Bandula Vithanage Explained

Bandula Vithanage
Native Name:බන්දුල විතානගේ
Birth Name:Bandula de Silva Vithanage
Birth Date:September 11, 1940
Birth Place:Gonagala, Sri Lanka
Death Place:Colombo National Hospital
Nationality:Sri Lankan
Education:Carey College, Colombo
Dharmasoka College
Years Active:1963–2014
Children:Nalaka Vithanage
Relatives:Yashoda Wimaladharma (niece)
Occupation:Actor, Dramatist, Director

Bandula de Silva Vithanage (born 11 September 1940 – died 1 September 2014 as බන්දුල විතානගේ) [Sinhala]) was an actor and director in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television as well as a translator, director, playwright and scriptwriter.[1] [2] One of the earliest pillars of Sri Lankan art and drama, Vithanage has produced several critically acclaimed television serials and stage dramas during his five decades of drama career.[3] He is the pioneer to introduce Shakespearean theater to Sri Lankan theater with several plays such as Veniciye Velenda, Macbeth, Twelfth Night, Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet.[4] [5]

He died on 1 September 2014 at Colombo National Hospital at the age of 73.[6] [7]

Personal life

He was born on 11 September 1940 in Gonagala. He attended Athuruwella Primary School for primary education and then moved to Carey College, Colombo to complete up to G.C.E O/L. He completed his A/L education at Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda. He entered to the University of Colombo for higher education and came under the influence of renowned dramatist Ediriweera Sarachchandra's university drama circle. He graduated with a master's degree in Dramaturgy and Acting.[8]

His son Nalaka Vithanage is a popular filmmaker.[9] He has produced three stage dramas - Rathri Bojanaya (2004), Kasi Malla (2006) and Upanda Maranaya (2009).[10] Nalaka is an old boy of Nalanda College, Colombo. Bandula Vithanage's niece Yashoda Wimaladharma is a popular actress in Sinhala television and cinema.[11]

Career

In 1963, he started stage drama acting with P. Velikala's production Rathnavali with the role 'Vidushaka'. In 1965, he produced his first theater play Megha Garjana, which is a translation of Harold Pinter's The Collection. He acted in Simon Navagattegama's Gangavak and then directed Sapaththu Kabalak Saha Maranayak. Along with fellow dramatist Tony Ranasinghe, Vithanage produced the popular stage play Veniciye Velenda in 1980.

He continued to produce several critically acclaimed foreign drama adaptations, which include Jean Anouilh's Becket, Romaya Gini Gani (based on Ray Cooney's Run for your wife), Sikuru Sanekeli.Senehebara Dolly (based on Thornton Wilder's The Matchmaker), Hiru Dahasa (based on Wilder's Our Town), Macbeth (2006), Twelfth Night (1988), Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, and A Comedy of Errors.

He acted in small number of films where compare with efforts in theater and television. He worked with and assisted Vasantha Obeysekera in Wes Gaththo, and later acted in Dharmasena Pathiraja's Ahas Gawwa. His maiden cinema acting came through 1974 film Dahakin Ekek directed by Merril Albert. His most notable television production came through Bumuthurunu, Aththa Bindei and Asal Wasiyo, which were telecast in Rupavahini. In 2011, he produced the play Romaya Gini Gani-2 as a joint effort with actor Roger Seneviratne. Romaya Gini Gani-2 was based on Cooney's play Caught in the net. He directed the television comedy serials I Love Jennie[12] in 2007 and Paththara Gedara in 2008.[13] In 2009, he acted in the stage play produced by his son Nalaka, Upanda Maranaya.[14]

He joined the Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) in its early years and had a brief serving period.[15] He lived in England for three and a half years after the expulsion from SLRC along with Lucien Bulathsinhala.

Selected stage plays

Selected television serials

Author work

He translated several Shakespearean plays into Sinhala language.

Death

He died on 1 September 2014 at Colombo National Hospital while receiving treatments. His remaining were kept at Jayaratne Funeral Parlour in Borella on 2 September and brought to National Art Gallery on 4 September. Final rites performed at 4.00 pm and buried at Borella Cemetery on the same day.[47]

Awards and accolades

His play Sapaththu Kabalak Saha Maranayak won many awards at State Drama Festival in 1971 including Best Actress and Best Stage Designing. In 1996, the play Romaya Gini Gani won major awards including the Best Production, Best Script, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Supporting actor at State Drama Festival. On 30 January 2011, a felicitation program was held at John de Silva Theatre to celebrate 70 years of his life.

