Buddhadasa Vithanarachchi
{{short description|Sri Lankan actor}}
{{Infobox person
|name = Buddhadasa Vithanarachchi
බුද්ධදාස විතානාරච්චි
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|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1947|06|30|mf=yes}}
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|birth_place = Kegalle, Sri Lanka
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|nationality = Sri Lankan
|education = St. Mary's College, Kegalle
|years_active = 1978–present
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|spouse = Sitha Lalani Hemamala
|children = 3
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|occupation = Actor
}}
Buddhadasa Vithanarachchi (born 30 June 1947 as බුද්ධදාස විතානාරච්චි) [Sinhala]) is an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television.{{cite web | url=http://www.nfc.gov.lk/artist/palitha-silva-335/ | title=Sri Lankan actors - Palitha Silva | publisher=National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka | access-date=25 April 2019}} He is also a former member of the political party National Freedom Front.{{cite web | url=https://pronewslk.wordpress.com/2010/02/11/19-candidates-from-jnp-for-general-election/ | title=19 Candidates from JNP for General Election| publisher=pronewslk| access-date=25 April 2019}} He is known for the roles in teledrama Dandubasna Manaya, Akala Sandya{{cite web | url=https://roar.media/english/life/history/seven-iconic-teledramas-in-sri-lankas-television-history/ | title=Seven Iconic Teledramas In Sri Lanka's Television History| publisher=Roar Media| access-date=10 May 2019}} and stage drama Mahasupina.{{cite web | url=https://www.dailynews.lk/2018/11/13/tc/168215/dreamer’s-domain?page=47 | title=Dreamer's domain| work=Daily News| access-date=10 May 2019}}
Personal life
He was born on 30 June 1947 in Kegalle, Sri Lanka. He received primary education at the village school and secondary Education at St. Mary's College, Kegalle. Since an early age, he showed ability to speech, perform in school theatre as well as drawing.{{Cite web |title=I will never retire - Buddhadasa Vithanarachchi |url=http://www.silumina.lk/2021/07/03/රසඳුන/මා-කිසි-කලෙක-විශ්%E2%80%8Dරාම-යන්නේ-නෑ |access-date=2021-07-04 |website=Silumina}}
He is married to his longtime partner Sitha Lalani Hemamala, postgraduate who did master's degree in nursing from the University of British Columbia, Canada. Sitha began her career as a Staff Nurse and retired as Head of the Department of Nursing at the Open University of Sri Lanka. Later she worked as the Head of Nursing at Katsu International, a private university in Sri Lanka. The couple has two daughters: Priyanwada, Sulochana and a son, Siddhartha. His youngest daughter, Sulochana acted in few stage plays, teledramas and worked as a TV presenter in Sri Lanka. His son worked as a producer for the Rupavahini Corporation. Priyanwada is married to Rukman, Sulochana is married to Udaya and Siddhartha is married to Kanchana.
Career
In the early seventies, he came to Colombo to pursue his drama career. Then he studied drama and theater at the Lionel Wendt Theater where he first entered stage dramas. Vithanarachchi started television acting in 1990s. His most notable television acting came through Jayantha Chandrasiri's epic serials: Dandubasna Manaya and Akala Sandya.
Vithanarachchi started his film career with Veera Puran Appu back in 1978, directed by Lester James Peries with a minor role.{{cite web | url=http://www.films.lk/sinhala-cinema-artist-buddhadasa-withanachchi-84.html | title=Buddhadasa Withanachchi - බුද්ධදාස විතානාච්චි films | publisher=Sinhala Cinema Database| access-date=25 April 2019}} His most popular cinema acting came through films Agnidahaya, Sri Siddhartha Gautama and Aloko Udapadi.{{cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5364832/ | title=Buddhadasa Vithanarachchi filmography | publisher=IMDb | access-date=10 May 2019}}
Apart from acting, he presented weekend programs on Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation for about 15 years.
