Douglas Ranasinghe
{{short description|Sri Lankan actor}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Douglas Ranasinghe
ඩග්ලස් රණසිංහ
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1945|5|27|mf=yes}}
| birth_name = Morathennage Douglas Ranasinghe
| birth_place = Kurunegala, Sri Lanka
| nationality = Sri Lankan
| years_active = 1967–present
| known_for = Acting
| education = St. Anne's College, Kurunegala
| occupation = Actor, Dramatist, Director, Writer , Broadcaster
| spouse = Sandya Kumari Ranasinghe
| children = Shribodhi Indrakheela Ranasinghe
| relatives = Thilaka Ranasinghe (sister)
Narada Disasekara (brother-in-law)
Saranga Disasekara (nephew)
}}
Morathennage Douglas Ranasinghe (born May 27, 1945, {{langx|si|ඩග්ලස් රණසිංහ}}), is an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, theater, and television.{{cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0709389/ | title=Douglas Ranasinghe films | publisher=IMDb| access-date=1 October 2019}} He acted in many supportive roles in movies including Akkara Paha, Yuganthaya, Viragaya, Sri Siddhartha Gautama and Dharmayuddhaya.{{cite web | url=http://www.amarasara.info/wp1/?page_id=4896 | title=ශ්රී මහා බෝධිය ළඟදි ඩග්ලස් රණසිංහ ලැබූ විශ්මය ජනක අත්දැකීමක් | publisher=Amarasara| access-date=1 October 2019}}
Personal life
Douglas Ranasinghe was born on 27 May 1945 in Thorawathura village, Kurunegala as the fourth child of the family. His father, James Ranasinghe, was a landowner and planter where he also served as a Village Head and Village Administration Secretary as well. His mother Seelawathi Valimuni was a teacher. Douglas was educated at St. Anne's College, Kurunegala. He is a fluent speaker of the College Sinhala and English Debating Team, a boxer, a member of the Cadet Corps and an athlete. He topped the 200 meters as a long distance runner and was also a short story writer.{{Cite web |title=Douglas Ranasinghe in the story of Hunuwataye Kathawa |url=http://www.silumina.lk/2021/05/01/තරංග/හුණුවටයේ-කතාවේ-කෝප්%E2%80%8Dරල්-එදා-මෙදා-ආ-දුර-ඩග්ලස්-රණ%C2%ADසිංහ |access-date=2021-06-04 |website=Silumina}}
The Ranasinghe couple had seven children. The eldest in the family, Malkanthi Gunaratne was also a writer and married to the owner of Maradana Ratna Book Publishing Company, L. A. Gunaratne. The second is Rupa Khemaratne, an English teacher. The third was Prema Srimathi worked as a Teacher Training Housing Superintendent in Ihalagama. The fifth is Lionel, a planter. Chandrara Siriwardena is the sixth child who served in the Ports Authority. Youngest one is Thilaka Ranasinghe, an actress and broadcaster. Thilaka Ranasinghe worked at Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation.{{cite web | url=https://www.tilaksblog.com/reminiscencing-on-kusum-peiris/ | title=Reminiscencing on Kusum Peiris | publisher=Tilak's Blog| access-date=1 October 2019}} Thilaka was married to singer Narada Disasekara.{{cite web | url=https://www.gossiplankanews.com/2017/11/tilaka-ranasinghe-speaks.html | title=I was separated from Saranga's father because of drunkenness and incompatibility - Thilaka Ranasinghe | publisher=Daily Mirror | access-date=1 October 2019}} The couple has one son Saranga Disasekara, an actor in Sinhala cinema and television.{{cite web | url=https://dirimaga.lk/විනෝදාස්වාද/කලාකරුවෙක්-වීම-ගැන-සතුටු/ | title=Happy to be an actor - Saranga | publisher=Dirimaga| access-date=1 October 2019}} Saranga was married to popular actress Dinakshie Priyasad.
