{"id":76706,"date":"2021-10-30T03:03:45","date_gmt":"2021-10-30T03:03:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/?p=76706"},"modified":"2021-10-30T06:25:30","modified_gmt":"2021-10-30T06:25:30","slug":"tribute-to-icon-thespian-actor-wijeya-nandasiri-by-sunil-thenabadu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/tribute-to-icon-thespian-actor-wijeya-nandasiri-by-sunil-thenabadu\/","title":{"rendered":"Tribute to Icon thespian actor Wijeya Nandasiri By Sunil Thenabadu\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tribute to Icon thespian actor Wijeya Nandasiri By Sunil Thenabadu\u00a0<\/sup><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n

\"\"\u00a0It is just five years ago the veteran cherished Icon thespian actor Wijeya Nandasiri who gave life to many a character to stage, small screen and films breathed his last on the way to the Kalubowila Teaching hospital from his residence at Kalapura,Templars road Mt Lavinia on the morning of the 08th<\/sup>\u00a0August\u00a0\u00a02016,following a heart attack at the age of 72 years. Thus, Wijeya Nandasiri the celebrated thespian actor in performing arts had his final curtain call after providing ample of smiles, joy and laughter to audiences dominating and conquering the stage and the silver screen for over five decades. \"Vijaya<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Wijeya Nandasiri was born on 06th<\/sup>\u00a0May 1944 to a humble family in Maharagama had received his primary and secondary education at the Vidyakara Vidyalaya in\u00a0Maharagama. He had become interested in acting during his tenure in school .He had made theatre debut in the year 1966 in the stage drama\u00a0Vidura-Diva<\/em>\u00a0produced by Amaradasa Gunawardena for the State drama festival. He next portrayed a role in\u00a0Naribena, Jasaya saha Lenchina<\/em>\u00a0made by veteran renowned dramatist Dayananda Gunawardena, who personally invited Wijeya Nandasiri to become part of the cast.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Vijaya \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Wijeya was initially attached briefly as a catering\u00a0officer\u00a0at the\u00a0Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake in the late-’60s as his acting career developed. After his debut drama he subsequently played in many stage dramas including\u00a0Bakmaha Akunu<\/em>\u00a0by Dayananda Gunawardena,\u00a0Thahanchi<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0Baka Thapas<\/em>\u00a0by Sathischandra Edirisinghe,\u00a0Kontharaya<\/em>,\u00a0Wahalak Nathi Geyak<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0Sarade Sina<\/em>\u00a0by Prema Ranjith Thilakarathna and\u00a0Bedde Goranaduwa<\/em>\u00a0by Ananda S. Wijesiri.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

After\u00a0Ran Kanda<\/em>, Nandasiri was on demand, and starred in the plays\u00a0Subha Saha Yasa<\/em>,\u00a0Nariya Saha Keju Kella<\/em>,\u00a0Ekadipathi<\/em>,\u00a0Tharawo Egilethi<\/em>,\u00a0Kuweni<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0Hunuwataye Kathawa<\/em>\u00a0among others.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Over the next 27 years he played the character of Prince \u2018Maname\u2019 in Professor\u00a0Ediriweera Sarathchandra<\/a><\/u>‘s\u00a0celebrated drama Maname, and appeared in\u00a0Singha Bahu<\/em>,\u00a0Mahasara<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0Ratnawalee<\/em>.\u00a0\u00a0Wijeya Nandasiri achieved more fame in 1971 in the play\u00a0Ran Kanda<\/em>. He has participated over 40 plays staged island-wide since.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Vijaya<\/span><\/p>\n

Wijeya Nandasiri’s early\u00a0television credits included Gamana\u00a0and\u00a0Pramada Wedei<\/em>. He was later a producer of teledrama\u00a0Humalaya<\/em>. He became famous as a comedy actor with the character of “Prem” in the teledrama “Nonawaruni Mahathwaruni” broadcasted on Sirasa TV.Then later in Yes Madam, \u2018Ethuma\u2019 and \u2018Yes Boss\u2019.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Wijeya Nandasiri was married to renowned actress Devika Mihirani]<\/sup><\/u>, who herself holds the record to be the main actress in Sri Lanka’s first ever Tele-drama,\u00a0\u2018Dimuthu Muthu<\/em>\u2019<\/sup><\/a>. Their first close encounter was at Sudarshi Visual Arts Center, where Mihirani learnt dancing. It was Wijeya Nandasiri the one who invited Mihirani for the drama\u00a0\u2018Subha Saha Yasa\u2019<\/em>\u00a0in 1974.\u00a0They have two children, Navanjana and Rasanjana Suchitra.The elder daughter Navanjana is married to Chaminda Gunaratna who are domiciled in Brisbane, Australia,<\/sup><\/u>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"VijayaWijeya Nandasiri in year 1976 had met KAW.Perera the renowned film director and producer while staging\u00a0T. B. Ilangaratne<\/a>‘s\u00a0\u2018Shailasanaya\u2019<\/em>\u00a0gave him his first film role in the movie\u00a0\u2018Nedayo\u2019<\/em>\u00a0The character\u00a0\u00a0portrayed was of a blind person and the song\u00a0\u201cSanasum Susuman Pavila\u201d<\/em>\u00a0the song he portrayed\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0is still a popular song lingering among people as his starring in the scene was absolutely realistic He has had portrayed roles in such films as\u2019\u00a0Mage Amma ,Yasa Isuru<\/em>,\u00a0Sandakada Pahana<\/em>,\u00a0Bangali Walalu<\/em>,\u00a0Sasara<\/em>\u00a0,left right Sir,Bahuboothayo<\/em>\u00a0Rail Para<\/em>,Mage Amma,Magodigo Dayi,King hunthar,Sakvithi Dadayama and Suhada Koka\u2019\u00a0<\/em>during the years 1976 to 2015\u00a0He was awarded the Best Actor award for his role of\u00a0the\u00a0match maker<\/a>\u00a0in\u00a0\u2018Sikuru Hathe<\/a>\u2019.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"VijayaMore recently he had focused more attention for his stage plays such as\u00a0Balloth Ekka Behe<\/em>\u00a0,\u00a0Malwadum Anawashai<\/em>,Aluth Horek One.<\/em>\u00a0Invariably his stage shows were in demand and he was actively involved portraying roles in them during the weekends staged island wide, to packed audiences.\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

The immense talent accompanied by humility, humbleness and compassion conquering the stage will no doubt would be etched leaving an indelible tinge in the minds of his fans.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

May his walk through Sansara be short and may he attain the supreme bliss of Nirvana.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sunil Thenabadu,\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

NB\u2026Prior to migration the writer was late Wijaya Nandasiri\u2019s immediate neighbour next to Kala Pura where only a blind was separated the two dwellings.For every party Wijaya invited both of us.Devika knew my wife Ranjana having acted together in the award winning stage play\u201d fiddler on the roof\u201d in year 1982.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n