=Notable television works=
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- Akala Sandya{{cite web | url=http://toranavideo.com/tele-drama/akala-sandya-detail | title=Akala Sandya| publisher=toranavideo| access-date=10 May 2019}}
- Arungal{{cite web | url=http://archives.dailynews.lk/2008/11/04/fea20.asp | title=Treat yourself to Arungal | work=Daily News | access-date=30 July 2019}}
- Bharyawo{{cite web | url=http://archives.sarasaviya.lk/2012/01/12/_art.asp?fn=sa12011217&pn=20 | title="Bharyavo" now on Sirasa| publisher=Sarasaviya | access-date=15 August 2019}}
- Bonda Meedum
- Chandi Kumarihami {{Cite web |title=Two creations by Charith Abeysinghe for small screen and silver screen ... |url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/news/2021/04/08/20211/චරිත්-අබේසිංහගෙන්-පුංචි-තිරයට-හා-රිදී-තිරයට-නිර්මාණ-දෙකක් |access-date=2021-04-04 |website=Sarasaviya}}
- Dambulugala Sakmana{{cite web | url=http://www.alankulamafilms.lk/amy_actor/buddhadasa-vithanarachchi/ | title='Theatre dreams' go on stage| publisher=alankulamafilms| access-date=10 May 2019}}{{cite web |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/070325/TV/008tv.html |title='Dambulugala Sakmana' on Rupavahini |publisher=Sunday Times |access-date=10 December 2019}}
- Dandubasna Manaya{{cite web | url=http://toranavideo.com/tele-drama/dandubasnamanaya-detail | title=Dandubasnamanaya| publisher=toranavideo| access-date=10 May 2019}}
- Ganga Addara{{cite web | url=http://archives.dailynews.lk/2009/10/21/art22.asp | title=Ganga Addara in a new frame| work=Daily News| access-date=10 May 2019}}
- Gini Avi Saha Gini Keli{{cite web | url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/140406/magazine/the-reality-of-underworld-91158.html | title=The Reality of underworld| publisher=Sunday Times| access-date=10 May 2019}}
- Giri Shikara Meda{{cite web | url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/070603/TV/tv_3.html | title=Tale of a tea estate| publisher=Sunday Times| access-date=25 May 2019}}
- Handapana {{cite web | url=http://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2009/06/28/mag10.asp | title=Handapana on mini screen | publisher=Sunday Observer | access-date=13 July 2020}}
- Indikadolla{{cite web | url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/060611/tv/Indikadolla.html | title='Indikadolla' depicts village values| publisher=Sunday Times| access-date=10 May 2019}}
- Isi Dasuna{{cite web | url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/041219/tv/4.html | title='Isi Dasuna': Portrays action & reaction| publisher=Sunday Times| access-date=10 May 2019}}
- Jayathuru Sankaya{{cite web |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/061015/TV/tv24.html |title='Jayathuru Sankaya': Miniplay for a worthy cause |publisher=Sunday Times |access-date=29 September 2019}}
- Karuwala Gedara{{cite web | url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/080309/TV/tv-times00002.html | title='Karuvala Gedera' brings out the conflict between changing lifestyles| publisher=Sunday Times| access-date=10 May 2019}}
- Kunchanadha {{Cite web |title=A Tele solution for human- elephant conflict: ‘Kunchanadha’|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/201025/magazine/a-tele-solution-for-human-elephant-conflict-420910.html|access-date=2021-01-11 |website=Sunday Times}}
- Mahathala Hatana {{cite web |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/070610/TV/tv_8.html |title='Mahathala Hatana': ITN's latest tale of Sri Lankan heroes |publisher=Sunday Times |access-date=11 December 2019}}
- Makara Dadayama {{cite web |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/060820/tv/tv25.html |title=Makara Dadayama : A tale of a detective |publisher=Sunday Times |access-date=8 December 2019}}
- Manokaya
- Maunayagaya{{cite web | url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/161218/magazine/maunayagaya-a-war-between-sura-and-asura-220492.html | title=Maunayagaya; A war between 'Sura' and 'Asura' | publisher=Sunday Times | access-date=1 October 2019}}
- Nannaththara {{Cite web |date=2021-11-24 |title=Buddhadasa Vithanarachchi leaves the country |url=https://www.sarasaviya.lk/interviews/2021/11/25/21331/බුද්ධදාස-විතානාරච්චි-රට-හැර-යයි |access-date=2021-12-29 |website=සරසවිය}}{{Cite web |title=My screenwriting role is a challenge to my directorial role: Veteran director Jayantha Chandrasiri is returning to the telemedia with 'Nannattara' |url=https://www.sarasaviya.lk/news-features/2022/09/22/23953/මා-නමැති-තිරරචකයා-මා-නමැති-අධ්%E2%80%8Dයක්ෂවරයාට-අභියෝගයක් |access-date=2022-09-21 |website=සරසවිය}}
