Vijaya Nandasiri

Infobox actor


imagesize = 150px
bgcolour = silver
name = Vijaya Nandasiri
birthdate =
location = flagicon|Sri Lanka Sri Lanka
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birthname = Vijaya Nandasiri
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notable role = "Nonawaruni Mahathwaruni"
"Ethuma"

Vijaya Nandasiri (born c. 1944) is a Sri Lankan dramatist and actor. He has had a varied career beginning in theater and extending into film as a dramatic actor; his most recent roles have been steeped in comedy and include credits in Sinhala sitcoms like "Nonawaruni Mahathwaruni", "Ethuma" and "Kathura".

Life and career

Early life

Nandasiri attended the Vidyakara Vidyalaya in Maharagama. He became interested in acting during his tenure there, and made his theater debut in 1966 in the stage drama "Vidura-Diva" produced by Amaradasa Gunawardena for the State Drama Festival. He next obtained a role in "Naribena, Jasaya saha Lenchina" made by veteran drama producer Dayananda Gunawardena, who personally invited Nandasiri to become part of the cast. cite web|url=http://lakdiva.com/island/i000109/leisure.htm#At%20the%20Cinema|title=A Thespian with rare talent|accessdate=2007-04-17|date=2000|publisher=The Island]

Theater work

Nandasiri was briefly a catering officer at the Katunayake Airport in the late-'60s as his acting career developed. Over the next years he played the character of king Maname in a drama, and appeared in "Singha Bhahu", "Mahasara" and "Ratnawalee". Nandasiri finally achieved fame in 1971 in the play "Ran Kanda".

After "Ran Kanda", Nandasiri was on demand, and starred in the plays "Subha Saha Yasa", "Nariya Saha Keju Kella", "Ekadipathi", "Tharawo Egilethi", "Kuweni" and "Hunuwataye Kathawa" among others. In all, he has done over 40 plays staged islandwide.

As a dramatist, he has helmed several successful plays. These include "Vrushaba Raja", cite web|url=http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2002/09/01/fea11.html|title=Fiftieth performance of Vrushaba Raja|accessdate=2007-04-17|date=2002|publisher=Sunday Observer] and "Kusa Pabawathie".

Film

In 1976, Nandasiri met K.A.W. Perera while staging T. B. Ilangaratne's "Shailasanaya". Perera gave him his first film role in the movie "Nedayo". Subsquently, he has had roles in such films as "Yasa Isuru", "Sandakada Pahana", "Bengali Walalu", "Sasara" and "Rail Para".

Television

Nandasiri's early television credits include Perera's "Gamana" and "Pramada Wedei". He was later a producer of the teledrama "Humalaya".

Marriage and children

Nandasiri is married to actress Devika Mihirani. cite web|url=http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2004/01/04/fea19.html|title=Which way year 2004 ?|accessdate=2007-04-17|date=2004|publisher=Sunday Observer] They met on the set of "Subha Saha Yasa" in 1974, and have two children, Navanjana Mihirani and Rasanjana Suchitra.

References