Giriraj Kaushalya

Silmesthri Giriraj Kaushalya (born November 13,[1] 1964 as ගිරිරාජ් කෞශල්‍ය) [Sinhala]), popularly known as Giriraj Kaushalya, is a Sri Lankan actor in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television.[2] Performing in both dramas to comedies, Kaushalya also has worked as a script writer and a filmmaker.[3]

Giriraj Kaushalya
ගිරිරාජ් කෞශල්‍ය
Born (1964-11-13) November 13, 1964
Kolonnawa, Sri Lanka
NationalitySri Lankan
EducationGurukula Vidyalaya, Kelaniya
OccupationActor, Filmmaker, Screenplay writer, Singer
Years active1999–present
Spouse(s)Mangalika Fernando (m. 1988)
ChildrenKavindya Nilupuli
Amandya Uthpali
RelativesLalith Janakantha (brother)

Personal life

Kaushalya was born on 13 November 1964 in Kolonnawa, Colombo as the youngest of the family with four siblings. He has three elder brothers and one elder sister.[4] He entered village school in Kolonnawa and then attended to Gurukula Vidyalaya, Kelaniya.[5] He worked in Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka before entering to acting. His father was an active trade unionist in Ceylon Electricity Board and a member of the Sri Lanka Communist Party represented the Left Movement.[6] His elder brother Lalith Janakantha is also a renowned actor in stage, television and cinema.

He met his wife Mangalika Fernando during the work in Mahaweli Authority in Lihinyagama, Mahaweli C zone in 1986.[7] She was a draftsman and Kaushalya was a store keeper. They engaged in 1987 and wedding was celebrated in 1988.[8] They both left the work in 1998. The couple has two daughters - Kavindya Nilupuli and Amandya Uthpali.[5] Eldest daughter was born on 1989 and second daughter in 1994.

Acting career

He worked with veteran actor Sathischandra Edirisinghe in Mahaweli Authority during Mahaweli cultural unit. Then Edirisinghe invited him to play a role in his teledrama Namal Golla, which marked his first appearance in drama career. Then he acted in Kokila Ginna directed again by Edirisinghe.[5]

His entrance to the stage drama was an accident. He used to go for plays with elder brother Lalith. His maiden performance on stage was to stand in for an absent actor in the play Dukgannarala by Prasannajith Abeysuriya. He joined veteran dramatist Somalatha Subasinghe's drama troupe and acted in her stage plays such as Mawakage Sangramaya, Antigany and some children plays like Hima Kumari and Thoppi Welenda.[9]

He continued performed in stage dramas for many years. His popular stage acting came through Somaratne Dissanayake's Mee Pura Wesiyo, Parakrama Niriella's Sekkuwa, Rodney Warnakula's Saranga Naven Evith and Priyantha Seneviratne's Minisa.[9]

In 1997, he got the chance to work as assistant director in popular teledrama Nonavaruni Mahathvaruni directed by Jayaprakash Sivagurunathan.[5] He also acted in some role in the drama as well. He wrote the scripts for a number of popular television comedies like Kathura and Ethuma 1, 2.[6] His maiden television drama direction came through Nana Kamare which was telecasted on Swarnavahini. The serial stars Bandu Samarasinghe and became a hit in that year.[9] He also directed the serial Mithra Samagama telecasted in TV Derana.[10]

Selected stage dramas
  • Mawakage Sangramaya
  • Antigany
  • Mee Pura Wesiyo
  • Sekkuwa
  • Saranga Nawen Awith
  • Minisa
  • Saadaya Marai Salli Hamarai[11]
  • Comedy Buddy[12]
  • Sudu Redi Horu[13]

