Jump to content

Mark Samaranayake

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mark Samaranayake
මාක් සමරනායක
Born
Hettiarachchige Don Marcus Conrad Senarathna Samaranayake

(1914-04-08)April 8, 1914
DiedJune 4, 2000(2000-06-04) (aged 86)
Colombo, Sri Lanka
NationalitySri Lankan
EducationSaint Joseph's College, Colombo
Occupation(s)Actor, Dramatist, Producer, Assistant director
Years active1945–1992
SpousePearl Jayawardena (m. 1950)
Children3
Parents
  • Charles Samaranayake (father)
  • Dona Isabella Perera (mother)
Awards"Swarna Jayanthi" Award

Hettiarachchige Don Marcus Conrad Senarathna Samaranayake (born 8 April 1914 – died 4 June 2000 as මාක් සමරනායක) [Sinhala]), popularly as Mark Samaranayake, was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema and stage drama.[1] One of the earliest pillars in Sinhala cinema, Samaranayake acted in several critically acclaimed films such as Peralena Iranama, Perakadoru Bena, Kapati Arakshakaya, Duppathage Duka, and Daivayogaya.[2]

Personal life

[edit]

He was born on 8 April 1914 in Weliveriya, Gampaha, as the fifth child in a family with eight siblings.[2] His father, Charles Samaranayake, was a notary, and his mother, Dona Isabella Perera, was a housewife. He had three elder sisters, Josephine, Harriet, and Lori; an elder brother, George; two sisters, Ellison and Marie; and a younger brother, Benedict. His father died when Mark was a child.[3]

He received his primary education at the Sinhala School in Weliweriya and then went to Saint Joseph's College, Colombo, for secondary education. Famous actor Laddie Ranasinghe was his classmate. In their youth, Mark and Laddie attended St. Aloysius Seminary, where his father dedicated Mark to the church.[3]

In 1950, he married Pearl Jayawardena, a fellow actress. The couple had two daughters, Shirani and Damayanthi, and one son, Tiron.[2] His eldest daughter, Shirani, died at a hospital in Paris in February 2014.[4] She was a mother of three who made a minor role in the film Duppathage Duka as a child artist in 1956. Her funeral took place on 15 February 2014 in Paris.[5]

He died on 4 June 2000 at the age of 86 after a severe illness.[3]

Career

[edit]

At the age of 14, the college held an open singing competition, where Mark became the winner and Laddie became the runner-up. After school, Mark worked as an assistant agricultural inspector in the Army. During this period in 1945, he met Laddie by accident in Pettah. Laddie invited Mark to join in his stage drama.[2] He accepted the offer, went to the Arcadian Drama Club in Borella, and acted in the play Mathabhedaya. After that, Mark also formed the Drama Society called 'Lunuwila Victory' in 1946 and produced three stage plays: Andha Aalaya, Wasanawa, and Aladdin. He later made a play called Riyadura, co-starring Josephine Jayalath, the elder sister of popular actress Florida Jayalath.[3]

When the play Riyadura was performed in Negombo, famous artists Rukmani Devi and Eddie Jayamanne of the then Minerva Drama Troupe participated in watching the play. Later in the day, he was invited to meet Eddie and Rukmani at their home in Bolavalana.[2] Then, Eddie introduced Mark to filmmaker B. A. W. Jayamanne. Jayamanne casts Mark as the school inspector in his 1948 film Kapati Arakshakaya.[3]

After the success of the film, he was selected for many films. In 1949, he played Rukmani's 'evil husband' in Peralena Iranama. Then, he became the 'Hetti' in Weradunu Kurumanama (1948) and 'carpenter' in Perakadoru Bena in 1955.[2] Then, his notable acting came as an arrogant woman, a 'cunning magician' in Ahankara Sthree, and Buddhi in Matalan in 1955.[6] In 1956, he made his most dramatic character 'Inspector Jayasinghe' in the film Duppathage Duka. In the film, his friend Laddie acts as the main antagonist 'Baladeva' and his wife, Pearl, as 'Baladeva's sister.'[3] His acting in the film is rated as one of the best earliest performances in Sinhala cinema.[7]

