Sirisena Wimalaweera

Sirisena Wimalaweera (Sinhala: සිරිසේන විමලවීර; born 23 June 1901 – died 24 August 1963) was a Sri Lankan filmmaker and theater master.[1] He made several critically acclaimed films from 1949 to 1960. He is the first independent Sinhalese and Sri Lankan to direct a Sinhala film and first Sinhala Independent Producer.[2]

Sirisena Wimalaweera
සිරිසේන විමලවීර
Born(1901-07-23)23 July 1901
Tangalle, Sri Lanka
Died24 August 1963(1963-08-24) (aged 62)
NationalitySri Lankan
EducationChristchurch Sinhala College, Tangalle
OccupationDirector, lyricist, screenwriter, producer
Years active1949–1963
Children5

Personal life

Wimalaweera was born on 23 June 1901 in Tangalle. He was a man of good knowledge about different languages such as Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Urdu, etc. At the age of eleven, he traveled to India with his uncle to study Ayurvedic medicine. But, unfortunately, he got the idea of doing drama. He has two daughters - Somawathi and Premawathi; and three sons, Daya, Upasena and Ranjith.[3] His elder son Daya Wimalaweera was a popular film director, cameraman, script writer and also a producer. Upesena Wimalaweera is also a sound engineer and editor.

Wimalaweera was rushed to the Khalil Private Hospital in Maradana and was 62 years old when he died on August 24, 1963.[4]

Career

Wimalaweera came back to Sri Lanka and did many dramas and Wimalaweera went to the Neptune studio in South India on November 19, 1948 and spent eight months producing his first film Amma in 1949.[5] His second feature Seedevi was produced the following year. He directed many stage plays such as Gan Wathura, Seedevi, Amma, Rodi Kella and Heladiva Purangana.[4]

He continued his film career by directing many films such as Pitisera Kella and Saradeyal in 1954, Podi Putha in 1955, Asoka in 1957, Ekamath Eka Rataka in 1958, Ma Alaya Kala Tharuniya in 1959, and many more.[6][5]

He also received an award for best film Podi Putha in 1956 as well as the film was critically acclaimed as his best film. He himself introduced many actors and singers too.[5] Podiputha won the award for the Best Film at the 1956 Deepashika Film Festival. He directed the first film in Sri Lanka with cartoons, Ekamath Eka Rataka in 1958. His 1955 film Asoka was the only Sinhala film to screened in China according to "Motion Picture" magazine. His film Ma Ale Kala Tharuniya was adjudged the best movie of the year at the 1959 cinema's edited by Jayawilal Wilegoda. In 1960, Wimalaweera started the film Punchi Amma and introduced Tony Ranasinghe into the silver screen. In the meantime, Wimalaweera has started the film Rodi Kella and has selected Sandya Kumari for the first time to play the lead role. This film also marked Premasiri Khemadasa's first musical directorial debut.[4]

Wimalaweera's films attempted to stay true to Sinhala history and culture and are considered a step forward in Sinhala cinema. Due to his indefatigable efforts a film studio named "Nawajeewana" was built in Kirobathgoda, Kelaniya which was established on 13 September 1951, which is known as the only studio owned by a Sri Lankan filmmaker.[7] His style and techniques were similar to Jayamanne's work however and Wimalaweera didn't receive critical approval.[4]

Filmography

As director
YearFilmOther rolesRef.
1949AmmaScreenwriter, Lyricist
1951See DeviScreenwriter, Lyricist
1953Pitisara KellaScreenwriter, Lyricist
1954SaradielScreenwriter, Lyricist, Producer[8]
1955Asoka
1955Podi PuthaScreenwriter, Lyricist, Sudappu Samaranayake (acting)
1957SirakaruwaScreenwriter, Lyricist
1958Ekamath Eka RatakaScreenwriter, Lyricist
1959Ma Ale Kala TharuniyaScreenwriter, Lyricist
1960Wana MalaScreenwriter, Lyricist

As lyricist
YearFilmRef.
1953Sujatha
1954Warada Kageda
1994Sujatha
2004Seethala Gini Kandu

References
  1. "Filmmakers in Sinhala cinema - Sirisena Wimalaweera". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  2. "Daya Wimalaweera's reappearance". Divaina. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  3. "Daya Wimalaweera who liked a good commercial film rather than a bad art film". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  4. "Wimalaweera master who searched for Sinhala mark in cinema". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  5. "Sirisena Wimalaweera and local cinema". Divaina. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  6. "Sirisena Wimalaweera filmography". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  7. "Veteran film director Daya Wimalaweera passes away". Dinamina. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  8. "Saradiel, built by Wimalaweera amidst protests of the generation that was fed up". Lankadeepa. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
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