He studied at St. Anne's College, Kurunegala, and excellent in sports.{{cite web | url=http://www.dailynews.lk/2015/12/09/features/douglas-ranasinghe-wielding-dignity-and-fame | title=Douglas Ranasinghe: Wielding dignity and fame | work=Daily News| access-date=1 October 2019}} After the school, he was interested to become a lawyer and applied for Law College. However, then he applied for the post of Sub Inspector. He failed twice, but succeeded in third attempt. He was then transferred to a training course at Kalutara.{{cite web | url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/Douglas-Ranasinghe-Second-to-none--143180.html | title=Douglas Ranasinghe: Second to none | publisher=Daily Mirror| access-date=1 October 2019}}
Ranasinghe is married to Sandya Kumari, and the couple has one son, Shribodhi Indrakeela.{{cite web | url=http://gossip.hirufm.lk/34289/2019/06/douglas-ranasinghe.html| title=Douglas Ranasinghe interview | publisher=Hiru FM| access-date=1 October 2019}}
Career
Douglas came to Colombo from Kurunegala in 1966 to meet playwright Sathischandra Edirisinghe with his close relative Peter Amarasinghe. Then he got a character certificate from Edirisinghe for a police service interview. However, Edirisinghe brought Douglas to Henry Jayasena for his play. He was chosen to play the role in stage drama Hunuwataye Kathawa by Henry Jayasena. This turned him towards the drama career. He acted in many critically acclaimed stage plays including Henry Jayasena's Apata Puthe Magak Nathe{{cite web | url=http://archives.dailynews.lk/2007/02/28/art05.asp | title=We come back to a storm | work=Daily News | access-date=1 October 2019}} and Ediriweera Sarachchandra's Hotabari Yuddhe.{{cite web | url=http://www.pasanliya.co.uk/englishshow.php?id=5949#.XZLcQ-1R3IU | title=Douglas Ranasinghe: the actor of quiet dignity | publisher=Pasanliya| access-date=1 October 2019}} He also appeared in the plays: Dunḍu Berē, Janēlaya, Kuvēṇi, The wedding, Taming of the Sorrow and Ahas Māḷigā. His last stage drama acting was Kusa Pabawathi.
His maiden cinema acting came through 1970 film Akakra Paha, however his second film Romeo Juliet Kathawak directed by G. D. L. Perera released before Akkara Paha.{{cite web | url=https://www.films.lk/sinhala-cinema-artist-douglas-ranasinghe-115.html | title=Douglas Ranasinghe filmography | publisher= Sinhala Cinema Database| access-date=1 October 2019}} He acted in the short film Bhavana, directed by the Paul Zils. With that film, he was able to entered into the Berlin Film Festival of 1970/1971. Then he completed a three-year course at the London School of Filmmaking. After the course, he was asked to stay back and take part in Shakespearean productions. However, he refused the offer and landed to Sri Lanka.
In 1980s, he was the voice actor in the programs Guwan Viduli Ranga Madala and Keti Katha produced by Sugathapala de Silva. As a radio sound administrator, he recorded high drama, feature and music programs. He has directed few stage plays and television serials including Ranmasu Uayana and Sasara Chakra respectively. As a television actor, he made notable roles in the serials: Avasanda, Maṭa Mahalu Vayasē, Ranmasu Uyana and Kaḷu Hansayō. He attended a three-year course at the International Film School in London, where he wrote the screenplay for the film Dancing Devils.
