D. R. Nanayakkara
Encyclopedia
Don Ruter Nanayakkara was a leading character actor of Sri Lanka
n cinema. Playing lanky villains, Nanayakkara gained popularity in films like Rekava
, Kurulu Bedda
and Sikuru Tharuwa
.
Nanayakkara was born in Kolonnawa
in 1915 and attended the Kolonnawa Govt. School and St. Matthew’s College, Dematagoda
. As a young adult, Nanayakkara showed interest in theater and became a regular attender of stage plays. At one such drama around 1936, he was noticed by playwright Sirisena Wimalaweera
who took him into his troupe of players. Beginning with Amma, Nanayakkara appeared in many of Wimalweera's plays; these include Seedevi, Pitisara Kella, Rodi Kella and Maggona Charlie.
Nanayakkara debut in film came when Wimalaweera adapted Amma into a motion picture
in 1949, two years after the release of the first major Sinhalese film Kadawunu Poronduwa
. Nanayakkara dabbled as a vocalist in Wimalaweera's films singing two songs for Amma. He continued to appear in Wimalaweera's movies up to Wimalaweera's death in 1963.
Nanayakkara's had one of his most celebrated performances in Rekawa (1956) which is considered a landmark in film. He appeared in the critically acclaimed role of Sooty, the protagonist's father who is a thief and attempts to use his son's supposed healing powers to gain wealth causing a death and his son's condemnation by the whole villages.
Nanayakkara continued his celebrated villainous roles in Kurulu Bedda (1961), Sikuru Tharuwa (1966) and Binaramali (1969). He won the Sarasaviya Best Actor Award for his role in Bicycle Hora in 1968. In 1984, Nanayakkara was one of the Sri Lankan actors chosen to appear in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
; He played the village headsman.
Other film appearances include Chandiya
(1965), Parasathumal (1966), Kathuru Muwath (1971), Duleeka (1974), Lasanda (1974), Nedeyo (1976), Ahasin Polawata
(1978), Siribo Aiya (1980), Baddegama
(1981) and Dese Mal Pipila. Nanayakkara's last film Ahas Maliga was screened five years after his death.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
n cinema. Playing lanky villains, Nanayakkara gained popularity in films like Rekava
Rekava
Rekava is a 1956 film based on village life and their mythical beliefs in Sri Lanka . It is the first Sinhalese film which was fully shot in Ceylon and was the first in the country to be shot outdoors. It was also the first film which was free from Indian influence...
, Kurulu Bedda
Kurulu Bedda
Kurulu Bedda is a 1961 Sri Lankan drama written by P. K. D Seneviratne. It attempted to follow in the precedent set by Rekava and create a truly Sinhala film.-Plot:...
and Sikuru Tharuwa
Sikuru Tharuwa
Sikuru Tharuwa is a 1963 Sri Lankan drama written by P. K. D Seneviratne. It was developed by the Kurulu Rana group that attempted to make original movies pertaining to Sinhalese culture.-Plot:...
.
Nanayakkara was born in Kolonnawa
Kolonnawa
Kolonnawa is a town in Colombo District in the Western Province of Sri Lanka. The town has a clock tower.-References:...
in 1915 and attended the Kolonnawa Govt. School and St. Matthew’s College, Dematagoda
Dematagoda
Dematagoda is a suburb in Colombo, Sri Lanka represented by divisional code 9 . It is surrounded by Borella, Maradana and Kolonnawa. The Baseline Road passes through the Dematagoda.-Schools:* Anurudhdha Balika Maha Vidyalaya* Sevalee Vidyalaya...
. As a young adult, Nanayakkara showed interest in theater and became a regular attender of stage plays. At one such drama around 1936, he was noticed by playwright Sirisena Wimalaweera
Sirisena Wimalaweera
Sirisena Wimalaweera was an early Sri Lankan director. He made some of the first Sinhala films after the industry was begun by B. A. W. Jayamanne's Kadawunu Poronduwa....
who took him into his troupe of players. Beginning with Amma, Nanayakkara appeared in many of Wimalweera's plays; these include Seedevi, Pitisara Kella, Rodi Kella and Maggona Charlie.
Nanayakkara debut in film came when Wimalaweera adapted Amma into a motion picture
Amma (film)
Amma is a 1949 Sri Lankan film directed by Sirisena Wimalaweera. It was adapted from one of his plays that bore the same name. The cast included Eddie Junior, Pearl Vasudevi, D. R. Nanayakkara and N. R. Dias and was filmed at the Neptune Studio in Madras....
in 1949, two years after the release of the first major Sinhalese film Kadawunu Poronduwa
Kadawunu Poronduwa
Kadawunu Poronduwa was the first film to be made in the Sinhala language; it is generally considered to have heralded the coming of Sinhala Cinema. The film was produced and filmed in India however, and was highly influenced by South Indian melodrama...
. Nanayakkara dabbled as a vocalist in Wimalaweera's films singing two songs for Amma. He continued to appear in Wimalaweera's movies up to Wimalaweera's death in 1963.
