Bandula Vithanage


Bandula de Silva Vithanage was an award-winning actor and director in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television as well as a translator, director, playwright and script writer. One of the earliest pillars of Sri Lankan art and drama, Vithanage has produced several critically acclaimed television serials and stage dramas during his five decades of drama career. He is the pioneer to introduce Shakespearean theater to Sri Lankan theater with several plays such as Veniciye Velenda, Macbeth, Twelfth Night, Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet.
He died on 1 September 2014 at Colombo National Hospital at the age of 73.

Personal life

He was born on 11 September 1940 in Gonagala. He attended to Athuruwella Primary School for primary education and then moved to Carey College, Colombo to complete up to G.C.E O/L. He completed A/L education from Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda. He entered to University of Colombo for higher education and came under the influence of renowned dramatist Ediriweera Sarachchandra's university drama circle. He graduated with a master's degree in Dramaturgy and Acting.
His son Nalaka Vithanage is a popular filmmaker. He has produced three stage dramas - Rathri Bojanaya, Kasi Malla and Upanda Maranaya. Nalaka is an old boy of Nalanda College, Colombo. Bandula Vithanage's niece Yashoda Wimaladharma is a popular actress in Sinhala television and cinema.

Career

In 1963, he started stage drama acting with P. Velikala's production Rathnavali with the role 'Vidushaka'. In 1965, he produced his first theater play Megha Garjana, which is a translation of Harold Pinter's The Collection. He acted in Simon Navagattegama's Gangavak and then directed Sapaththu Kabalak Saha Maranayak. Along with fellow dramatist Tony Ranasinghe, Vithanage produced the popular stage play Veniciye Velenda in 1980.
He continued to produced several critically acclaimed foreign drama adaptations, which includes Jean Anouilh's 'Becket, Romaya Gini Gani, Sikuru Sanekeli.Senehebara Dolly, Hiru Dahasa, Macbeth, Twelfth Night, Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, and A Comedy of Errors.
He acted in small number of films where compare with efforts in theater and television. He worked with and assisted Vasantha Obeysekera in Wes Gaththo, and later acted in Dharmasena Pathiraja's Ahas Gawwa. His maiden cinema acting came through 1974 film Dahakin Ekek directed by Merril Albert. His most notable television production came through Bumuthurunu, Aththa Bindei and Asal Wasiyo, which were telecast in Rupavahini. In 2011, he produced the play Romaya Gini Gani-2 as a joint effort with actor Roger Seneviratne. Romaya Gini Gani-2 was based on Cooney's play Caught in the net. He directed the television comedy serials I Love Jennie in 2007 and Paththara Gedara in 2008. In 2009, he acted in the stage play produced by his son Nalaka, Upanda Maranaya''.
He joined the Rupavahini Corporation in its early years and had a brief serving period. He lived in England for three and a half years after the expulsion from SLRC along with Lucien Bulathsinhala.

Selected stage plays

He translated several Shakespearean plays into Sinhala language.
He died on 1 September 2014 at Colombo National Hospital while receiving treatments. His remaining were kept at Jayaratne Funeral Parlour in Borella on 2 September and brought to National Art Gallery on 4 September. Final rites performed at 4.00 pm and buried at Borella Cemetery on the same day.

Awards and accolades

His play Sapaththu Kabalak Saha Maranayak won many awards at State Drama Festival in 1971 including Best Actress and Best Stage Designing. In 1996, the play Romaya Gini Gani won major awards including the Best Production, Best Script, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Supporting actor at State Drama Festival. On 30 January 2011, a felicitation program was held at John de Silva Theatre to celebrate 70 years of his life.

State Drama Festival

Filmography

YearFilmRoleRef.
1970Wes Gaththo
1973Dahakin EkekDrunken person
1974Ahas GauwaTrip friend
1977Pembara MadhuUniversity boy
1978Selinage WalawwaShashiya
1978Jodu Walalu
1980Sinhabahu
1980Api Dedena
1981Sathara Pera NimithiChief monk
1987ViragayaChief clerk
1993Guru GedaraStage director
1998Dorakada Marawa
1999Re Ru
1999Theertha Yathra
2001Mathu Yam Dawasa
2002Agnidahaya
2003Sudu KaluwaraMonk
2003Sulang KirilliDoctor
2005SulangaSenarathne's father
2008MachanDrunken person
2011Nino LiveNino's grandfather
2013AnithyaMilan's father
2015Sulanga Gini Aran
2016Sulanga Apa Ragena YaviDoctor
2017NilanjanaDensil