Misplaced Pages

The neutrality of this article is disputed. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please do not remove this message until conditions to do so are met. (May 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

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.

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.

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.

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

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. 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. 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.

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. 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. 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. 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.

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. Then in 1970 at 7th Sarasaviya Awards, Gunasekera won the Best Supporting Actor award for the critics acclaimed role in Binaramalee. Later in 1974, he won the Deepashika Special Award at 4th Deepashika Award Ceremony for his contribution to the Sinhala cinema.

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

Filmography

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.

External links

• Piyadasa Gunasekera at IMDb

• 1915 births
• 1980 deaths
• Sri Lankan male film actors
• People from British Ceylon
• Male actors from Colombo
• Alumni of Ananda College