Selected television serials
  • Ama as Sam uncle[5]
  • Dhawala Kadulla as Merchant [14]
  • Diya Matha Ruwa [15]
  • Ethuma 1, 2 as Kalu Mudalali
  • Kotipathiyo[16]
  • Hulan Gedara as Don Meril Hulangamuwa
  • Ira Awara[17]
  • Isuru Bhavana as Kuruneru[5][18]
  • Jeewithaya Athi Thura
  • Jeewithaya Dakinna [19]
  • Kapa Nasna Samaya[20][21]
  • Kinnara Damanaya [22]
  • Kokila Ginna[23]
  • Man Hinda [24]
  • Namal Golla
  • Me Suramya Paradisaya[25]
  • Nadagamkarayo as Kukula Mahaththaya [26]
  • Neela Palingu Diya[27]
  • Nodath Desheka Arumawanthi[28]
  • Nonavaruni Mahathvaruni
  • Package
  • Pani Kurullo[29]
  • Pingala Danawwa[30]
  • Pinibara Yamaya[31]
  • Pipi Piyum [32]
  • Punaragamanaya [33]
  • Ranga Soba [34]
  • Rathi Virathi [35]
  • Sakala Guru as Pinsiri Podi Bandara[36]
  • Sakisanda Suwaris[37]
  • Sanda Dev Diyani [38]
  • Sihina Genena Kumariye
  • Sihinayak Wage [39]
  • Smarana Samapthi[40]
  • Sudu Kapuru Pethi[41]
  • Suravimana[42]
  • Sihina Puraya as Bunty[43]
  • Thaksalava as Lucas Mudalali[44]
  • Wahinna Muthu Wassak[45]

Filmography

Kaushalya started his film career film Sanda Dadayama directed by Asoka Handagama, which is not screened yet.[4] His first screened film is 1999 film Salupata Ahasata directed by Mario Jayathunga.[46] Then he contributed in several blockbuster films such as Sikuru Hathe, Suhada Koka and Maya particularly as a comedian.[47]

His maiden cinematic direction came through Sikuru Hathe in 2007.[9] The film had positive reviews from critics and won several awards at local film festivals.[6][48]

YearFilmRoleRef.
1999Salupata Ahasata
2001AswesumaHunter
2001Punchi Suranganavi[49]
2002Mage Wam AthaBoss's henchman[50]
2003Sonduru Dadabima]Gladwin[51]
2004Sooriya AranaSalesman[52]
2005Samanala ThatuBicycle Shop owner[53]
2006Udugan Yamaya[54]
2007Aganthukaya[55]
2007Sankranthi[56]
2008Siri Raja SiriTheater controller[57]
2010Tikiri SuwandaAlphonsu[58]
2010Suwanda Denuna Jeewithecameo appearance
2011King HuntherBenja[59]
2011GamaniNGO officer[60]
2012PrathirooSalesman[61]
2013Bomba Saha RosaPolice sergeant[62]
2013Siri ParakumVen. Kalundewa Thero[63]
2014Ahelepola KumarihamiLokuru Naide[64]
2014Ko Mark No MarkVimukthi[65]
2015Suhada KokaKalu Mudalali[66]
2015Bora Diya Pokuna[67]
2015Lantin SinghoAppu[68]
2015Maya 3DGamini[69]
2017Ali KathawaKing's physician[70]
2017Paha SamathBus driver[71]
2017Punchi Apith Baya Na DanPatty Mudalali[72]
2018Raigamayai GampalayaiRaigamaya[73]
2019ThaalaKattadiya[74]
2019President Super Starmultiple roles[75]
2019ReloadLekam[76]
2020TsunamiLawyer[77]
2020The NewspaperCabinet minister[78]
2020Miss Jenis
TBDThanapathilage Gedara[79]
TBDGuththila[80]

As a director
YearFilmRef.
2007Sikuru Hathe[81]
2015Suhada Koka[82]
TBDKathuru Mithuru[83]

Awards

He is a recipient of awards at several local film festivals.[84][85]

Raigam Tele'es Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2010Isuru BhavanaMerit AwardWon

Sumathi Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2011ThaksalavaMerit AwardWon

See also

References
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