State Drama Festival

|-|| 1987 ||| Senehebara Dolly || Best Translation production || |-|| 1990 ||| Hiru Dahasa || Best Translation production || |-|| 1997 ||| Romaya Gini Gani || Best Direction and Adaptation ||

Filmography

Year Film Role Ref.
1970 Wes Gaththo
1973 Dahakin Ekek Drunken person
1974 Ahas Gauwa Trip friend
1977 Pembara Madhu University boy
1978 Selinage Walawwa Shashiya
1978 Jodu Walalu
1980 Sinhabahu
1980 Api Dedena
1981 Sathara Pera Nimithi Chief monk
1987 Viragaya Chief clerk
1993 Guru Gedara Stage director
1998 Dorakada Marawa [48]
1999 Re Ru [49]
1999 Theertha Yathra [50]
2001 Mathu Yam Dawasa [51]
2002 Agnidahaya [52]
2003 Sudu Kaluwara Monk [53]
2003 Sulang Kirilli Doctor [54]
2005 Sulanga Senarathne's father [55]
2008 Machan Drunken person [56]
2011 Nino Live Nino's grandfather [57]
2013 Anithya Milan's father [58]
2015 Sulanga Gini Aran [59]
2016 Sulanga Apa Ragena Yavi Doctor [60]
2017 Nilanjana Densil [61]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bandula Vithanage films . IMDb . 2 October 2019.
  2. Web site: Familiarizing with the Bard . Daily News . 2 October 2019.
  3. Web site: Unforgettables . Daily Mirror . 2 October 2019.
  4. Web site: Veteran Vithanage to be felicitated . Sunday Times . 2 October 2019.
  5. Web site: Thespian with Shakespearean touch . Daily News . 2 October 2019.
  6. Web site: Bandula Vithanage passes away . Daily Mirror . 2 October 2019.
  7. Web site: Pioneering Artiste Bandula Vithanage No More . Asian Mirror . 2 October 2019.
  8. Web site: A brief tribute to Bandula Vithanage . Daily News . 2 October 2019.
  9. Web site: Veteran dramatist no more . Daily Mirror . 2 October 2019.
  10. Web site: Birthday meets death! . Daily Mirror . 2 October 2019.
  11. Web site: 'Butterfly Symphony' gives wings to Yashodha . Sunday Times . 2 October 2019.
  12. Web site: I Love Jennie : A comedy of a family . Sunday Times . 2 October 2019.
  13. Web site: 'PaththaraGedera':Comedy in a press . Sunday Times . 2 October 2019.
  14. Web site: 'Upanda Maranaya' comes alive . Sunday Times . 16 December 2019.
  15. Web site: Shakespeare's initiator . Daily News . 2 October 2019.
  16. Web site: 'Romaya Gini Gani 2' in Coombo, Ekala . Daily Mirror . 2 October 2019.
  17. Web site: 'Amuthu Minissu' to appear soon . Sunday Times . 2 October 2019.
  18. Web site: 'Vishwanthari': World Class literature on miniscreen . Sunday Times . 8 December 2019.
  19. Web site: Surrealism and Prosthetic in 'Antharjana Minisa' . Sunday Times . 11 December 2019.
  20. Web site: 'Asani Wesi': portrays a remote village . Sunday Times . 2 October 2019.
  21. Web site: 16 short stories on mini screen . Sunday Times . 20 September 2019.
  22. Web site: 'Depath Nai': A social commentary . Sunday Times. 29 November 2019.
  23. Web site: Child deities descend to earth . Sunday Times . 4 December 2019.
  24. Web site: 'Devana Warama' : A tale in Australia . Sunday Times . 18 August 2019.
  25. Web site: 'Heeye Manaya' discusses heritage . Daily News . 15 August 2019.
  26. Web site: 'Hiru Avarata' on Swarnavahini . Sunday Times . 30 November 2019.
  27. Web site: Isisara Isawwa in the making . Sunday Times . 2 October 2019.
  28. Web site: 'Jayathuru Sankaya': Miniplay for a worthy cause . Sunday Times . 29 September 2019.
  29. Web site: Depicts social differences . Sunday Times . 11 September 2019.
