- Ravindra Randeniya
Infobox actor
bgcolour = silver
name = Ravindra Randeniya
imagesize = 215px
caption = Ravindra Randeniya
birthdate =June 5 cite web|url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/2004/02/12/feat/2.asp|title=Stars embroiled in mystery|accessdate=2007-04-17|date=2004|publisher=Daily Mirror]
location = flagicon|Sri LankaSri Lanka
deathdate =
deathplace =
birthname = Ravindra Randeniya
height =
notable role = "Desa Nisa" (1975)
"Dadayama" (1984)
"Maya" (1985)
"Sandakada Pahana" (1989)
"Sri Medura" (1990)Ravindra Randeniya is a
Sri Lanka nactor andpolitician . He rose to fame inLester James Peries 's film "Desa Nisa" in 1972, and was a popular actor during the 1970s and 1980s; He won theSarasaviya Best Actor Award in1984 ("Dadayama"),1985 ("Maya"),1989 ("Sandakada Pahana"), and1990 ("Sri Medura").Life and career
Early life
Randeniya was born in Dalugama, Sri Lanka. Dalugama was a small village filled with
paddy fields and streams. Randeniya appreciated nature growing up often spending evenings looking over the fields; he was also an avid reader from a young age immersing himself in the works of acclaimed Sinhala authors likeMartin Wickremasinghe , Prof. Ediriweera Sarachandra, Munidasa Kumaratunge, and Wimalarathne Kumaragama. cite web|url=http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2006/08/13/pow01.asp|title=Ravindra Randeniya|accessdate=2007-04-17|date=2006|publisher=Sunday Observer]Randeniya attended St. Francis School in Dalugama. Though he was a good student, he failed to pass his A-level examination and didn't pursue higher education. Randeniya instead joined his family business of manufacturing
hardware products.Beginnings in theatre
In his free time, Randeniya started taking courses in theater decor and
screenwriting at Lionel Wendt Theatre Workshop. The Workshop was considered the premiere acting school in Sri Lanka, and its faculty was composed of the leading Sinhala dramatists of the day like Dr. Sarachandra, Damma Jagoda, Gunasena Gallappathi, Ernest MacIntyre, Percy Colinthus, and Irangani Serasinghe. Randeniya became interested in acting while taking a required general acting class under Jagoda; he gradually became fascinated with the idea of acting over the two years he spent at the school.Randeniya has a son Rishi who is Assistant Manager at Virgin Mobile Chadstone in Melbourne, Australia
Film work
Randeniya got his first starring role in the student production "Mudu Puttu" directed by Gallapaththi. His performance in the film drew praise from well-known director
Lester James Peries . He next appeared in "Kalu Diya Dahara", considered "a watershed in the annals of Sinhala films", which dealt with a struggle between workers and administration in a tea plantation. It was made in1971 , and shown nationwide in1974 .Peries, who was a fan, picked Randeniya for one of the three main roles in "Desa Nisa" alongside
Joe Abeywickrema and Shriyani Amerasena. This would be his breakthrough role, and established him as a popular actor when screened in1972 .Filmography
References
External links
* [http://www.srilankafilmcorp.com Official Website - National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka]
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