He was born on 8 April 1914 in Weliveriya, Gampaha as the fifth child in a family with eight siblings.[2] His father, Charles Samaranayake, was a notary and his mother Dona Isabella Perera was a housewife. He had three elder sisters: Josephine, Harriet and Lori, an elder brother: George, two sisters: Ellison and Marie, and a younger brother: Benedict. His father died when Mark was a child.[3]

He received his primary education at the Sinhala School in Weliweriya and then went to Saint Joseph's College, Colombo for secondary education. Popular actor Laddie Ranasinghe was his classmate. Mark and Laddie both attended St. Aloysius Seminary in their youth where his father had dedicated Mark to the church.[3]

In 1950, he married Pearl Jayawardena, a fellow actress. The couple had two daughters: Shirani, Damayanthi and one son Tiron.[2] His eldest daughter Shirani died at a hospital in Paris in February 2014.[4] She was a mother of three who made a minor role in the film Duppathage Duka as a child artist in 1956. Her funeral took place on 15 February 2014 in Paris.[5]

He died on 4 June 2000 at the age of 86 after a serious illness.[3]

Career

At the age of 14, the college held an open singing competition, where Mark became the winner and Laddie became the runner-up. After school, Mark worked as an assistant agricultural inspector in the Army. During this period in 1945, he met Laddie by accident in Pettah. Laddie invited Mark to join in his stage drama.[2] He accepted the offer and went to the Arcadian Drama Club in Borella and acted in the play Mathabhedaya. After that, Mark also formed the Drama Society called 'Lunuwila Victory' in 1946 and produced three stage plays: Andha Aalaya, Wasanawa and Aladdin. He later produced a play called Riyadura, co-starring Josephine Jayalath, who was the elder sister of popular actress Florida Jayalath.[3]

When the play Riyadura was performed in Negombo, famous artist Rukmani Devi and Eddie Jayamanne of the then Minerva Drama Troupe participated to watch the play. Later in the day, he was invited to meet Eddie and Rukmani at their home in Bolavalana.[2] Then, Eddie introduced Mark to filmmaker B. A. W. Jayamanne. Jayamanne casts Mark as the school inspector in his 1948 film Kapati Arakshakaya.[3]

After the success of the film, he was selected for many films. In 1949, he played Rukmani's 'evil husband' in the film Peralena Iranama. Then he became the 'Hetti' in Weradunu Kurumanama (1948) and 'carpenter' in Perakadoru Bena in 1955.[2] Then his notable acting came as an arrogant woman as a 'cunning magician' in the film Ahankara Sthree and as 'Buddhi' in the film Matalan in 1955.[6] In 1956, he made his most dramatic character of 'Inspector Jayasinghe' in the film Duppathage Duka. In the film, his friend Laddie acted as main antagonist 'Baladeva' and his wife Pearl as 'Baladeva's sister'.[3] His acting in the film is rated as one of the best earliest performances in Sinhala cinema.[7]

In his last years, he played several characters of an elderly father in the film such as Thushara, Sahanaya, Me Desa Kumatada and Aege Adara Kathawa. As an assistant director, he was involved in the films Siriyalatha, Daivayogaya, and Magul Poruwa. His portrayal of the elderly ascetic 'Ruchika' in the film Daivayogaya was critically acclaimed. He last acted in the film Viyaru Minisa in 1992.[3] Later in 1997, he was honored with "Swarna Jayanthi" Award for his contribution to Sinhala cinema at the 11th Presidential Award.[2]

Filmography

YearFilmRoleRef.
1948Kapati ArakshakayaSchool Inspector
1948Weradunu KurumanamaHettaiyya
1949Peralena IranamaArrogant husband
1951Segawunu PilithuraDouglas
1952Umathu WishwasayaBuddhi
1953Prema TharangayaWickrama[8]
1953Puduma LeliDoctor Appu Hamy LLMS[9]
1954Ahankara SthreeProfessor Surasena F.R.O.G.[10]
1955MathabhedayaPodi Mahathaya
1955MathalanBuddhi[11]
1955Perakadory BenaHector Sathurusinghe
1956DostharaDharme[12]
1956Duppathage DukaInspector Jayasinghe
1957SurasenaInspector
1957RamyalathaSunny[13]
1957SiriyalathaVictor Gunasekera[14]
1958Sepali
1959DaivayogayaRuwaka
1963Mangalika
1964Samiya Birindage Deviyaya
1965Landaka Mahima
1966Mahadena Muththa6th member identifier
1967Hitha Giya Thena
1967Pipena KumuduDoctor Gunawansa
1967Rahas Dupatha
1967Magul Poruwa
1968Dehadaka DukaKiri Banda
1969PickpocketAbusive Shopkeeper
1969Pancha
1971Sahanaya
1972Me Desa KumatadaMudalithuma' 'Hamu Mahthaya
1973ThusharaLoku Mahathaya 'Douglas'[15]
1973Hondai Narakai
1974SheelaMr. Gunawardena
1974Shanthi
1974LasandaAmaris
1975Raththaran Amma
1976Kawuda RajaPinhamy
1976Pradeepe Ma Wewa
1976Hariyata HariMr. Gunathilake 'Loku Mahathaya'
1976Deviyange TheenduwaBabanis
1976Ran Thilaka
1977Deviyani Oba KohidaMudalali
1977Yali Ipade
1977Chandi Putha
1977Aege Adara Kathawa
1978Apsara
1979Minisun Athara Minisek
1979Hingana KollaLawyer
1979Akke Mata AwasaraGarden owner
1979Sawudan Jema
1980Bambara PahasaSuraweera
1981AjasaththaWasala Maha Amathi
1981GeethikaMr. Samaranayake
1981Anjaana
1982Wathura KaraththayaJudge
1983Sister MaryBishop
1984Jaya Sikurui
1985Rosy
1986Jaya Apatai
1987Yukthiyada Shakthiyada
1987Obatai Priye AdareGrandfather
1988Sandakada Pahana
1988Angulimala
1989Mamai RajaMurdered girl's father
1991Raja Kello
1991Raja Sellam
1992Suwandena Suwandak
1992Viyaru Minisa

References

  1. "Actors of Sinhala Cinema: Mark Samaranayake". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  2. "Mark Samaranayaka මාක් සමරනායක". Digital Identity of Sinhala Cinema. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  3. "Mark Samaranayake, the evil actor on the silver screen as the 'disobedient son' of the Christmas drama". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  4. "Obituaries". Dinamina. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  5. "Mark Samaranayake's daughter dies in Paris". Lankadeepa. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  6. "One of the best action movies: Mathalan". mirrorarts. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  7. "There are many types of violence and violence in the world today". Silumina. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  8. "Prema Tharangaya". films.lk. Archived from the original on 22 June 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  9. "Puduma Leli". films.lk. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  10. "Ahankara Stree". films.lk. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  11. "'Matalan', a milestone in Sinhala cinema". roar.media. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  12. "Gunaratnam–Meyyappan–Dosthara". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  13. "Devdas Sinhala Translation: Ramyalatha". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  14. "Siriyalatha for the first time in Sri Lanka, The songs in the black / white film are colored". Divaina. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  15. "All about the film "Thushara"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
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