Eddie Jayamanne

Wanniaarachchige Don David Victor Jayamanne KBE[1] (15 February 1915 – 25 July 1981), popularly known as Eddie Jayamanne was a popular Sri Lankan comedian and actor of early Sri Lankan cinema.

Eddie Jayamanne
එඩී ජයමාන්න
Born
Wanniaarachchige Don David Victor Jayamanne

(1915-02-15)15 February 1915
Negombo, Sri Lanka
Died25 July 1981(1981-07-25) (aged 66)
Palliyawaththa, Handala
Resting placeManyokhena Cemetery, Negombo
NationalitySri Lankan
EducationSt. Peter's College, Negombo
Maris Stella College
OccupationActor, comedian
Years active1947-1983
Known forcinema acting
Spouse(s)Rukmani Devi (1943-1948)
Parent(s)
  • W. Don Thomas (father)
RelativesB. A. W. Jayamanne (brother)
Grace Jayamanne (brother in law)

Early life

He was born on 15 February 1915 in Periyamulla, Negambo to a Christian family as the youngest of the family with seven siblings. His father, W. Don Thomas was a teacher at Maris Stella College. He was educated at the Cross College of Negombo, St. Peter's College, Negombo, St. Mary's College, Negombo and Maris Stella College. His elder brother B. A. W. Jayamanne was a renowned filmmaker and producer.[2]

Eddie married fellow Minerva troupe player Rukmani Devi after falling in love through their involvement in the same plays.[3] Devi's parents challenged their engagement in court but they were allowed to go through with their marriage.

Cinema career

Eddie with his brother B. A. W. Jayamanne formed the Minerva theater troupe in the 1930s. They successfully ran plays in which naive Ceylonese characters would ape Western ways to comical results merging South Indian theatre with Western drama. Eddie, a frequent star of these comedies, became a popular theater actor in the years leading up to the development of Sri Lankan cinema.[2]

In 1947, South Indian producer S. M. Nayagam became interested in producing a Sri Lankan film. He contacted B. A. W. Jayamanne and secured the rights to one of his plays called Kadawunu Poronduwa.[3] Eddie would be one of the stars in this film adaption in the village simpleton role of "Manappuwa" alongside Jemini Kantha as Josi Baba. As the first film to feature Sinhalese dialogue, the film found approval with audiences and was a huge success.[2]

The Jayamanne brothers followed the success of the film with several other play adaptions i.e. Hadisi Vinishchaya (1949), Sengawunu Pilithura (1951) and Umathu Wishwasaya (1952). Mabel Blythe joined the cast with Hadisi Vinishchaya. In 1953 the brothers adapted a book into film for the first time in Sri Lankan cinema (Kele Handa). Their subsequent films include Iranganie (1954), Matha Bedhaya (1955), Perakadoru Bena (1955), Daiwa Wipaakaya (1956), Vanaliya (1958), Kawata Andare (1960) and Mangalika (1963).[3][2]

Eddie's work not related to his brother's productions include playing a musician in Sandesaya (1960) and the brother of a village simpleton who discovers a jewel and becomes rich in Kolomba Sanniya (1976). He reprised his role as Manappuwa in a remake of Kadawunu Poronduwa released in 1982.[2]

Death

On 25 July 1981, Eddie died from a Heart Attack.[2] During his last days he was residing in 172, Palliyawaththa, Handala. His death was reported by a neighbor, P.K. Piyadasa. He was buried in "Manyokhena" Cemetery in Negombo.

Filmography

YearFilmRoleRef.
1947Kadawunu PoronduwaManappuwa
1948Kapati ArakshakayaJacob
1948Weradunu KurumanamaBabaiyya
1949Peralena IranamaPaucha
1950Hadisi VinischayaKokila
1951Sengawunu PilithuraManappuwa
1952Upathu ViswashayaSaping
1953Kele HandaAanda
1954IranganieSomapala
1955MathabhedayaWilliam
1955Perakadoru BenaGunathilaka Ralahamy
1956DostharaDoctor
1957SiriyalathaKurunis
1957Soorasena441
1959DaivayogayaDantha
1960SandesayaMamma
1960NalanganaSunil's friend[4]
1960Kawata AndareAndare
1961Gan Thera
1963Mangalika
1963Mangalika
1964Semiya Birindage Deviyaya[5]
1965Sathutai Kandului
1966Sampatha
1966Senasili SuwayaKavinda
1967Sarana
1967Magul Poruwa
1967Rena GirawClub goer[6]
1968Abudasse Kale
1968RadhapuraLal
1968Dehadaka DukaAlankari
1969Paara Walalu
1971Kalana Mithuro
1971Samanala Kumariyo
1972Hathara WateGunadasa
1973Hondama Welawa
1973Hondai Narakai
1973Hondata HondaiUncle
1974DuleekaJayawardena[7]
1974SuseeBastian[8]
1974Duppathage HithawathaJimmy[9]
1975Hitha Honda MinihekEddie Jayamanne
1975Lassana Kella
1975Lassana DawasakEddie, Nilanthi's father
1976Nayana
1976Haratha Hathara
1976Unnath Dahai Malath Dahai
1976Onna Mame Kella Penapi
1976Adarei Man Adarei
1976Ran Thilaka
1976Kolamba SanniyaJacolis
1977Hithuwoth HithuwamaiSergeant Banda[10]
1977Deviyani Oba KohidaJuwan 'Aiyya'[11]
1977Eya Dan Loku LamayekMama
1977Honda Hitha
1977Yali Ipade
1978SaaraCharlie
1978Apsara
1978Sithaka SuwandaMr. Samson
1978Sally
1979SamanmaleeFather
1979Jeewana Kandulu
1979Subhani
1980Uthumaneni[12]
1980Anuhasa
1980SankhapaliSanka's father
1981KolankarayoKathru Mahaththaya
1981Thavalama
1982Sithara
1982Kadawunu Poronduwa remakeManappuwa
1983SandamaliSandamali's father
1983Yali Pipunu Malak

Songs

  • Thakkita Tharikita Udapana Natanna Hithuna (With Jemini Kanth)
  • Kolompure Shriya

References

  1. "Page 3304 Supplement 40191, 1 June 1954 London Gazette %7c The Gazette". The Gazette. 9 June 1955.
  2. "A caricature king". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  3. Savarimutthu, Ranee (1977). On the Development of Sinhala Cinema, 1947-1967. Colombo, Sri Lanka: OCIC Sri Lanka.
  4. "All about the film "Nalangana"". sarasaviya. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  5. "All about Samiya Birindage Deviyaya". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  6. "All about "Rena Giraw"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  7. "All about the film "Duleeka"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  8. "All about the film Susee". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  9. "All about Duppathage Hithawatha". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  10. "All about "Hithuwoth Hithuwamai"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  11. "Deviyani Oba Koheda". sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  12. "All about 'Uthumaneni'". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
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