Kala Suri Raigama Bulathsinhalage Lucien Perera (born 25 December 1942, Sinhala: ලූෂන් බුලත්සිංහල), popularly as Lucien Bulathsinhala, is an actor and director in Sri Lankan cinema, theater, and television.[2] Considered one of the iconic figures in Sinhala theater and television, Bulathsinhala has produced several critically acclaimed theater plays in a career spanning for more than five decades.[3] His stage play Tharavo Igilethi is considered a hallmark in Sinhala theater history.[4] Apart from acting, he is a versatile character who performed as director, poet, playwright and lyricist.[5]
Lucien Bulathsinhala ලූෂන් බුලත්සිංහල | |
|---|---|
| Born | Raigama Bulathsinhalage Lucien Perera 30 May 1943 |
| Nationality | Sri Lankan |
| Education | Dharmaloka College Dehiwala Central College |
| Alma mater | University of Peradeniya |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, dramatist, director, poet, playwright |
| Years active | 1967–present |
| Spouse | Anula Bulathsinhala[1] |
| Children | Harsha Bulathsinhala |
| Parents |
|
Personal life
editHe was born on 25 December 1942 in coastal village Wedikanda in Ratmalana, Sri Lanka. His father Raigama Bulathsinhalage Martin Perera was a dedicated socialist. His mother Senarath Godage Jane Nona was a housewife. He has three brothers and two sisters.[5] He went to Dharmaloka College in Ratmalana for primary education.[6] Then he attended to Dehiwala Central College for secondary education and passed the A/L examination in 1963. Later he graduated from University of Peradeniya. At that time, he passed the clerical examination and took over as the only clerk at the Ambewela Government Farm.[7]
He was married to fellow actress Anula Mendis.[8] Lucien met her when he went to act in Ranjith Tilakaratne's play Konthare. Anula made acting debut in 1967 with the stage play Ledak Nathi Ledek produced by R. R. Samarakoon. Then she appeared in several critically acclaimed stage plays such as Tharavo Igilethi, Rathu Hattakari, Madhura Jawanika, Kuveni, Mahasara in which some were made by Lucien himself. She died on 16 October 2020 at the age of 73.[9] The couple has one daughter Indrachapa (born 1970) and one son Harsha (born 1971).[5] Harsha is also an actor, singer and musician who acted in several popular television serials.[10]
Career
editDuring school times, he joined with Shanthi Faculty of Peace Arts and studied drama under Joseph Perera. He was the one who recognized Lucien's talents and first used him for an adult play where he played the character of a child begging on the street with his mother in poverty. After passing SSC exam he joined the Government Institute of Fine Arts where he passed the exam. He studied arts for a brief period at the institute and later quit due to commercial problems.[10]
While still in school in the 1960s, he was fortunate enough to play the lead role Saliya in a tragicomedy play Ashokamala directed by the then examination commissioner L. L. K Gunasekara which was performed at the Lumbini Theater.[11] During the same time, he made his maiden stage production Mannadiya.[12] In 1964, he wrote the play called Noniwena Gini which took it to the State Drama Festival. In 1966, he performed in the Bihiwana Bosathaneni produced by Bandula Jayawardena and received a merit award at State Drama Festival. In the meantime, his play Noniwena Gini was invited to perform at the 1966 State Drama Festival as a guest play. He then acted in Ediriweera Sarachchandra's play Elova Gihin Melowa Ava. He also worked as a flutist in the orchestra of the play Pematho Jayathi Soko.[7]
In 1974 he produced the stage play Rathu Hattakari which became a popular play and critically acclaimed at several award festivals. In 1974 State Drama Festival, the play won the awards for the Best Script writing, Best Music, Best Actor and Best Acting.[13] In 1981 he produced the popular stage play Tharavo Igilethi which made him one of the best dramatists in the country.[14] The first performance of the play was on 24 July 1981 at Lumbini Theater.[15] After 37 years of silence, he produced the stage play Ves Muhuna Galawanna in 2018.[16]
