This article needs additional citations for verification .(September 2010) |
Gunasena Galappatty | |
---|---|
Born | |
Died | November 27, 1984 57) | (aged
Nationality | Sri Lankan |
Education | Dikwella Central College, Rahula College Matara, University of Ceylon, University of Peradeniya, Yale University |
Occupation(s) | Stage director, Teacher, Translator |
Spouse | Sumana Abeysinghe |
Children | Deepthi Sagarika Galappatty, Chanakya TharangaGalappatty, Sampath Galappatty |
Gunasena Galappatty (born June 7, 1927, in Dikwella in Matara, Sri Lanka) was a Sri Lankan dramatist, director, producer, and Sinhala radio play writer regarded as the pioneer of suspense drama in Sri Lanka. [1]
Galappatty attended Dikwella Central College and Matara Rahula College. In 1952, he entered University of Ceylon, Peradeniya campus, to study for a bachelor's degree in economics. At Peradeniya, he started associating with Professor Ediriweera Sarachchandra and Charles Silva and was involved in theatre work.
His first production was a folk drama Sandakinduru in 1957 [2] in which he blended folk drama with modern Sinhalese music. This was a success and he was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to study experimental theatre at Yale University, United States.
He was a teacher at Kotte Ananda Sastralaya in 1955 and next joined for a while the State Language Department as a translator, again continuing as a teacher. [3]
From Yale, he went to Broadway in 1959, the first Sri Lankan to work there as well as in off-Broadway productions. During this time, he came under the influence of the Method school, the American offshoot of Konstantin Stanislavski's approach to acting and stagecraft. He worked under two distinguished teachers, Herbert Berghoff and Uta Hagen. He acted in and co-produced two Broadway dramas, Tea House of the August Moon and The Marriage-Go-Round .
He then traveled to many countries, including Spain, Japan and Russia, to study various drama styles and methods. He admired Spain's Federico García Lorca and spent a few weeks experiencing Lorca productions such as Yerma. In Japan, he studied traditional kabuki drama and was involved in a popular production, The Father.
Returning to Sri Lanka in 1961, Galappatty resumed his theatre work. Abandoning the operatic form modelled on Charles Silva and Sarachhandra crystallization of the Nadagam, he branched out on a new line which tried to fuse the inner-directed acting style that he had imbibed in Broadway with the non-naturalistic native tradition. In 1962, he produced a milestone in Sri Lankan theatre, Muduputtu (Sons of the Seas), showing that the traditional stylistic theatre could be blended very effectively with western realistic technique. Following this, he was at the forefront of Sri Lankan theatre and his productions launched the careers of many talented actors. He was called upon to represent Sri Lanka at United Nations conferences and other international activities.
|
|
Sugathapala De Silva was a Sri Lankan dramatist and novelist.
Veditantirige Ediriweera Ranjitha Sarachchandra, popularly known as Ediriweera Sarachchandra Sinhala: එදිරිවීර සරච්චන්ද්ර), was a Sri Lankan playwright, novelist, poet, literary critic, essayist and social commentator. Considered as the premier playwright in Sri Lanka, Sarachchandra produced several critically acclaimed theatre plays in a career spanned for more than four decades. He also served as a senior lecturer at the University of Peradeniya for many years and as Sri Lankan Ambassador to France from 1974 to 1977.
Sri Lankabhimanya Wannakuwattawaduge Don Albert Perera, better known by his adopted name Amaradeva, was a prominent Sri Lankan Sinhalese vocalist, violinist and composer. Primarily using traditional instruments like sitars, tablas and harmoniums, he incorporated Sinhala folk music with Indian ragas in his work. Many consider his contribution to the development of Sinhala music as unmatched; hence, he is occasionally cited as the "Maestro of Sri Lankan Music".
Dr. Diongu Badaturuge Nihalsingha was an accomplished Sri Lankan film director, cinematographer, editor, producer. He was noted for his versatility : as a film cameraman, as a film director, as a (pioneering) television director, as an administrator, and as a teacher. He is a pioneer who introduced professional television production to Sri Lanka, commencing with Sri Lanka's and South Asia's first color teledrama, Dimuthu Muthu. He was the founding Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of Sri Lanka's National Film Corporation and a distinguished alumni of the then University of Ceylon, Peradeniya. He is the only Sri Lankan who has been conferred Life Fellowship of the Society of Motion picture and Television Engineers USA, the oldest film organisation in the world, established in 1915. The Society determines film and television standards worldwide.
