Piyadasa Gunasekera

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]

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)

Personal life

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

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

YearFilmRolesRef.
1952Siri Sangabo
1953Laughing AnneTechnical crew
1954The Purple PlainTechnical crew
1954Elephant WalkTechnical crew
1954Star of ColomboTechnical crew
1955Seda SulangPlayback Singer, Anton
1957SurasenaRomiel[11]
1958Deyyange Rate
1958Vana Mohini
1958Sihinaya
1963Sunilaa
1963DeepashikaMr. Gunasekara
1964Suba Sarana Sepa Sithe
1965Handapana
1965SaaravitaJackie[12]
1966Segawena Sewanella
1966Senasuma Kothanada
1966Maha Ra Hamuwu Sthriya
1966Athulweema Thahanam
1966Sampatha
1966Kommissar X – Drei gelbe Katzen
1967Rena GirawKolamba Hamu[13]
1967Hathara Kendare
1967Sorungeth Soru
1967Daru DukaPodi Ralahamy
1967Sadol Kandulu
1967Hitha Giya Thena
1968Pini Bindu
1968Hangi Hora
1968Dehadaka DuraHeen Hamu's henchman
1969Hari MagaNorbert henchman
1969Baduth Ekka HoruNambiyar
1969BinaramaleeGunman
1969Romeo Juliet KathawakGajanayake
1969Paara Walalu
1970Nim Walalla[14]
1971Davena Pipasa
1971Haara LakshayaJ. L. D. 'Seney' Senaratne[15]
1971Maha Hene Riri YakaJohn Rathsingha
1972Hathara Wate
1972Vanaraja
1972Veeduru GewalUncle
1973Aparadaya Saha Danduwama
1974Kalyani GangaMudalali
1974Jeewana Ganga
1974Sihasuna
1974LasandaSilva
1975Obai MamaiPiyadasa
1975SikuruliyaHaramanis
1976NedeyoAdwagath Hamu
1977Hithuvoth HithuwamaiPiyadasa 'Piya'[16]
1977Niluka
1977Vanagatha Kella
1977Hariyanakota Ohoma Thamai
1977Sajaa
1977Siripala Saha RanmenikaNagaran[17]
1977Janaka Saha ManjuPolice Inspector
1978Sasara
1978VishmayaRalahamy
1979Hingana KollaPeduru
1979Divi Thibena Thura
1979SugandiDoctor
1979Sawudan JemaKahathudawe Ralahamy
1979Raja KolloJamis
1980Seetha
1980Sasaraka PathumShanthi's father
1980Muwan Palessa 2Gunman
1980Raja DawasakAdikaram
1981AjasaththaDevadaththa
1982SandaaBabarala
1982Re Manamali
1982Miss Mallika
1982Sudu AyyaMr. Ranatunga
1985Mawbima Nathinam Maranaya

References

  1. "Piyadasa Gunasekara filmography". Digital Identity of Sinhala Cinema. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  2. "Although Piyadasa is a bad man on screen, he is a good man". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  3. "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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