In the meantime in 1971, he served as an announcer at Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) and later joined Jathika Rupavahini.[12] In 1990, he was fired from the public service.[17] After working in the Ministry of Transport for 11 years and then in the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, he got the opportunity to work in the Rupavahini Corporation from 25 November 1982. It was in the midst of many setbacks that he got to work in television. In the meantime, he was suspended and again got a job at a television corporation. But once again he was sent on compulsory leave in 1997.[10]
In 1980, he made his first songwriting with the song "Sandun Sihina Mandapaye" which was sung by Nanda Malini. In 1989, he won both Swarna Sankha and Sarasaviya Awards for the song "Marana Thunak Athi Minisa" for the film Siri Medura. Meanwhile, in 1994, he won the Swarna Sankha Award for the song "Gopalu Was Danden" for the film Mee Haraka. Then in 1998, he won the Presidential Award for Best Lyricist for the song Noselai Divi Makulu Asa made for the film Gini Avi Saha Gini Keli.[18]
He is also a stage playwright as well as a stage actor who has demonstrated his acting skills on stage with the plays: Wahalak Nati Geyak, Dunna Dunugamuwe and Harima Badu Hayak. In 1967 he made cinema debut with the film Sadol Kandulu directed by Reggie Perera. He later played a prominent role in Vasantha Obeysekera's film Ves Gattho. Then he played the role of 'Frederick', the a gem robber in the film Chuda Manikyaya. However recently his best performance came through the blockbuster film Ho Gaana Pokuna where he played the role of village principle.[5]
In 2017, he was honored with National Honors, even though he was forced to turn return home due to the lack of parking space.[19] In 2018, he was honored at Presidential Awards.[20] In 2019, The Janabhimani or Hela Maha Rawana Rajabhimani Awards Ceremony was held at the Jasmine Auditorium at the BMICH where Bulathsinhala won the Best Service Award.[21]
Television serials
edit- Hathwana Kandayama [22]
- Jeewithaya Dakinna [23]
- Kinnara Damanaya [24]
- Kula Kumariya [25]
- Natu Nathi Mal
- Punchi Walawwa
- Siri Sirimal [26]
- Sudu Kapuru Pethi[27]
- Vishwanthari [28]
Stage Plays
edit- Mannadiya - (1963)
- Noniwena Gini - (1966)
- Rathuhattakari - (1974)
- Tharavo Igilethi - (1981)
- Sanda Langa Maranaya - (2009)[29]
- Vesmuhunu Galawanna - (2018)[30]
As a lyricist
edit- Ahasin Tharuwak Kada Wetenawa
- An Nage Sal Aththe Pankiriththa
- Dangakari Man Madduma Doni
- Deekiri Deekiri
- Dethola nokee dea
- Dham Patin La Sanda
- Kadeta Palayan Chun Chan
- Kanyawe
- Kolom Thota Natha Mahaluwee
- Made Lagina Tharawan
- Me Ganga Me Duru Katara Gewa
- Minini Pode La Adure
- Mutu Kuda Ihalana
- Osari Poten Adinnepa
- Pani Kurullane Nil Kobeiyane
- Pinibara Yame
- Pipunu Male Ruwa Emala Danido
- Raja Maduraka Ipadi Sitiyanam
- Sande Ahasa Wage
- Sobawade Mepura
- Soduru Minisa
- Siri Yahane
- Sudu Nanda Ai [31]
- Tharu Mal Yayama
- Thattu Karanna Hemin
- Viduli Mini Pahan
- Yasa Isuru Pirunu Thena
Author work
edit- Pipuna Male Ruwa - 1985
- Khemadasa Nyaya Bhawithaya Saha Aragalaya - 2000
- Sinhala Opera Dekak - 2004
- Tharawo Igilethi - 2004
Filmography
edit| Year | Film | Role | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Sadol Kandulu | ||
| 1970 | Ves Gaththo | ||
| 1973 | Hathdinnath Tharu | Card dealer | |
| 1979 | Chuda Manikya | Frederick Ranasinghe | |
| 1980 | Dandu Monara | Samarapala | |
| 1980 | Hansa Vilak | Lyricist | |
| 1981 | Aradhana | ||
| 1982 | Chathu Madhura | Lyricist | |
| 1982 | Situ Diyaniya | Cyril Randeniya, Lyricist | |
| 1983 | Siw Ranga Sena | Lyricist | |
| 1984 | Kiri Kawadi | Basil, Lyricist | |
| 1984 | Mala Giravi | Lyricist | |
