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Daya Wimalaweera

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Daya Wimalaweera
දයා විමලවීර
Born(1937-12-11)December 11, 1937
Grandpass, Sri Lanka
DiedAugust 12, 2019(2019-08-12) (aged 81)
Colombo
NationalitySri Lankan
EducationSt. Joseph's College, Colombo
Occupation(s)Director, cinematographer, producer, screenwriter, editor
Years active1958–2006
SpouseHyacinth Malani Manapperuma
Children3
FatherSirisena Wimalaweera
RelativesUpasena Wimalaweera (brother)
Manel (sister-in-law)

Daya Wimalaweera (born 11 December 1937 – died 12 August 2019 as දයා විමලවීර) [Sinhala]), was a director in Sri Lankan cinema and stage drama.[1] He was also a cinematographer, producer, screenwriter and editor.[2][3][4]

Personal life

Daya Wimalaweera was born on 11 December 1937 in Grandpass, Colombo as the third of the family.[5] His father Sirisena Wimalaweera was a renowned lyricist, screenwriter, producer and filmmaker in Sinhala cinema.[6] His father made many critically acclaimed films in early cinema including Amma, Saradiel, Asoka, Sirakaruwa and Wana Mala. He died on August 24, 1963, at the age of 62.[7]

Daya was educated at St. Joseph's College, Colombo followed by Terence Rajapakse College, Kolonnawa and later Alexandra College, Colombo. He was a bright student at the school, hence his father though that he would be a doctor one day. However he refused to study medicine and moved in father's footsteps. However, his father was upset about his work and Daya was joined to his newly established "Nawajeewana" film studio which was established on 13 September 1951. After the iron soldering work at studio, Daya had to work as an assistant laboratory technician and after that in the editing room.[5]

He has two elder sisters - Somawathi and Premawathi; and two younger brothers - Upasena and Ranjith. After the sudden death of mother, the family was take care by stepmother.[5] Upesena Wimalaweera is also a sound engineer and film editor.[7] Upasena was the editor of all films directed by Daya.

Daya was married to Hyacinth Malani and the couple has three daughters. His brother Upasena was married to Kumari's sister Manel. Manel was the lead actress in the 1959 film Ma Ale Kala Tharuniya directed by their father Sirisena Wimalaweera.[5]

Wimalaweera died on 12 August 2019 in a Private Hospital, Colombo at the age of 81.[8][9] His body was kept at his residence at 154 A, Anderson Road, Dehiwala. Funeral took place on 14 August 2019 at Nedimala Public Cemetery.[10]

Career

During his work at father's new studio, he started to learn editing, lighting and cinematography. His first cinematography teacher was Paul Matthias, the first photographer of the "Nawajeewana" film studio. Prior to that, Matthias was the camera operator of the famous Indian filmmaker Mehboob. After few years, Daya started camera direction of W.A.B. de Silva, who was the first Sri Lankan cameraman in Sinhala cinema. He first handled camera in the film Rodi Kella, even though prior to completing the shooting, his father died. Shortly thereafter, he lost the ownership of "Nawajeewana" film studio.[5]

Wimalaweera entered the cinema as an assistant camera director in the film Ekamath Eka Rataka in his father's film.[11] His maiden camera direction was in 1965 film Adarayay Karunawai directed by Ananda Jayaratne, but first screened film was Patchara in 1964. He was also the cameraman in the original Tamil language film, Thottakkari.[5] Then he was the chief cinematographer for many films such as Kalana Mithuro, Veeduru Gewal, Miringuwa and Sikuruliya.[10]

In 1972, Wimalaweera made his directorial debut with the film Veeduru Gewal where the screenplay by Tissa Abeysekara and based on a detective story. His most popular films include Jeevana Kandulu (1979), Mihidum Sihina (1982), Major Sir (1982), Devduwa (1986), Madhu Sihina (1990), Raja Daruwo (1992), Chaya (1993) and Sujatha (1994).[8][12] He was the cinematographer in every film he directed except Raja Daruwo. His film Pahai Hathalis Paha was never screened. He becomes one of the most popular filmmakers of the era when the film industry is in a downturn. The dialogue of original 1953 film Sujatha was written by his father. In the re-creation of the film by Daya in 1994, he re-filmed his father's song, Narilatha Pushpe. His 2002 film Seethala Gini Kandu also included a song composed by his father. His 1990 film Madhu Sihina was the last film acted by popular actor Vijaya Kumaratunga. Kumaratunga was assassinated on his way to Colombo after filming.[5]

In 1979, Wimalaweera directed the film Jeewana Kandulu. The film was an adaptation of the novel by same name written by former president Ranasinghe Premadasa.[13] In addition to his directing, he also provided cinematography and lighting for feature films such as Madhu Sihina and Mihidum Sihina.[14]

Filmography

Year Film Roles Ref.
1958 Ekamath Eka Rataka Assistant cinematographer
1962 Rodi Kella never screened
1964 Patachara Cinematographer
1964 Thottakkari Cinematographer
1965 Adarayay Karunawai Cinematographer
1967 Iwasana Danaa Cinematographer
1967 Asikkarai Nambukkarai Cinematographer
1968 Mathru Bhoomi Cinematographer
1971 Kalana Mithuro Cinematographer
1972 Veeduru Gewal Director, Cinematographer, Screenwriter
1972 Miringuwa Cinematographer
1975 Sikuruliya Cinematographer
1976 Harima Badu Thunak Cinematographer
1977 Yali Ipade Cinematographer
1979 Hari Pudumai Cinematographer
1979 Jeewana Kandulu Director, Cinematographer
1980 Anuhasa Cinematographer
1982 Mihidum Sihina Director, Cinematographer
1982 Major Sir Director, Cinematographer
1984 Parasathuro Cinematographer
1986 Devduwa Director, Cinematographer
1990 Madhu Sihina Director, Cinematographer
1992 Raja Daruwo Director
1993 Chaya Director, Cinematographer
1993 Bambasara Bisaw Director, Cinematographer, Screenwriter
1994 Sujatha Director, Cinematographer, Film Editor
2002 Seethala Gini Kandu Director, Producer, Cinematographer, Screenwriter
2006 Rana Hansi Director, Cinematographer, Screenwriter

References

  1. ^ "Daya Wimalaweera directions". Complete Index To World Film. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  2. ^ "Daya Wimalaweera". National Film Corporation Of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  3. ^ "Daya Wimalaweera filmography". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  4. ^ "Daya Wimalaweera films". IMDb. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g "Daya Wimalaweera who liked a good commercial film rather than a bad art film". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  6. ^ "Daya Wimalaweera bio". myheritage. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  7. ^ a b "Wimalaweera master who searched for Sinhala mark in cinema". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  8. ^ a b "Veteran film director Daya Wimalaweera passes away". Dinamina. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  9. ^ "Veteran artist Daya Wimalaweera has passed away". News24. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  10. ^ a b "Daya Wimalaweera passes away". helawoodpopcorn. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  11. ^ "Leaving the camera and shaping the cinema". Deshaya. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  12. ^ "Filmmaker Daya Wimalaweera passes away". Mirror Arts. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  13. ^ "Ranasinghe Premadasa remembrance". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  14. ^ "Daya Wimalaweera's reappearance". Divaina. Retrieved 25 January 2020.


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