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Daya Thennakoon

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Daya Thennakoon
දයා තෙන්නකෝන්
Born
Daya Bandara Tennakoon

(1941-11-29)29 November 1941
Kandy, Sri Lanka
Died17 April 2020(2020-04-17) (aged 78)
Maharagama
NationalitySri Lankan
EducationDharmaraja College
Alma materUniversity of Ceylon
Occupation(s)Actor, Dramatist
Years active1965–2020
SpouseGrace Ariyawimal

Daya Bandara Tennakoon (born 29 November 1941 – died 17 April 2020 as දයා තෙන්නකෝන්) [Sinhala]), was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television.[1][2]

Personal life

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He was born on 29 November 1941 in the small village Galabadawatta, in Rangala, Kandy. He started primary education from Galabadawatta Primary School and then completed secondary education from Dharmaraja College, Kandy.[3] His father was a tea estate keeper.[4] After school times, he was selected to the University of Ceylon, Peradeniya and graduated with an arts degree.[5]

He was married to fellow actress Grace Ariyavwimal. He met Grace during the 1965 stage play Manaranjana Wedawarjana produced by Henry Jayasena.[6]

Thennakoon died on 17 April 2020 at the age of 78 while receiving treatments at Apeksha Cancer Hospital, Maharagama.[7][8] The funeral took place on Sunday 19 April at 11:00 am at Thalahena Cemetery, Malabe.[9]

Career

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While Thennakoon was studying at the University of Peradeniya, his school as well as university friend Dharmasena Pathiraja invited him to attend several discussions done with filmmaker Sugathapala Senarath Yapa, for his film script Hanthane Kathawa in 1969.[9] Tennakoon was selected for the role "Naatha" in that film, which made his acting debut. He entered the stage through the drama Bosathaneni which was produced by Bandula Jayawardena.[6][10]

He also worked as a journalist in the newspaper Lassana before entering cinema.[11]

There were vacancies in the Ceylon Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) when he left the university where he obtained a job there.[9] In 1969, he worked as an Operations Assistant at CBC.[12] During this time however, he was selected for many stage dramas directed by Sugathapala de Silva including Dunnu Dunugamuwe in 1972, Satha Satha, and Pathiraja's Kora Saha Andhaya in 1970.[13] His performance with Malini Weeramuni in Dunnu Dunugamuwe was one of the most spectacular performances the audience has ever seen.[11] He has been mostly involved in the work of university mate Dharmasena Pathiraja. Later he involved in the play Nettukkari by Namel Weeramuni and play Hitha Honda Ammandi by De Silva.[6][3][5]

He was promoted to producer of the radio education service. The Japanese Award for Special Evaluation of the Year was awarded in 1979 to the program Muhude Yuddhe by Thennekoon. He acted in the television serial Thattu Gewal, which gained enormous popularity.[7] He was awarded with a merit award for his performance in the film Sakman Maluwa in 2003.[3][11][9] Shortly thereafter, he partnered with a television production company called "Cine Video". He was involved in the creation of a number of commercials such as the National Savings Bank and DSI, which were very popular at the time. He directed a number of documentaries and teledramas for Swarnavahini in early years.[14]

It was for the first time in Sri Lanka television that he filmed a song as his concept. It was the first video song ever made for a television media in Sri Lanka. Tennakoon is the pioneer of Sri Lankan television music videos.[14]

He has acted in several supporting roles in many popular films such as Ahas Gawwa, Eya Dan Loku Lamayek, Seilama, Bambaru Avith, Karumakkarayo, Kinihiriya Mal, Sakman Maluwa, Soldadu Unnehe, Swaroopa, Dedunu Akase and 28.[9][5]

Selected stage plays

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  • Bosathaneni
  • Deegeka Awith Kandoskiriyawa [15][16]
  • Dunnu Dunugamuwe
  • Esala Sandaha Awanhala
  • Hitha Honda Ammandi
  • Kora Saha Andhaya
  • Muthu Kumari
  • Nettukkari
  • Satha Satha
  • The Dictator [17]

Selected television serials

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  • Andukola [14]
  • Anuththara [18]
  • Hathe Kalliya [19]
  • Pinketha
  • Sansungama Andaraya [14]
  • Thattu Gewal
  • Wes

Awards

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He has received several awards.[20]

  • 1st FIPRESCT Critics Award 1994 for the Best Performance - Tharanaya
  • 7th Swarna Sanka Cinema Awards 1996 for the Best Supporting Actor - Seilama
  • 26th Sarasaviya Award 1998 for the Best Performance - Tharanaya

Filmography

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Year Film Role Ref.
1969 Hanthane Kathawa Naatha [21][22]
1970 Wes Gaththo
1972 Sihina Lowak
1974 Ahas Gauwa Sirisena
1974 Sihasuna Sirisena
1976 Walmathwuwo Gunapala
1977 Eya Dan Loku Lamayek Lustful temple worker
1978 Bambaru Awith Francis
1978 Anupama Hippi
1980 Kanchana
1980 Karumakkarayo Kankanam Mahattaya [23]
1980 Paara Dige
1981 Soldadu Unnehe Soldier
1984 Wadula Dingirala
1992 Sisila Giniganee Watchman
1995 Seilama Hunter
1995 Maruthaya Nimal's father
1997 Tharanaya [24]
1997 Visidela Piyadasa
1998 Anthima Reya
2001 Kinihiriya Mal Amadoris
2003 Sakman Maluwa Gardener [25]
2006 Ammawarune Appuhamy
2010 Viyapath Bambara
2014 Swaroopa
TBD Ice Cream
TBD Girivassipura

References

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  1. ^ "Veteran Actor Daya Thennakoon passed away". Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  2. ^ "Daya Thennakoon career". Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  3. ^ a b c "Death of Daya Tennakoon". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  4. ^ "Daya Tennakoon reminds his past". Hiru FM. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  5. ^ a b c "Daya, a loss to theater, TV and cinema". Sunday Times. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  6. ^ a b c "It was originally related to Costa; Mostly acted with Malani - Daya Tennakoon". Divaina. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  7. ^ a b "Daya Tennakoon is no more". Ada. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  8. ^ "Actor Daya Tennakoon passes away". News First. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  9. ^ a b c d e "Daya Tennakoon who passed away". Lankadeepa. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  10. ^ "Daya the best of the last". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  11. ^ a b c "දයා ටැං ට ටෑං". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  12. ^ "For the love of music". Daily News. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  13. ^ "Daya Tennakoon who did not make acting a act". Silumina. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  14. ^ a b c d "අපි නොදන්න තෙන්නකෝන්ෑං". Gossip Lanka. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  15. ^ "Deegeka Awith Kandoskiriyawa - Theatre, Comedy". Timeout. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  16. ^ "Deegeta Evith (The Proposal)". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  17. ^ "The Dictator at the Wendt". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  18. ^ "Anuththara Tele Drama". vodtv. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  19. ^ "ප්‍රවීණ රංගන ශිල්පී දයා තෙන්නකෝන් සමුගනී". Hiru FM. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  20. ^ "Daya Thennakoon biography". Digital Identity of Sinhala Cinema. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  21. ^ "Hanthane Kathawa". Torana Video. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  22. ^ "All about Hanthane Kathawa". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  23. ^ "All about the film "Karumakkarayo"". sarasaviya. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  24. ^ "Tharanaya". Torana Video. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  25. ^ "Sakman Maluwa (Pleasure Garden)". The Island. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
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