=Selected television serials=
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- Akuru Maki Na
- Dedunu Sihina {{cite web |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/070325/TV/010tv.html |title='Dedunu Sihina' getting ready |publisher=Sunday Times |access-date=10 December 2019}}
- Ganga Addara {{cite web |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/101205/Magazine/sundaytimestvtimes_9.html |title='Ganga Addara' released |publisher=Sunday Times |access-date=29 December 2019}}
- Indrakeelaya{{cite web |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/001217/tv.html |title='Indrakeelaya': tale of woman facing a bitter experience |publisher=Sunday Times |access-date=19 September 2019}}
- Ithin Eelangata{{cite web | url=https://www.pressreader.com/sri-lanka/daily-mirror-sri-lanka/20121231/282651799823646 | title=Ithin Elangata coming on small screen | publisher=Daily Mirror | access-date=1 October 2019}} සංගීතේ'{{cite web | url=http://www.silumina.lk/2019/07/20/රසඳුන/කාලය-නිකරුණේ-කා-දමන්න-එපා | title=Do not waste your time | publisher=Silumina | access-date=1 October 2019}}
- Punaragamanaya {{cite web |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/050619/tv/2.html |title=Punaragamanaya; a psychological story |publisher=Sunday Times |access-date=4 December 2019}}
- Ranga Soba {{cite web |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/060820/tv/tv11.html |title='Ranga Soba' depicts the life of an actress |publisher=Sunday Times |access-date=8 December 2019}}
- Ran Poruwa {{Cite web |title='Ran Poruwa' starts |url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/news-teledramas/2021/04/01/20158/රන්-පෝරුව-වැඩ-අරඹයි |access-date=2021-04-04 |website=Sarasaviya}}
- Ridee Tharaka{{cite web | url=http://archives.dinamina.lk/2010/04/16/_art.asp?fn=f1004165&p=1 | title=If I wasn't an actor, I would be a lawyer today | publisher=Dinamina| access-date=1 October 2019}}
- Samanala Sihinaya {{cite web |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/040808/tv/2.html |title=Sins of father visits on son |publisher=Sunday Times |access-date=22 December 2018}}
- Samanala Wasanthaya {{cite web |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/070805/TV/tv_3.html |title='Heidi'comes to TV |publisher=Sunday Times |access-date=11 December 2019}}
- Sanda Siththam{{cite web | url=http://archives.sarasaviya.lk/2012/02/09/_art.asp?fn=sa12020916&pn=16 | title=Sanda Siththam on Sirasa | publisher=Sarasaviya | access-date=15 August 2019}}
- Sandali Saha Radika {{cite web | url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/060319/tv/7.html | title='Sandali Saha Radika' narrates rebirth story | publisher=Sunday Times | access-date=18 August 2019}}
- Sandawathaka Waruna {{cite web | url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/031005/tv/6.htm | title=Young girl faces social conflicts | publisher=Sunday Times| access-date=23 September 2019}}
- Sangeethe{{cite web | url=https://www.gossiplankanewsweb.com/2019/06/20/gossip-chat-with-douglas-ranasinghe.html | title=I'm famous thanks to 'Sangeethe' - Douglas | publisher=gossiplankanewsweb | access-date=1 October 2019}}
- Sapiriwara {{cite web |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/071118/TV/tv-times00003.html |title=Sapiriwara; a story of corrupt politics, war and suffering |publisher=Sunday Times |access-date=11 December 2019}}
- Sewwandi{{cite web |url=http://archives.sarasaviya.lk/2012/04/05/_art.asp?fn=sa12040519&pn=20 |title=සෙව්වන්දි රුවන්පුරේ දී ඇරැඹේ |publisher=Sarasaviya |access-date=29 March 2019}}
- Suwanda Hamana Manamali{{cite web | url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/071223/TV/tv-times000023.html | title='Suwanda Hamana Manamali': A new sweet scented story | publisher=Sunday Times | access-date=1 October 2019}}
- Thodu
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Filmography
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://divaina.com/sunday/index.php/mee/33-atambula-9/10137-2019-05-24-09-23-117 සංගීතේ හින්දා මම හරි ජනප්රියයි - ඩග්ලස් රණසිංහ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620040053/http://divaina.com/sunday/index.php/mee/33-atambula-9/10137-2019-05-24-09-23-117 |date=2019-06-20 }}
- [http://archives.sarasaviya.lk/2016/01/28/?fn=sa16012811 Douglas Ranasinghe was my best friend at the time]
{{Authority control}}
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Category:Sri Lankan male film actors