Kala Keerthi Dr Bastian Koralage Henry Rudrigo Jayasena, popularly known as Henry Jayasena, was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, theater and television. With a career spanning more than four decades, Jayasena is considered one of the best dramatists in Sri Lankan drama.
Maha Egodage Jayalal Rohana Perera, known as Jayalal Rohana, was a Sri Lankan actor who worked in Sri Lankan cinema, theatre and television. Considered a versatile figure in Sri Lankan entertainment, Rohana was also a writer, makeup artist, radio playwright and drama teacher who taught theatre to students as a freelance dramatist in Sri Lanka. He gained acclaim for his work in television after winning the Sumathi Award for Best Actor in for the role in Isuru Yogaya.
Cyril Wickramage is an actor and director in Sri Lankan cinema, theater and television as well as a singer. Wickramage is known for participating mainly in artistic Sinhala films. Performed as a charismatic actor in all three art forms: stage, cinema, and teledrama, Wickramage is most notable for the dramatic roles in the films, Bambaru Avith, Karumakkarayo, Seilama and Dheewari.
Hettipathirannehelage Dayananda Gunawardena, better known as Dayananda Gunawardena, was a Sri Lankan playwright, actor, lyricist, dramatist, radio play producer, and Sinhala Radio Play writer.
Wimal Kumara de Costa was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema. One of the most popular comedy artists in 1980s and 1990s, he started cinema career with character roles in art films where he later moved to comedy roles in cinema. He is cited as the pioneer of Sri Lanka mime industry.
Weerapullige Jayasiri [Sinhala]), popularly known as W. Jayasiri, is a Sri Lankan actor in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television. Highly versatile actor from drama to comedy, Jayasiri is a multi-talented personnel that working as a script writer and lyricist.
Kala Suri Somalatha Subasinghe was a Sri Lankan actress, playwright, theatre director and educator from Sri Lanka. She received both the Kala Suri and the Kala Keerthi in recognition of her contribution to Sri Lankan theatre.
Keselgaspe Manatunga Jayalath Manoratne was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television. He was a lecturer by profession as well as a director and producer. A highly versatile actor from drama to comedy, Manoratne won awards at OCIC, Presidential, Sarasaviya, Raigam Tele'es, Sumathi and the State Literary and Drama festivals. He was the best actor back to back in 1991 and 1992 for his performance in Socrates and Dvitva. He is considered by critics as one of the five actors who have dominated the Sri Lankan Stage.
Kaushalya Fernando, is a Sri Lankan actress, director, producer and civil activist. Fernando is a five-time winner of the prestigious best actress award at the State Drama festival. She is the daughter of popular theatre director late Somalatha Subasinghe.
Garanduwa Baarage Palitha Silva [Sinhala]) is a Sri Lankan actor, dramatist, producer, director, scriptwriter, and author. He started his career at 15 years of age when he was chosen to train at the esteemed Professor Solomon Fonseka's school of Acting. Silva has acted in more than 400 television serials and is best known for the roles in teledramas Keetaya, Deweni Inima and titular character in the biographical film Anagarika Dharmapala Srimathano.
Patikirige Sathischandra Edirisinghe [Sinhala] is an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television. Considered one of the earliest pillars of Sri Lankan drama history, Edirisinghe is noted as a highly versatile actor with a career spanning more than five decades. He is a recipient of life time awards at many award ceremonies.
Joseph Roger Seneviratne [Sinhala]), is an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television as well as singer and politician by profession. Highly versatile actor who dominated television screen, he is best known for the roles in teledrama Batti, Chathurya and as King Vijaya in film Vijaya Kuweni.
Kongahage Anslem Lawrence de Silva is a Sri Lankan biologist and herpetologist recognised as a pioneer of modern herpetology in Sri Lanka. His career spanned for more than five decades; de Silva has contributed to the field of zoology with much research and numerous publications particularly on crocodiles, snakes and lizards.
Daya Bandara Tennakoon [Sinhala]), was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television.
Visharada Alahakoonge Don Jayatissa [Sinhala]), popularly as Jayatissa Alahakoon, was a prolific music director and composer in Sri Lankan cinema and theater.