Piyadasa Wijekoon

Wijekoon Mudiyanselage Piyadasa (22 October 1940 – 9 February 2003 as පියදාස විජේකෝන්) was a Sri Lankan stunt and character actor. His career spanned over 42 years with 140 films and he played a wide variety of roles in that time.[1] Perhaps one of his most notable was as a Police Inspector in Siripala Saha Ranmenike (1977). This was an unusual role as most of his roles were negative up to that time.

Piyadasa Wijekoon
පියදාස විජේකෝන්
Born
Wijekoon Mudiyanselage Piyadasa

(1940-10-22)October 22, 1940
Sri Lanka
DiedFebruary 9, 2003(2003-02-09) (aged 62)
NationalitySri Lankan
EducationVidyawardana Maha Vidyalaya, Narahenpita
OccupationActor, Dramatist, Stunt man
Years active1957–2000
ChildrenPriyantha Wijekoon

Personal life

Wijekoon attended Narahenpita Vidyawardena School.[2] His son Priyantha Wijekoon is also an actor.[2]

Acting career

He made his film debut uncredited in a song sequence of the film Sirakaruwa in 1957. He got his first major role in A. S. Nagarajan's Purusha Ratnaya (1959) playing the brother of the heroine. It was Nagarajan who suggested he stylize his name as 'Piyadasa Wijekoon'.[2]

After Nagarajan, Robin Tampoe took Wijekoon under his wing and began giving him roles in his films. Under Tampoe's guidance Wijekoon shaved his hair and played a villain for the first time in Suhada Divi Piduma (1961). This role proved popular and Wijekoon was flooded with villain roles from then on.[2] Some of his popular stage dramas include Siwamma Dhanapala, Apuru Yahaluwo and Manape.[3]

Through the 1960s and 1970s, Wijekoon's performances in films revolved around playing henchman and thug type characters who got into and lost fights with the hero. A notable exception was Siripala Saha Ranmenike where he played a positive character though still at odds with the anti-hero Ravindra Randeniya.[2]

In the 1980s and 1990s as he grew fatty and older Wijekoon began to take comedic roles and stopped doing fighting roles.[2]

