| Dayananda Gunawardena | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 15, 1934 Sri Lanka |
| Died | June 24, 1993 (aged 58) General Hospital, Colombo |
| Resting place | Udugampola, Ehelagahahena |
| Nationality | Sri Lankan |
| Other names | Hettipathirannehelage Dayananda Gunawardena, 'Jubal'[1] |
| Education |
Government School - Udugampola, |
| Occupation | playwright actor, lyricist, Sri Lankan dramatist, radio play producer, and writer |
| Religion | Buddhist |
| Spouse | Irangani Ranatunga |
| Children | Chakrayuda Kirthi Gunawardena, Abhimangala Gunawardena & Wasanthapriya Gunawardena |
| Website | |
| www.dayanandagunawardena.org | |
Dayananda Gunawardena (15 October 1934 – June 24, 1993.) was a Sri Lankan playwright, actor, lyricist, [dramatist]], radio play producer, and Sinhala Radio Play writer.
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Gunawardena was born in Halgampitiya in Gampaha, where his father Don Simon was an English Teacher. He completed his schooling from the Government school, Ugampola (1943–46) and Government Secondary School, Veyngoda (1946–51). In 1951, he joined the Ananda College, Colombo. While at school, he was active in many societies such as the drama society and was the Junior Cadet Captain and served as the vice-president of the college geographic society. He was awarded the D. B. Jayatilleke Literary Award and the Amarasena Art Award (both in open categories) while studying at Ananda College. In 1957, he joined the University of Peradiniya and completed his General Arts Qualifying Examination (subjects taken: Sinhala, Geography and Economics). He married Irangani Ranatunga of Gampaha on September 28, 1967 and they had three children.[2]
Gundwardena's first notable play was Nari Bena (1961). It was based on a Sinhala folk-tale and was full of songs.Lionel Algama assisted to write Some of the memorable songs in this play - like Ahala malin gas pirila balanna hari lassanai and Kumatada sohoure kandulu salanne. It became hugely popular and has continued to be staged for forty years.[3][4] His next play Bakmaha Akunu (1962) - based on the French drama The Marriage of Figaro - was made into a film. "Kaamare Pore" (1962) Produced as a single stage drama in Sinhala this is an adaptation of the Play 'Box and Cox' by the English playwright John Maddison Morton and It was first staged without any songs.[3] Gunawardena had produced sixteen plays, Particularly notable amongst them are Gajaman Puwatha (1975) and Madhura Javanika (1983).[1] He formed the Nalu Kirthi Sabha Theatre Group in the 1970s.[5] Gunawardena is credited with introducing docudramas to the Sinhala theatre and with showcasing the talent of Gajaman Nona, the Sinhala poetess.[3] His Gajaman Puwatha (1976) was the first Sinhala play to adopt the docudrama style.[6] Another notable play of Gunawardana that is Madhura Javanika (Joyous Scenes).[1] This drama picks up the period of war between kings Rama and Ravana and noteworthy events in the country's history and the influence of the western invaders on Sri Lanka culture with dramatized chronicle of the 'Hingala'(Sinhala) people. It continues even in to modern times, where women seek employment in Dubai as housemaids. [1] In 2007, some of his plays were restaged in an attempt to raise funds for reviving public interest about his works.[5]
Bakmaha Deege– 1969 (Following the Bakmaha Akunu Drama)
Kurulu Bedda
Ran Salu
Wesathuru Siritha
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