In his last years, he played several characters of an elderly father in film such as Thushara, Sahanaya, Me Desa Kumatada, and Aege Adara Kathawa. As an assistant director, he was involved in Siriyalatha, Daivayogaya, and Magul Poruwa films. His portrayal of the elderly ascetic 'Ruchika' in Daivayogaya was critically acclaimed. He last acted in the film Viyaru Minisa in 1992.[3] Later, in 1997, he was honored with the "Swarna Jayanthi" Award for contributing to Sinhala cinema at the 11th Presidential Award.[2]

Filmography

[edit]
Year Film Role Ref.
1948 Kapati Arakshakaya School Inspector
1948 Weradunu Kurumanama Hettaiyya
1949 Peralena Iranama Arrogant husband
1951 Segawunu Pilithura Douglas
1952 Umathu Wishwasaya Buddhi
1953 Prema Tharangaya Wickrama [8]
1953 Puduma Leli Doctor Appu Hamy LLMS [9]
1954 Ahankara Sthree Professor Surasena F.R.O.G. [10]
1955 Mathabhedaya Podi Mahathaya
1955 Mathalan Buddhi [11]
1955 Perakadory Bena Hector Sathurusinghe
1956 Dosthara Dharme [12]
1956 Duppathage Duka Inspector Jayasinghe
1957 Surasena Inspector
1957 Ramyalatha Sunny [13]
1957 Siriyalatha Victor Gunasekera [14]
1958 Sepali
1959 Daivayogaya Ruwaka
1963 Mangalika
1964 Samiya Birindage Deviyaya
1965 Landaka Mahima
1966 Mahadena Muththa 6th member identifier
1967 Hitha Giya Thena
1967 Pipena Kumudu Doctor Gunawansa
1967 Rahas Dupatha
1967 Magul Poruwa
1968 Dehadaka Duka Kiri Banda
1969 Pickpocket Abusive Shopkeeper
1969 Pancha
1971 Sahanaya
1972 Me Desa Kumatada Mudalithuma' 'Hamu Mahthaya
1973 Thushara Loku Mahathaya 'Douglas' [15]
1973 Hondai Narakai
1974 Sheela Mr. Gunawardena
1974 Shanthi
1974 Lasanda Amaris
1975 Raththaran Amma
1976 Kawuda Raja Pinhamy
1976 Pradeepe Ma Wewa
1976 Hariyata Hari Mr. Gunathilake 'Loku Mahathaya'
1976 Deviyange Theenduwa Babanis
1976 Ran Thilaka
1977 Deviyani Oba Kohida Mudalali
1977 Yali Ipade
1977 Chandi Putha
1977 Aege Adara Kathawa
1978 Apsara
1979 Minisun Athara Minisek
1979 Hingana Kolla Lawyer
1979 Akke Mata Awasara Garden owner
1979 Sawudan Jema
1980 Bambara Pahasa Suraweera
1981 Ajasaththa Wasala Maha Amathi
1981 Geethika Mr. Samaranayake
1981 Anjaana
1982 Wathura Karaththaya Judge
1983 Sister Mary Bishop
1984 Jaya Sikurui
1985 Rosy
1986 Jaya Apatai
1987 Yukthiyada Shakthiyada
1987 Obatai Priye Adare Grandfather
1988 Sandakada Pahana
1988 Angulimala
1989 Mamai Raja Murdered girl's father
1991 Raja Kello
1991 Raja Sellam
1992 Suwandena Suwandak
1992 Viyaru Minisa

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Actors of Sinhala Cinema: Mark Samaranayake". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Mark Samaranayaka මාක් සමරනායක". Digital Identity of Sinhala Cinema. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Mark Samaranayake, the evil actor on the silver screen as the 'disobedient son' of the Christmas drama". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  4. ^ "Obituaries". Dinamina. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  5. ^ "Mark Samaranayake's daughter dies in Paris". Lankadeepa. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  6. ^ "One of the best action movies: Mathalan". mirrorarts. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  7. ^ "There are many types of violence and violence in the world today". Silumina. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  8. ^ "Prema Tharangaya". films.lk. Archived from the original on 22 June 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  9. ^ "Puduma Leli". films.lk. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  10. ^ "Ahankara Stree". films.lk. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  11. ^ "'Matalan', a milestone in Sinhala cinema". roar.media. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  12. ^ "Gunaratnam–Meyyappan–Dosthara". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  13. ^ "Devdas Sinhala Translation: Ramyalatha". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  14. ^ "Siriyalatha for the first time in Sri Lanka, The songs in the black / white film are colored". Divaina. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  15. ^ "All about the film "Thushara"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
[edit]