- Parasathu Mal{{cite web | url=http://archives.sarasaviya.lk/2012/03/15/_art.asp?fn=sa12031521&pn=22 | title=Parasathu Mal on small screen | publisher=Sarasaviya | access-date=15 August 2019}}
- Ran Damwel
- Rejina{{cite web | url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/000123/tv.html | title=First local Alien story| publisher=Sunday Times| access-date=10 May 2019}}
- Sadisi Tharanaya {{cite web |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/080203/TV/tv-times00006.html |title=Devinda starts new journey with 'Sadisi Tharanaya' |publisher=Sunday Times |access-date=12 December 2019}}
- Sakuge Kathawa
- Sakuge Lokaya
- Sakviththo {{cite web | url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/090531/Magazine/sundaytimestvtimes_05.html | title='Sakviththo': Timely topic | publisher=Sunday Times | access-date=16 December 2019}}
- Sanda Gomman Re{{cite web | url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/070715/TV/tv_9.html | title='Sanda Gomman Re' depicts the mystery of human life | publisher=Sunday Times | access-date=20 November 2019}}
- Sarisara Lihini{{cite web | url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/050220/tv/4.html | title=Malani flies high with 'Sarisara Lihini' | publisher=Sunday Times | access-date=9 August 2018}}
- Satharadenek Senpathiyo {{cite web |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/070422/TV/000tv.html |title=Return of the Reviver |publisher=Sunday Times |access-date=10 December 2019}}
- Sihina Wasanthayak{{cite web | url=https://www.nation.lk/2008/12/07/enter5.htm | title=Sihina Wasanthayak acclaims high rating| publisher=The Nation| access-date=10 May 2019}}
- Sepalika
- Thisara Peraliya{{cite web | url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/040718/tv/5.html | title='Thisara Peraliya' deals with human behaviour | work=Sunday Times | access-date=September 2, 2019}}
- Verona{{cite web | url=http://archives.sarasaviya.lk/2012/01/12/_art.asp?fn=sa12011217&pn=20 | title=Sriyani starts "Verona" | publisher=Sarasaviya | access-date=15 August 2019}}
- Vimansa{{cite web | url=http://www.dailynews.lk/2017/06/27/features/120101/vimansa-mini-screen | title=Vimansa on the mini screen| work=Daily News| access-date=10 May 2019}}
- Wasuli Kanda{{cite web | url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/140202/magazine/wasuli-kanda-every-saturday-81371.html | title='Wasuli Kanda' every Saturday | publisher=Sunday Times | access-date=20 November 2019}}
- Yaddehi Gedara{{cite web | url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/001001/tv.html | title='Yaddehi Gedara' shows how a walawwa falls | publisher=Sunday Times | access-date=20 November 2019}}
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Political career
Vithanarachchi joined the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) way back in 1960. In 1981, he contested for the development committee elections from Gampaha district and was able to win under the JVP ticket. However, during the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord in 1987, Vithanarachchi was arrested and detained at the Welikada Prison for one and half years. In 1971, he was a prominent member of the JVP Islandwide singing group. Following the 1987–1989 JVP insurrection, he joined the JVP again and later became a member of the National Freedom Front (NFF) under the leadership of Minister Wimal Weerawansa. However, on 2010, he resigned from the party.{{cite web | url=http://www.lankanewspapers.com/news/2010/12/63162.html | title=Popular actor Vithanarachchi resigns from Weerawansa s party| publisher=lankanewspapers| access-date=25 April 2019}}
Radio Play
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=175Nw-a7Xy4&feature=youtu.be Tharuwan Saranai] {{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=175Nw-a7Xy4&feature=youtu.be|title=Jayalath Manorathna - Radio Play (Tharuwansaranai)|publisher=youtube |access-date=16 October 2019}}
- Nirabhisheka{{cite web |url=http://mirrorcitizen.dailymirror.lk/2018/10/16/critics-tune-in-to-wrong-frequency/ |title=Critics 'tune' in to wrong frequency |publisher=dailymirror |access-date=16 October 2018 |archive-date=31 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131060830/http://mirrorcitizen.dailymirror.lk/2018/10/16/critics-tune-in-to-wrong-frequency/ |url-status=dead }}
Filmography
{{Pending films key}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.nation.lk/2006/10/22/politics4.htm JVP MP Jagoda’s brother loses his limb in battle]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vithanarachchi, Buddhadasa}}