Artiste of diverse talent
Ruwini JAYAWARDANA
Like many of his contemporaries he too emerged from the stage and
then ventured into the mini and wide screen. Pathiraja L.S. Dayananda
was one of the filmmakers who contributed to the golden era of Sinhala
cinema with creations like Hathdinnath Tharu, Selinage Wallawwa,
Sinhabahu and Jodu Walalu.
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Pathiraja L.S. Dayananda |
He had directed 19 films and 24 stage plays in his career which spans
over five decades. He was the first independent Sri Lankan producer to
make a children’s film which was titled Enna Mage Priya Mithuro.
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Jodu Walalu |
Dayananda entered the spotlight in 1956 with Yankin Hatana a stage
play. He was still a school boy and was trained under S. Malal and took
part in his play Golu Birinda. He portrayed the roles in Wanagatha Kollo,
Duppath Kolla, Veera Keppitapola and later took on a more significant
role in Gilbert Hewavitharana’s Ekolos Ginna.
Meanwhile the talented artiste felt the urge to pen his thoughts down
on paper and compose the story into a screenplay. His first project was
Hasarak Nathi Katharak in which Malani Fonseka and Vimal Kumara De Costa
took on the lead roles.
In 1964 he staged Yakkage Kammala and launched a tabloid named
Vedikava. He also directed and played a role in a stage drama titled
Diya Sena and later directed play like Kavuruwath Ennae Nae.
Dayananda teamed up with M.N. Manamendra and set up a film production
company called Sinhala Cineru. Their maiden project was Ahas Gavvuwa but
due to financial difficulties the company was sold after some years.
In 1969 he directed his maiden cinematic creation Hathdinnath Tharu.
It won the OCIC Award and soon Selinage Wallawwa, Jodu Walalu, Tuththiri
Mal, Sinhabahu and Kivulagedara Mohottala were released.
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Hathdinnath Tharu
Selinage Wallawwa |
After making the children’s film which was banned from theaters
Dayananda fell into difficult times. He was paralyzed and suffered from
frequent illness. Since he was in debt and had to sell his home to pay
off his loans former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga
presented him with a home in Kalapura, Galleface.
He later directed another two films named Sandavathige Kathawa and
Hithumathe Jeewithae but the work did not take off.
“I could not make a movie which was quite up to my satisfaction. Many
considered the films made before 1977 as exemplary creations,” Dayananda
had noted in an interview some years back. The gifted filmmaker,
playwright and actor passed away on at the age of 64. |
