Anthony C. Perera

Mahapatabadige Anthony Crisman Kivlojiyas Perera (born 13 September 1921 – died 20 May 1988 as ඇන්තනී සී. පෙරේරා) [Sinhala]), popularly as Anthony C. Perera, was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema and theater.[1] One of the earliest pillars in Sri Lankan film history, Perera also worked as a singer, screenplay writer and director in his career that spanned more than four decades.[2]

Anthony C. Perera ඇන්තනී සී. පෙරේරා
Born	Mahapatabadige Anthony Crisman Kivlojiyas Perera 13 September 1921 Chilaw, Sri Lanka
Died	20 May 1988 (aged 66) Ja-Ela, Sri Lanka
Resting place	Tudella Cemetery, Ja-Ela
Nationality	Sri Lankan
Education	Roman Catholic College, Tudella Roman Catholic College, Bulupitiya
Occupation	Actor, screenplay writer, director, assistant director
Years active	1941–1988
Spouse(s)	Modarage Mary Vaas (m. 1953)
Children	7
Parents	Mahapatabedige Logus Perera (father) Warnasuriyage Theodora Tissera (mother)

Personal life

Perera was born on 13 September 1921 in a small village of Mahawewa Vee Hena, Chilaw, in Puttalam as the eldest of the family.[3] His father Mahapatabedige Logus Perera was born in Tudella, Ja-Ela, who worked as a plantation administrator. His mother was Warnasuriyage Theodora Tissera. He entered Mahawewa Junior School for primary education and then moved to Tudella Roman Catholic College (currently known as Christ King College, Tudella) for further education.[4] Then with his father's transfer to a new plantation in Kurunegala, Perera shifted to Budupitiya Roman Catholic School which was about 7 miles from Kurunegala.[5]

Perera has one younger brother, Wilfred and one younger sister, Beatrice. Wilfred later became a distinguished teacher at St. Benedict's College, Kotahena and produced several popular figures, including; Vijaya Kumaratunga, Ravindra Randeniya and Robin Fernando.[5]

He was married to Modarage Mary Vaas. The wedding was celebrated in 1953. The couple has five daughters - Menaka, Deepthika, Gaurika, Chaudry, Sherine - and two sons - Rohana and Emil. His elder son Rohana died at young age by an accident.[5]

Perera died on 20 May 1988 at the age of 66 and buried in Thudella Cemetery, Ja-Ela.[6]

Career

After finishing school career in brief years, his moved to his ambition to be an actor. Anthony went to find Laddie Ranasinghe to be a stage actor and joined with Ranasinghe's Arcadians Drama Team. Meantime, Laddie introduced Perera to one of his colleagues, P.D.S. Kularatne, who worked as the principal of Ananda College, Colombo. Kularatne has set up a theater club called "National" in Maradana and he joined Perera for his newest drama Aewessa Bena.[5]

However after that play, he refused to act in further and applied to the Ceylon Army and Race Horse. He received calls to come to both on the same day. In 1942, Perera got the opportunity to join the British Army. For five and a half years, Perera fought with the forces of the Allies against the enemy in the jungles of the desert. After returning to Sri Lanka, then he joined the public service. He worked in Kurunegala Kachcheri for a brief period and then joined as an agent for Brookbond Company, Colombo. There he joined the 1953 Hartal to seek professional rights. He was a hard leftist at the time. Due to the continuous Hartal, Brookbond manager transferred Anthony to Negombo branch of the company. He also worked as the production manager of Vijaya Studios in Hendala.[5]

After many years in civil service, Perera met one of his friends, H. M. L. Tissera, who owns Ratnavali Cinema, Ja-Ela. Tissera introduced Perera to K. Gunaratnam, who owns Cinemas Film Corporation.[4] During that time, Perera met Hugo Fernando and got the opportunity to act in the film Suraya co-directed by Indian filmmakers S. V. Krishna Reddy and T. R. Sundaram.[7][5] Then he acted in many popular films such as Wana Mohini, Sandesaya, Weera Vijaya and Ranmuthu Duwa.[4] He has acted more than 70 films across many genre from character roles to comedy roles. In 1965, Perera introduced Sonia Disa into Sinhala Cinema.[8]

He acted many comedy roles in films Hathara Denama Surayo, Edath Suraya Adath Suraya, Allapu Gedara, Chandiya and Singapore Charlie.[9][10] He acted in five different roles in the film Hondama Welawa. He starred in the film Singapore Charlie wearing a wig and also worked as the dialogue writer. In , he made screenplay, story and dialogue was written and directed the film Hondin Inna. After 1977, he did not receive many films. During this free period, he enjoyed reading Paddle Chase novels. In 1986, he produced the stage play Yama Lowa Peraliya.[5]

