Somasiri Dehipitiya

Dehipitiyage Don Somasiri (born January 29, 1933 – died April 27,1982), popularly as Somasiri Dehipitiya, was a popular Sri Lankan character actor.[1] He is best known for performances in Dharmasena Pathiraja and Vasantha Obeysekera films.

Somasiri Dehipitiya
සෝමසිරි දෙහිපිටිය
Born
Dehipitiyage Don Somasiri

(1933-01-29)January 29, 1933
Gampaha, Sri Lanka
DiedApril 27, 1982(1982-04-27) (aged 49)
NationalitySri Lankan
EducationGalahitiyawe Central College
OccupationActor
Years active1967–1984

Personal life

Dehipitiya was born in Gampaha and attended Galahitiyawe Madhya Maha Vidyalaya. After completing his primary education, he began work as a civil servant eventually reaching a position at the Vehicles Department - Colombo in the engineer division.[2] His younger brother, Chandrasiri Dehipitiya was also a renowned actor, art director and sculptor. Chandrasiri was the artistic director of the film 'Ves Gatto'. He was also a member of the choir in the play 'Maname'. Chandrasiri died on 9 December 2020.[3]

He died of alcoholism in 1982.[2]

Drama career

He started to act in stage plays such as Mati Karaththaya produced by P. Welikala. Then he joined Ediriweera Sarachchandra for his numerous stage plays such as Pabawathi, Raththaran, Elowa Gihin Melowa Awa and Kundala Keshi. Then he acted in Dayananda Gunawardena's Ibi Katta, Neil Wijesinghe's Ane Massine.[4]

Cinema career

Dehipitiya made his acting debut in Siri Gunasinghe's landmark Sath Samudura in 1967. Throughout the 1970s and early-1980s, he was a mainstay in alternative cinema with roles in such critically acclaimed works as Thun Man Handiya (1970), Ves Gatho (1970), Hara Lakshaya (1971), Ahas Gauwa (1974), Sihasuna (1974), Walmath Wuvo (1977), Deviyani Oba Koheda (1977), Eya Dan Loku Lamayek (1977), Bambaru Awith (1978), Anupama (1978), Sarungale (1979), Podi Malli (1979), Siribo Aiyya (1980), Para Dige (1980), Karumakarayo (1980), Soldadu Unnahe (1981), Sagarayak Meda (1981) and Ridi Nimnaya (1982).[2][5]

Dehipitiya also dabbled as an assistant director with Ves Gatho in 1970 and as a playback singer in Walmath Wuvo with Cyril Wickramage. In 1980, Dehipitiya won the award for the Best Supporting Actor for his role in Siribo Ayya in Presidential Award Ceremony.[4]

Filmography
YearFilmRoleRef.
1967Sath SamuduraPeter[6]
1970Thun Man HandiyaJamis
1970Wes GaththoSomey
1971Haara LakshayaSeney's brother-in-law
1973Hathdinnath TharuPearli's father
1973Dahakin EkekConsoling Villager
1973Sadahatama Oba Mage
1974Ahas GauwaSomey
1974SihasunaKirigora
1974Kasthuri SuwandaDanapala 'Dannaya'[7]
1974Dinum Kanuwa
1974Kalyani GangaFisherman
1974Sagarika
1975Aese Idiripita
1975Lassana DawasakSomey
1976Pradeepe Ma Wewa
1976Saradielge PuthaMudalithuma 'Mudaliyar'
1976Mangala
1976Nilla Soya[8]
1976Walmath WuwoSomadasa
1976DiyamanthiKushan Gunawardena 'Kojath Gune'
1977Deviyani Oba KohidaJamis[9]
1977Pembara Madhu
1977Eya Dan Loku LamayekBootlegger
1977Chandi PuthaCyril[10]
1977Maruwa Samaga WasePiyadasa 'Mudalali'
1978Asha Dasin
1978Selinage WalawwaSimon 'Aiyya'
1978Veera Puran AppuPuran Appu's brother
1978Bambaru AvithAnton's friend
1978Kumara KumariyoWilliam
1978AnupamaMudalali[11]
1979SarungaleMr. Jayasekara[12]
1979Visihathara PeyaJothindra
1980Jodu Walalu
1980Kanchana
1980Siribo AyyaBandulahamy
1980ParithyagayaJayathilaka's uncle
1980Para dige
1980KarumakkarayoWeladum Mahathaya[13]
1981Valampuri
1981Soldadu Unnehe
1981VajiraVajira's father
1981Sagarayak MedaJailed abortion doctor
1981Sathara Diganthaya
1981SamawennaPeter
1982Re ManamaliManori's father
1982Sakvithi SuwayaMr. Gunawardena 'Gune'
1982Ridee Nimnaya
1982Yahalu YeheliKalu Diyonis
1983SandamaliAppuhamy
1983SumithuroSuranga's father
1983Niliyakata Pem KalemiBrucle 'Mudalali'
1983BonikkaDuncan Wickremasinghe
1984Niwan Dakna Jathi Dakwa
1984Batti
1985Karadiya Walalla

References
  1. "සෝමසිරි දෙහිපිටිය නම් වූ හිත හොඳ මිනිසා..." Divaina. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  2. Kumara, Nuwan Nayanajith (2005). Sri Lankeya Cinema Vanshaya (Sri Lankan Film Chronicle). Sarasavi Publishers. ISBN 955-573-367-8.
  3. "Dehipitiya bids farewell". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2020-12-11.
  4. "දෙහිපිටිය සමුගෙන තිස් හතර වසරයි". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  5. "50 years for Dehipitiya's demise". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  6. "All about "Sath Samudura"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2020-12-02.
  7. "All about the film "Kasthuri Suwanda"". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  8. "All about Nilla Soya". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  9. "Deviyani Oba Koheda". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  10. "All about Chandi Putha". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  11. "All about the film "Anupama"". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  12. "All about Sarungale". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  13. "All about the film "Karumakkarayo"". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
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