  30. Web site: 'Ranga Soba' depicts the life of an actress . Sunday Times . 8 December 2019.
  31. Web site: Piyananda Thera blazes a new trail . Sunday Times . 8 May 2010.
  32. Web site: 'Sudu Kapuru Pethi' : Another tale of war . Sunday Times. 17 July 2019.
  33. Web site: Daya brings humour with 'Three-wheel Malli' . Sunday times . 17 November 2017.
  34. Web site: Janaka comes out with 'Urumaya Soya' . Sunday Times . 25 September 2019.
  35. Web site: Hamlet by Bandula Vithanage . Sarasavi Bookshop (pvt) Ltd . 2 October 2019.
  36. Web site: Waenisiye Welenda by Bandula Vithanage . Sarasavi Bookshop (pvt) Ltd . 2 October 2019.
  37. Web site: Shekshpiyer Hadunaganimu by Bandula Vithanage . Sarasavi Bookshop (pvt) Ltd . 2 October 2019.
  38. Web site: Macbeth by Bandula Vithanage . Sarasavi Bookshop (pvt) Ltd . 2 October 2019.
  39. Web site: Haemotama Waeradila by Bandula Vithanage . Sarasavi Bookshop (pvt) Ltd . 2 October 2019.
  40. Web site: Romaya Gini Gani - 2 by Bandula Vithanage . Sarasavi Bookshop (pvt) Ltd . 2 October 2019.
  41. Web site: Romeo Juliet by Bandula Vithanage . Sarasavi Bookshop (pvt) Ltd . 2 October 2019.
  42. Web site: Hamlet Sandeepanee by Bandula Vithanage . Sarasavi Bookshop (pvt) Ltd . 2 October 2019.
  43. Web site: Jeewana Rekawa by Bandula Vithanage and Chanaka Vithanage . Godage Book Emporium . 2 October 2019.
  44. Web site: Itu Pathuma by Bandula Vithanage and Chanaka Vithanage . Godage Book Emporium . 2 October 2019.
  45. Web site: Gilbert, Wilbert saha Anette by Bandula Vithanage and Chanaka Vithanage . Godage Book Emporium . 2 October 2019.
  46. Web site: A Sonduru Minisa by Bandula Vithanage and Chanaka Vithanage . Godage Book Emporium . 2 October 2019.
  47. Web site: Veteran artist Bandula Vithanage passes away . Ada Derana . 2 October 2019.
  48. Web site: Dorakada Marawa: a tense drama of human relationships . The Sunday Times . 11 March 2017.
  49. Web site: Re Ru . films.lk . 11 March 2017.
  50. Web site: 'Theertha yatra' goes in search of family roots . Sunday Times. 29 November 2019.
  51. Web site: Mathu Yam Dawasa - මතුයම් දවස . Sinhala Cinema Database . 30 November 2019.
  52. Web site: 'Agni Dahaya' another Chandrasiri contribution . The Sunday Times . 11 March 2017.
  53. Web site: The British Raj and 'Sudu Kaluwara' . The Sunday Times . 11 March 2017.
  54. Web site: 'Sulan Kirilli' : Maiden effort by Sathyangani . The Sunday Times . 11 March 2017.
  55. Web site: Sulanga screened in Kurunegala today . Daily News . 11 March 2017.
  56. Web site: I liked those small scripts of Machan - Pasolini . Sarasaviya . 20 October 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171009111619/http://www.sarasaviya.lk/2014/09/18/?fn=sa14091836 . 9 October 2017 . dead .
  57. Web site: 'Nino Live' : a note on reality TV . The Sunday Times . 28 May 2017.
  58. Web site: Anithya – අනිත්‍යා – Sinhala Movie . cinema.lk . 2 March 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170303124045/http://cinema.lk/Movie-detail/anithya-sinhala-movie/ . 3 March 2017 . dead .
  59. Web site: The Director and Achievement of the Film "Dark in the White Light" . The Sunday Times . 25 February 2017.
  60. Web site: Sulanga Apa Ragena Yavi - සුළඟ අප රැගෙන යාවි . Sinhala Cinema Database . 23 March 2019.
  61. Web site: Nilanjana . National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka . 3 March 2017.

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