Anthony C. Perera

Mahapatabadige Anthony Crisman Kivlojiyas Perera (born 13 September 1921 – died 20 May 1988 as ඇන්තනී සී. පෙරේරා) [Sinhala]), popularly as Anthony C. Perera, was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema and theater.[1] One of the earliest pillars in Sri Lankan film history, Perera also worked as a singer, screenplay writer and director in his career that spanned more than four decades.[2]

Anthony C. Perera
ඇන්තනී සී. පෙරේරා
Born
Mahapatabadige Anthony Crisman Kivlojiyas Perera

(1921-09-13)13 September 1921
Died20 May 1988(1988-05-20) (aged 66)
Ja-Ela, Sri Lanka
Resting placeTudella Cemetery, Ja-Ela
NationalitySri Lankan
EducationRoman Catholic College, Tudella
Roman Catholic College, Bulupitiya
OccupationActor, screenplay writer, director, assistant director
Years active1941–1988
Spouse(s)Modarage Mary Vaas (m. 1953)
Children7
Parents
  • Mahapatabedige Logus Perera (father)
  • Warnasuriyage Theodora Tissera (mother)

Personal life

Perera was born on 13 September 1921 in a small village of Mahawewa Vee Hena, Chilaw, in Puttalam as the eldest of the family.[3] His father Mahapatabedige Logus Perera was born in Tudella, Ja-Ela, who worked as a plantation administrator. His mother was Warnasuriyage Theodora Tissera. He entered Mahawewa Junior School for primary education and then moved to Tudella Roman Catholic College (currently known as Christ King College, Tudella) for further education.[4] Then with his father's transfer to a new plantation in Kurunegala, Perera shifted to Budupitiya Roman Catholic School which was about 7 miles from Kurunegala.[5]

Perera has one younger brother, Wilfred and one younger sister, Beatrice. Wilfred later became a distinguished teacher at St. Benedict's College, Kotahena and produced several popular figures, including; Vijaya Kumaratunga, Ravindra Randeniya and Robin Fernando.[5]

He was married to Modarage Mary Vaas. The wedding was celebrated in 1953. The couple has five daughters - Menaka, Deepthika, Gaurika, Chaudry, Sherine - and two sons - Rohana and Emil. His elder son Rohana died at young age by an accident.[5]

Perera died on 20 May 1988 at the age of 66 and buried in Thudella Cemetery, Ja-Ela.[6]

Career

After finishing school career in brief years, his moved to his ambition to be an actor. Anthony went to find Laddie Ranasinghe to be a stage actor and joined with Ranasinghe's Arcadians Drama Team. Meantime, Laddie introduced Perera to one of his colleagues, P.D.S. Kularatne, who worked as the principal of Ananda College, Colombo. Kularatne has set up a theater club called "National" in Maradana and he joined Perera for his newest drama Aewessa Bena.[5]

However after that play, he refused to act in further and applied to the Ceylon Army and Race Horse. He received calls to come to both on the same day. In 1942, Perera got the opportunity to join the British Army. For five and a half years, Perera fought with the forces of the Allies against the enemy in the jungles of the desert. After returning to Sri Lanka, then he joined the public service. He worked in Kurunegala Kachcheri for a brief period and then joined as an agent for Brookbond Company, Colombo. There he joined the 1953 Hartal to seek professional rights. He was a hard leftist at the time. Due to the continuous Hartal, Brookbond manager transferred Anthony to Negombo branch of the company. He also worked as the production manager of Vijaya Studios in Hendala.[5]

After many years in civil service, Perera met one of his friends, H. M. L. Tissera, who owns Ratnavali Cinema, Ja-Ela. Tissera introduced Perera to K. Gunaratnam, who owns Cinemas Film Corporation.[4] During that time, Perera met Hugo Fernando and got the opportunity to act in the film Suraya co-directed by Indian filmmakers S. V. Krishna Reddy and T. R. Sundaram.[7][5] Then he acted in many popular films such as Wana Mohini, Sandesaya, Weera Vijaya and Ranmuthu Duwa.[4] He has acted more than 70 films across many genre from character roles to comedy roles. In 1965, Perera introduced Sonia Disa into Sinhala Cinema.[8]

He acted many comedy roles in films Hathara Denama Surayo, Edath Suraya Adath Suraya, Allapu Gedara, Chandiya and Singapore Charlie.[9][10] He acted in five different roles in the film Hondama Welawa. He starred in the film Singapore Charlie wearing a wig and also worked as the dialogue writer. In , he made screenplay, story and dialogue was written and directed the film Hondin Inna. After 1977, he did not receive many films. During this free period, he enjoyed reading Paddle Chase novels. In 1986, he produced the stage play Yama Lowa Peraliya.[5]

