Wilson Gunaratne
{{short description|Sri Lankan actor and comedian}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Wilson Gunaratne
විල්සන් ගුණරත්න
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| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1949|3|9}}
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| birth_place = Kadawatha, Sri Lanka
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| nationality = Sri Lankan
| education = Kalutara Vidyalaya
Sri Dharmaloka College
| years_active = 1983 – present
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| occupation = Actor, comedian, director
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Wilson Gunaratne (born March 9, 1949, as විල්සන් ගුණරත්න [Sinhala]) is an actor and comedian in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television. He is most notable for the role of Kodithuwakku in television comedy sitcom Nonavaruni Mahathvaruni and stage drama Charitha Atak. It is the only stage play in Sri Lanka in which one actor portrays eight different characters with eight different voices.{{cite web |url=http://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2015/11/22/spe-the-01.asp |title=Fun times With Wilson Gunaratne's Charitha Atak |publisher=Sunday Observer |access-date=27 May 2019}}
Acting career
At that time when he was working in an executive position in the field of hotel management, Gunaratne met Tony Ranasinghe through his elder brother. Under his guidance, Gunaratne played a minor role in a scene shot in the hotel premises for a film. Then Tony nominated Gunaratne for the role of the 'Duke' in Shakespeare's translation stage play Veniciye Welenda directed by playwright Bandula Vithanage. The play marked the turning point of his acting career. Later he performed in two of Vithanage's plays: Sakala Jana, Muhuṇu Dekak. Meanwhile, he did a scientific study of comedy at IFT, an affiliate of the University of Noida, New Delhi.{{Cite web |title=I became a comedian to heal people's minds |url=http://www.silumina.lk/2021/05/29/රසඳුන/මා-ප්%E2%80%8Dරහ%C2%ADසන-නළු%C2%ADවෙක්-වුණේ-මිනි%C2%ADස්සුන්ගෙ-මනස-සුව%C2%ADපත්-කරන්න |access-date=2021-06-04 |website=Silumina}}
He was introduced to teledrama under the guidance of former parliamentary translator and actor Alfred Perera. Alfred has worked in China and the Philippines Radio. He invited Gunaratne to the orchestra for the popular television serial Vinoda Samaya program aired by the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation. He was the drummer of that program.{{cite web |url=http://www.dinamina.lk/2017/08/22/විශේෂාංග/39612?page=123 |title=I'm an artist who heals people's minds |publisher=Dinamina |access-date=27 May 2019}} His maiden cinema acting came through film Samuganimi Ma Samiyani directed by his elder brother. Then he got a chance to play in his brother's second directed film Sasaraka Pethuma.
Gunaratne was highly popularized with the television sitcom Nonavaruni Mahathvaruni through the character Kodithuwakku.{{cite web |url=http://www.dailynews.lk/2016/08/15/features/90407 |title=One of a kind |work=Daily News |access-date=27 May 2019}} In the meantime, he acted in the serial Sathpura Wasiyo with the role "Pappa" which made his hallmark in drama career. Apart from that, he produced a political comedy stage drama titled Charitha Hathak, which was later updated into Charitha Atak.{{cite web |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/180603/magazine/new-version-charitha-atak-296208.html |title=New version Charitha Atak |publisher=Sunday Times |access-date=27 May 2019}} Since its opening, Charitha Hathak has completed 37 shows within eight months. His seven characters include, Kodituwakku from "Nonava-runi Mahatvaruni", Pappa, Prof. Pragnaratne, Transport Teacher Mr. Bastian, Prof. Marenzie (Italian).
In 1998, he made first directorial debut with the television political satire Kodivinaya telecast by ITN.{{cite web |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/981025/mirror5.html |title='Kodivinaya': curse overtakes country |publisher=Sunday Times |access-date=17 November 2017}}
=Selected stage dramas=
- Charitha Hathak{{cite web |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/010107/tv.html#5|title='Charithe Hathak':Two hours with Kodituwakku |publisher=Sunday Times |access-date=27 May 2019}}
- Charitha Atak{{cite web |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/140525/magazine/charitha-atak-a-stress-free-evening-99751.html |title='Charitha Atak' A Stress free evening |publisher=Sunday Times |access-date=27 May 2019}}
=Selected television serials=
- Bhavana - Amuttha{{cite web | url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/990404/mirror5.html | title=16 short stories on mini screen | publisher=Sunday Times | access-date=20 September 2019}}
- Charitha Dekak{{cite web | url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/020714/tv/1.html#1 | title=Bermin Lyle's hilarious drama | publisher=Sunday Times| access-date=29 November 2019}}
- Hathara Wate{{cite web | url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/030727/tv/3.htm#1 | title='Hatara Wate' deals with routine events | publisher=Sunday Times | access-date=29 November 2019}}
- Kinihiraka Pipi Mal {{cite web | url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/990307/mirror5.html | title=Screen show for Women's Day | publisher=Sunday Times | access-date=25 July 2019}}
- Kodivinaya
- Kiyadenna Adare Tharam
- Kula Kumariya {{cite web |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/070930/TV/tv-times00003.html |title='Jane Eyre' on miniscreen |publisher=Sunday Times |access-date=11 December 2019}}
- Kulavilokanaya{{cite web | url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/991024/tv.html | title=Treble teledrama treat from Swarnavahini | publisher=Sunday Times| access-date=23 September 2019}}
- Nonavaruni Mahathvaruni
- Kathura
- 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}}
- Vinivindimi{{cite web |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/060430/tv/6.html |title=Top short stories on mini screen |publisher=Sunday times |access-date=17 November 2017}}
- Willy King Show
- Yes Madam
Filmography
- No. denotes the Number of Sri Lankan film in the Sri Lankan cinema.{{cite web | url=http://www.nfc.gov.lk/films-history.php | title=Sri Lankan Cinema History | publisher=National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka | access-date=9 August 2016}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://archives.dailynews.lk/2012/11/02/fea35.asp Wilson Gunaratne's Charitha Atak]
- [http://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2014/05/25/mon04.asp Charitha Atak for a stress free evening]
- [http://www.lankadeepa.lk/latest_news/චරිත-අටක්-මවන-එකම-චරිතය/1-456309 චරිත අටක් මවන එකම චරිතය]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Gunaratne, Wilson}}