Filmography
YearFilmRoleRef.
1957SirakaruwaDancer
1959Purusha RathnayaSamarasinghe
1959Ma Ale Kala Tharuniya
1961Suvineetha Lalani
1962Suhada Divi PidumaJimmy
1962Sudu Sande Kalu WalaBald Thug
1964Samaje Api Okkoma SamanaiSamson 'Punchi Hamu'
1964Sulalitha SobaniJayasekara
1965Sudo SuduArmy joiner
1965Landaka Mahima
1966Segawena Sewanella
1966Kolamba HadayoSuraweera
1966MahadenamuththaEgg offerer
1966Kinkini Paada
1966Sampatha
1966Senasili SuwayaMistaken good samaritan
1966Akka Nayo
1968Wahal Dupatha
1968Baduth Ekka HoruNambiyar's boss
1969Mee Masso
1969PickpocketDharme's foe
1969Pancha
1970Ohoma Hondada[4]
1971PujithayoVijay
1971Davena Pipasa
1971Kathuru MuwathMurdered cashier
1971AbhirahasaOpening antagonistic bargoer
1971Kesara SinhayoVijay
1971Seeye Nottuwa
1972Edath Suraya Adath SurayaSecurity Guard
1972Ada MehemaiHome money offerer
1972Hathara Wate
1972Ihatha AthmayaPiya
1972Miringuwa
1973Aparadhaya Ha Danduwama
1973ThusharaVijay henchman[5]
1973Hondama Welawa
1973Sunethra
1973Hondai Narakai
1973Dahakin EkekSam
1974Duleeka
1974Dinum Kanuwa
1974Surekha
1974Duppathage HithawathaSomey[6]
1974LasandaHenchman
1974Onna Babo Billo EnavoBubamba
1974Rodi GamaGame Adiriya
1975GijulihiniiyoMahathun
1975Hitha Honda MinihekDougie
1975Obai MamaiDougie
1975Awa Soya AdareHamu[7]
1975Sukiri KellaPiyadasa Mudalali
1975Cyril Malli
1975Ranwan Rekha
1975Damayanthi
1975Sadhana
1975Hadawatha Wasanthaya
1975Sangeetha[8]
1976Pradeepe Ma Wewa
1976Nayana
1976Kawuda RajaFinale Sena fighter
1976Loka Horu
1976Haratha Hathara
1976Asha
1976Deviyange TheenduwaSwami
1977Aege Adara KathawaVijay
1977Chin Chin Nona
1977Honda Hitha
1977Siripala Saha RanmenikaInspector Wijekoon[9]
1977Maruwa Samaga WaseEidiris 'Mudalali'
1977Tom PachayaRupasena 'Edward Rajakaruna'
1977Niwena Ginna
1978Sithaka SuwandaLilly's Suitor
1978VishmayaAndiriya
1978KundalakeshiSathruka's man
1978TikiraSomey
1978AnupamaRobbery victim
1979Raja KolloDharme's man
1979Muwan PalessaGobira
1979MonarathennaHurathala 'Mama'[10]
1979Akke Mata AwasaraPiyadasa
1979Rosa Mal ThunakMahadana Mutha
1979Sawudan Jema
1979Subhani
1979Nuwan RenuTamil gardener
1980Anuhasa
1980Sinhabahu
1980Api Dedena
1981Valampuri
1981Eka Dawasak RaRoland
1981Amme Mata SamawennaLoku Hamu
1982Sudu AyyaSarath's father
1982Eka Diga Kathawak
1982Jeewithayen Jeewithayak
1982Sithara
1982Thakkita Tharikita
1982Newatha HamuwemuGang leader
1983Sasara Wasana Thura
1983SumithuroSimon
1983Chandi Siriya
1983Hithath Hondai Wadath Hondai
1984Veera Madduma Bandara
1984KokilaPiyadasa
1984Muthu Menike
1984Kekille Rajjuruwo
1984Namal Renu
1984Ara SoyzaVadigapatuna
1988The Further Adventures of Tennessee BuckPanang Chief
1988Ko Hathuro
1988Newatha Api Ekwemu
1989Mamai RajaRanjith's Advisor
1989Sinasenna Raththaran
1990Sambudu Mahima
1990Walawwe Hamu
1990Chandi Raja
1990Honda Honda SellamInspector Koon
1991Uthura Dakuna
1991Raja Kello
1991Raja Sellan
1991Lave In Bangkok
1991Alibaba Saha Horu Hathaliha
1991Suwadena Suwayak
1992Sakvithi Raja
1992Chandi Rejina
1992Sinha Raja
1992Sathya
1993Chaya Maya
1993Lagin Giyoth Aehek Na
1993Juriya MamaiVictor
1994Nohadan Landune
1994SujathaDriver
1995Wasana Wewa
1995Vijay Saha AjayPushpa's father
1995Chandiyage PuthaPancha
1996Naralowa HolmanLoku Mamma
1996Mana MohiniLibuto
1996Seema Pawuru
1997Punaruthpaththia
1997Apaye Thappara 84000k
1999KolompoorLorry Munna

References
  1. "Piyadasa Wijekoon bio". Rate Your Music. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  2. Kumara, NuwanNayanajith (2005). Sri Lankeya Cinema Vanshaya (Sri Lankan Film Chronicle). Sarasavi Publishers. ISBN 955-573-367-8.
  3. "Remembering Piyadasa Wijekoon". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  4. "All about the film "Ohoma Hondada"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  5. "All about the film "Thushara"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  6. "All about Duppathage Hithawatha". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  7. "All about Awa Soya Adare". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  8. "All about Sangeetha". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  9. "Siripala and Ranmenika highlighted the poetic mind of the misguided man". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  10. "All about Monarathanna". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
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