Filmography

YearFilmRoleRef.
1956Duppathage Duka
1957Suraya
1957SurasenaElderly Surasena
1958Sepali
1958Wana Mohini
1960Subhadra
1960SandesayaTown crier
1960Veera Vijaya
1962Ranmuthu DuwaBandu's uncle[11]
1963Adata Vediya Heta Hondai[12]
1964Sasaraka HatiMatch maker
1964Dheewarayo
1965Allapu GedaraYattalagoddage Chandra Udadeniya[13]
1965ChandiyaAndaya
1965Yata Giya Dawasa
1966Oba Dutu Da
1967Pipena Kumudu
1967Okkoma Hari[14]
1967Sura Chauraya
1967Saru Bima
1967Ran RasaPerera
1967Ipadune Ai?
1968Ataweni Pudumaya
1968Punchi BabaSena's friend
1968Ruhunu Kumari
1969Kohomada Wade
1969Pancha
1969Surayangeth Suraya
1970Dan Mathakada?Michael[15]
1970Athma Pooja
1970Thevatha
1970Seda Sulang
1971Hathara Denama SurayoJaggi[16]
1972Adare Hithenawa DakkamaValentino[17]
1971Seeye Nottuwa
1972Edath Suraya Adath SurayaJohnny
1972Singapore CharlieSingapuru Charlie
1972Ada MehemaiSira
1973Hondama Welawa
1973Hondata HondaiChandana's friend
1973Aparadhaya Ha Danduwama
1973Gopalu Handa
1974Sihasuna
1974Jeewana Ganga
1974Mehema Harida
1975Awa Soya Adare[18]
1975Suraya SurayamaiBatta 'Batson'[19]
1975Jeewana Geethaya
1975Lassana DawasakAnthony 'Anto'
1975Lassana KellaCaldera
1975Gijulihiniyo
1976Saradielge PuthaSooting 'Chutti'
1976Deviyange TheenduwaSunny
1976Kawuda RajaPunchi Hamu[20]
1976Harima Badu Thunak
1977Hariyanakota Ohoma Thamai
1977Deviyani Oba Koheda?Anthony[21]
1977YakadayaBandara[22]
1977Chandi Putha[23]
1977Aege Adara Kathawa
1978Hitha Mithura
1979Visihathara PeyaSira
1980Anuhasa
1980Hondin Inna
1981KolamkarayoMember Mahaththaya
1982Re ManamaliSergeant Rubaru
1982Thakkita Tharikita
1983Yali Pipunu Malak
1984Bambara Patikki
1984Kekille RajjuruwoKakkiley Rajjuruwo
1987Hitha Honda ChandiyaMuslim shopowner
1988Newa Gilunath Ban ChunMohandiram Wansanayake
1989Waradata Danduwam
1991Sihina Ahase Wasanthaya
1992Sakkara Suththara

References

  1. "Anthony C. Perera filmography". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  2. "Actors in Sinhala cinema - Anthony C. Perera". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  3. "Anthony C. Perera remembrance". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  4. "Anthony C. Perera, who created many unforgettable characters". Divaina. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  5. "Anthony C., who was summoned to the jock and military at same time". Sarasaciya. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  6. "Anthony C. Perera - a talented actor in Sinhala cinema". ranaweerakaththota. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  7. "Dead people are still laughing at us". lifie. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  8. "Sonia Dissa's colleagues fete her". Sunday Times. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  9. "Anthony C. Perera films". IMDb. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  10. "The story of Chutte move to town with film "Chandiya"". Lankadeepa. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  11. "All about the film Ranmuthu Duwa". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  12. "All about the film "Adata Wadiya Heta Hondai"". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  13. "All about the film "Allapu Gedara"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2020-01-04.
  14. "All about the film "Okkoma Hari"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  15. "All about Dan Mathakada". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  16. "Hadata Wadata Hari Soorayo: Hathara Denama Soorayo film". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-10.
  17. "Obata Thiyena Adare". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  18. "All about Awa Soya Adare". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  19. "All about the film "Suraya Surayamai"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  20. "All about the film "Kawuda Raja"". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
  21. "Deviyani Oba Koheda". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  22. "All about Yakadaya". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  23. "All about Chandi Putha". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
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