Nanayakkara's had one of his most celebrated performances in Rekawa (1956) which is considered a landmark in film. He appeared in the critically acclaimed role of Sooty, the protagonist's father who is a thief and attempts to use his son's supposed healing powers to gain wealth causing a death and his son's condemnation by the whole villages.
Nanayakkara continued his celebrated villainous roles in Kurulu Bedda (1961), Sikuru Tharuwa (1966) and Binaramali (1969). He won the Sarasaviya Best Actor Award for his role in Bicycle Hora in 1968. In 1984, Nanayakkara was one of the Sri Lankan actors chosen to appear in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is a 1984 American adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg. It is the second film in the Indiana Jones franchise and prequel to Raiders of the Lost Ark . After arriving in India, Indiana Jones is asked by a desperate village to find a mystical stone...
; He played the village headsman.
Other film appearances include Chandiya
Chandiya (film)
Chandiya is a 1965 Sri Lankan action movie directed by Titus Thotawatte. In the country, it was the first of its genre to not borrow from Indian cinema.-Cast:*Gamini Fonseka – hoodlum*Anula Karunatillake – hoodlum's sister...
(1965), Parasathumal (1966), Kathuru Muwath (1971), Duleeka (1974), Lasanda (1974), Nedeyo (1976), Ahasin Polawata
Ahasin Polawata
Ahasin Polowata is a 1978 Sri Lankan drama film directed by Lester James Peries. The film stars Tony Ranasinghe as Sarath, an abusive husband who is haunted by his wife's death....
(1978), Siribo Aiya (1980), Baddegama
Baddegama
Baddegama is a 1980 Sinhalese language film directed by Lester James Peries that follows the lives of village people in British Colonial Sri Lanka. The film is based on the 1913 book The Village in the Jungle by Leonard Woolf. Sir Arthur C...
(1981) and Dese Mal Pipila. Nanayakkara's last film Ahas Maliga was screened five years after his death.
Film
| Year | Film | Role | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 | Amma | Saranapala | film debut |
| 1956 | Rekava Rekava Rekava is a 1956 film based on village life and their mythical beliefs in Sri Lanka . It is the first Sinhalese film which was fully shot in Ceylon and was the first in the country to be shot outdoors. It was also the first film which was free from Indian influence... |
Sooty | |
| 1961 | Kurulu Bedda Kurulu Bedda Kurulu Bedda is a 1961 Sri Lankan drama written by P. K. D Seneviratne. It attempted to follow in the precedent set by Rekava and create a truly Sinhala film.-Plot:... |
Kaithan Baas | |
| 1963 | Sikuru Tharuwa Sikuru Tharuwa Sikuru Tharuwa is a 1963 Sri Lankan drama written by P. K. D Seneviratne. It was developed by the Kurulu Rana group that attempted to make original movies pertaining to Sinhalese culture.-Plot:... |
Village Headman | Sarasaviya Award for Best Actor (1964) |
| 1965 | Chandiya Chandiya (film) Chandiya is a 1965 Sri Lankan action movie directed by Titus Thotawatte. In the country, it was the first of its genre to not borrow from Indian cinema.-Cast:*Gamini Fonseka – hoodlum*Anula Karunatillake – hoodlum's sister... |
||
| 1967 | Parasathumal | Head Servant | |
| 1968 | Abudasse kale Abudasse kale Abudasse kale is a 1968 Sri Lankan film directed by Kumar Wickremasooriya.-Cast:*Rukmani Devi*Malini Fonseka*Eddie Jayamanne*Vijitha Mallika*D.R. Nanayakkara-External links:*... |
||
| Bicycle Hora Bicycle Hora Bicycle Hora is a 1968 Sri Lankan film directed by K.A.W. Perera.-Cast:*Oswald Jayasinghe*Sandhya Kumari*Jeevarani Kurukulasooriya*D.R. Nanayakkara*Wally Nanayakkara... |
Sarasaviya Award for Best Actor (1969) | ||
| Dahasak Sithuvili | Man on bus | ||
| Adarawanthayo | |||
| 1969 | Binaramali | Village Headman | |
| 1971 | Kathura Muwath | ||
| 1972 | Lokuma Hinawa | ||
| 1973 | Sinawai Inawai | ||
| 1974 | Duleeka | ||
| Lasanda | |||
| 1976 | Nedeyo | ||
| 1978 | Vishmaya | ||
| Sandawata Ran Tharu | |||
| Ahasin Polawata Ahasin Polawata Ahasin Polowata is a 1978 Sri Lankan drama film directed by Lester James Peries. The film stars Tony Ranasinghe as Sarath, an abusive husband who is haunted by his wife's death.... |
|||
| 1980 | Siribo Aiya | ||
| 1981 | Baddegama | Exorcist | |
| 1984 | Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is a 1984 American adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg. It is the second film in the Indiana Jones franchise and prequel to Raiders of the Lost Ark . After arriving in India, Indiana Jones is asked by a desperate village to find a mystical stone... |
Shaman | |
| Welle Thenu Maliga | |||
| 1988 | Sandakada Pahana | ||
| 1994 | Ahas Maliga | posthumous release | |