Filmography

Year	Film	Role	Ref.
1956	Duppathage Duka
1957	Suraya
1957	Surasena	Elderly Surasena
1958	Sepali
1958	Wana Mohini
1960	Subhadra
1960	Sandesaya	Town crier
1960	Veera Vijaya
1962	Ranmuthu Duwa	Bandu's uncle	[11]
1963	Adata Vediya Heta Hondai		[12]
1964	Sasaraka Hati	Match maker
1964	Dheewarayo
1965	Allapu Gedara	Yattalagoddage Chandra Udadeniya	[13]
1965	Chandiya	Andaya
1965	Yata Giya Dawasa
1966	Oba Dutu Da
1967	Pipena Kumudu
1967	Okkoma Hari		[14]
1967	Sura Chauraya
1967	Saru Bima
1967	Ran Rasa	Perera
1967	Ipadune Ai?
1968	Ataweni Pudumaya
1968	Punchi Baba	Sena's friend
1968	Ruhunu Kumari
1969	Kohomada Wade
1969	Pancha
1969	Surayangeth Suraya
1970	Dan Mathakada?	Michael	[15]
1970	Athma Pooja
1970	Thevatha
1970	Seda Sulang
1971	Hathara Denama Surayo	Jaggi	[16]
1972	Adare Hithenawa Dakkama	Valentino	[17]
1971	Seeye Nottuwa
1972	Edath Suraya Adath Suraya	Johnny
1972	Singapore Charlie	Singapuru Charlie
1972	Ada Mehemai	Sira
1973	Hondama Welawa
1973	Hondata Hondai	Chandana's friend
1973	Aparadhaya Ha Danduwama
1973	Gopalu Handa
1974	Sihasuna
1974	Jeewana Ganga
1974	Mehema Harida
1975	Awa Soya Adare		[18]
1975	Suraya Surayamai	Batta 'Batson'	[19]
1975	Jeewana Geethaya
1975	Lassana Dawasak	Anthony 'Anto'
1975	Lassana Kella	Caldera
1975	Gijulihiniyo
1976	Saradielge Putha	Sooting 'Chutti'
1976	Deviyange Theenduwa	Sunny
1976	Kawuda Raja	Punchi Hamu	[20]
1976	Harima Badu Thunak
1977	Hariyanakota Ohoma Thamai
1977	Deviyani Oba Koheda?	Anthony	[21]
1977	Yakadaya	Bandara	[22]
1977	Chandi Putha		[23]
1977	Aege Adara Kathawa
1978	Hitha Mithura
1979	Visihathara Peya	Sira
1980	Anuhasa
1980	Hondin Inna
1981	Kolamkarayo	Member Mahaththaya
1982	Re Manamali	Sergeant Rubaru
1982	Thakkita Tharikita
1983	Yali Pipunu Malak
1984	Bambara Patikki
1984	Kekille Rajjuruwo	Kakkiley Rajjuruwo
1987	Hitha Honda Chandiya	Muslim shopowner
1988	Newa Gilunath Ban Chun	Mohandiram Wansanayake
1989	Waradata Danduwam
1991	Sihina Ahase Wasanthaya
1992	Sakkara Suththara

References

1. "Anthony C. Perera filmography". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
2. "Actors in Sinhala cinema - Anthony C. Perera". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
3. "Anthony C. Perera remembrance". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
4. "Anthony C. Perera, who created many unforgettable characters". Divaina. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
5. "Anthony C., who was summoned to the jock and military at same time". Sarasaciya. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
6. "Anthony C. Perera - a talented actor in Sinhala cinema". ranaweerakaththota. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
7. "Dead people are still laughing at us". lifie. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
8. "Sonia Dissa's colleagues fete her". Sunday Times. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
9. "Anthony C. Perera films". IMDb. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
10. "The story of Chutte move to town with film "Chandiya"". Lankadeepa. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
11. "All about the film Ranmuthu Duwa". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
12. "All about the film "Adata Wadiya Heta Hondai"". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
13. "All about the film "Allapu Gedara"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2020-01-04.
14. "All about the film "Okkoma Hari"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
15. "All about Dan Mathakada". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
16. "Hadata Wadata Hari Soorayo: Hathara Denama Soorayo film". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-10.
17. "Obata Thiyena Adare". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
18. "All about Awa Soya Adare". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
19. "All about the film "Suraya Surayamai"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
20. "All about the film "Kawuda Raja"". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
21. "Deviyani Oba Koheda". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
22. "All about Yakadaya". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
23. "All about Chandi Putha". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 22 February 2020.

External links