| 1985 | Puthuni Mata Samawenna | Lyricist | |
| 1989 | Siri Medura | Lyricist | |
| 1992 | Kulageya | Lyricist | |
| 1996 | Seema Pawuru | Lyricist | |
| 1998 | Gini Avi Saha Gini Keli | Lyricist | |
| 1998 | Julietge Bhumikawa | Lyricist | |
| 2004 | Randiya Dahara | Lyricist | |
| 2008 | Aba | King Abhaya | |
| 2008 | Ai Oba Thaniwela | Lyricist | |
| 2008 | Nil Diya Yahana | Lyricist | |
| 2014 | Siri Daladagamanaya | ||
| 2015 | Ho Gaana Pokuna | School principal | |
| 2017 | Heena Hoyana Samanallu | ||
| 2023 | Ksheera Sagaraya Kalabina |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Veteran actress Anula Bulathsinhala passes away". Ceylon Daily News. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
- ^ "Lucien Bulathsinhala filmography". Digital Identity of Sinhala Cinema. Retrieved 2020-12-19.
- ^ "The Art of Lucien's Mask Salvation". Dinamina. Retrieved 2020-12-19.
- ^ "How Lucien Bulathsinhala made?". saaravita. Retrieved 2020-12-19.
- ^ a b c d "Then the moon is still youthful". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2020-12-19.
- ^ "Decisions made by a person based on personal feelings can ruin some lives - Lucien Bulathsinhala". Silumina. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
- ^ a b "පොල් අතු අස්සෙන් හිල් හදා ටොකු කෑ................ලූෂන්". mirrorarts. Archived from the original on 2013-02-28. Retrieved 2020-12-19.
- ^ "Star Couples - 04". Deshaya. Retrieved 2020-12-19.
- ^ "I will let you go and come back". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2020-12-19.
- ^ a b c "I am not disappointed ... I do not do the same thing over and over again ... Myth and ignorance reign ... - Lucien Bulathsinhala". Divaina. Retrieved 2020-12-19.
- ^ "BBC Sinhala - Multimedia - ලුෂන් බුලත්සිංහල". 10 October 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
- ^ a b "Our theatre is crumbling down - Lucien Bulathsinhala". Daily News. Archived from the original on 2013-03-01. Retrieved 2020-12-19.
- ^ "Ratu Hettakari REBORN". Daily News. Retrieved 2020-12-19.
- ^ "In those days Tharavo Igilethi did not fly, but they ran". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2020-12-19.
- ^ "'වෙස් මූණ ගලවන්න' ලූෂන් සැරසේ...!". Divaina. Retrieved 2020-12-19.
- ^ "Lucien Bulathsinhala removes mask after 37 years". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2020-12-19.
- ^ "A conversation with Lucien ..." Lankadeepa. Retrieved 2020-12-19.
- ^ "Actors who sang movie songs". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2020-12-19.
- ^ "Lucian turns back from National Honors ceremony due to parking matter". Sri Lanka Mirror. Retrieved 2020-12-19.
- ^ "Four media moguls awarded at Presidential Awards Ceremony". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 2020-12-19.
- ^ "Janabhimani Awards presented". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
- ^ "Seventh Troop sets outs". Sunday Times. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
- ^ "'Jeewithaya Dakinna' : One Episode miniplays on Rupavahini". Sunday Times. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
- ^ "New tele to unfold soon". Sunday Times. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
- ^ "'Jane Eyre' on miniscreen". Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
- ^ "'Siri Sirimal':The Adventures of Tom Sawyer". Sunday Times. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
- ^ "'Sudu Kapuru Pethi' : Another tale of war". Sunday Times. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
- ^ "'Vishwanthari': World Class literature on miniscreen". Sunday Times. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
- ^ "'Blood Wedding' goes on board". Sunday Times. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
- ^ "Lucian's theatrical tribute to Tamils and Muslims". Sunday Times. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
- ^ "A song that hints without saying straight". Silumina. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2020-12-19.