Kopi Kade
Kopi Kade (Coffee Shop) (Sinhala:කෝපි කඩේ) is a popular Sri Lankan comedy-drama television series broadcast on the Independent Television Network.[2] One of Sri Lanka's iconic television series in history,[3] Kopi Kade remains the most popular program at its time-slot according to Survey Research Lanka.[4][5] The 1500th uninterrupted weekly episode was broadcast on January 17, 2017.[6] It was telecasted on Sundays for a brief period, where the drama was starts back to telecast on every Wednesday which was later telecast on every Friday at 9.00 p.m.[7]
| Kopi Kade | |
|---|---|
| Created by | Thevis Guruge Andrew Jayamanne |
| Directed by | Janaka Mahalpath |
| Opening theme | Composed by Chandana Welikala |
| Country of origin | Sri Lanka |
| Original language | Sinhala |
| No. of episodes | 1,998 (as of 31 July 2024) |
| Production | |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | ITN |
| Release | 1 April 1987[1] – present |
Plot edit
ITN director Thevis Guruge developed the program as a platform to discuss social issues and convey them to the general public. The series would revolve around a village "kopi kade," because small shops that serve coffee, food and groceries generally serve as the center of town life. Women frequent such establishments to obtain the groceries they need, and men join to play games like draughts while discussing matters of interest.[4]
Cast and characters edit
Current edit
- Rathna Sumanapala as Kopi Kade Hamine
- Rodney Fraser as Gajan
- K.D. Siripala as Dingi Mahaththaya
- Geetha Bulathsinghala as Geetha Naga
- Upasena Subasinghe as Pala
- Jayarathna Rupasinghe as Sirisena[8]
- Saman Gunawardena as Banda
- Sena Gunawardana as Kiri Hoda
- Upali Silva as Sugathan
- Wasantha Kumarasiri as Sunimal
- Kapila Sigera as Shelton Mahattaya
- Ariyasena Handuwela as Village Officer
- Niluka Rekhani as Kamala
- Udeni Chandrasiri as Kapu Mahaththaya
Kumudini Sewwandi as Yasa Naga
- Boniface Jayasantha as Poottuwa
- Eddie Amarasinghe as Piyum Mahathaya[9]
- Awantha Somasiri as Jason
- Udaya Kumari Ranasingha as Poli Siriya
Retired edit
- Kumara Siriwardena as Nimal
- Susila Kottage as Dayawathi
- Nanda Wilegoda as Alis
- Damayantha Perera as Suwanda
- Rahal Bulathsinghala as Podi Mahaththaya
- Ganga Nadee Withana as Tikiri Naga
- Saranapala Jayasuriya as Kade Mudalali
- Kumari Perera as Kade Hamine's daughter
- Dilip Rohana ("Sudhaa" of "La Hiru Dahasak" teledrama) as Kade Hamine's son
- Victor Fernando as Loku Hamuduruvo Chief Monk at the Village Temple
- Pathma Perera as Kopi Kade Polee Siriya
- Jerad Moraes as Kopi Kade Suda
- K A Piyakaru as Gurun gurun
Thilak kumara rathnayaka (somadasa) Princy fernando ( violet)
Deceased edit
- Denawaka Hamine as Loku Hamine
- Martin Gunadasa as Poli Mudalali
- Chandrasiri Kodithuwakku as Abilin Maama[10]
- Susila Kuragama as Ensina[11]
- Damitha Saluwadana as Asilin[12]
- Premadasa Vithanage as Minee Petti Mudalali (Town's Undertaker)
- Lal Senadheera as Annasiwatte Rathnapala (Rathne Lamaya)
- Ranjith Amarasekara as Iskole Mahaththaya[13]
- Raja Sumanapala as Ali Jamis
- Devi Sakunthala as Suwanda's Mother - Angu Hami
- Wimal Wickramarachchi as Samel Appu
- Thusith Pathiraja as Monk at temple
- Kusum Kondegama as Sirisena's mother
- Sunil Hettiarachchi as Giran
- Elson Divithurugama as Lee Mudalali
- Nanasiri Kaluarachchi as Kaluwa
- Chitra Wakishta as Somi Nona
- Wimaladharma Vitharana as Weda mahaththaya
- Srilal Abeykoon as Appuwa[14]
Production edit
Andrew Jayamanna was the first director of the program. By 2006, the show had seen six directors, including the Saman Fernando. Sudam Dayarathne and Janaka Mahalpath joined the directing crew after the death of Andrew Jayamanna. Sumith Dias directed the program from 1992 to 1996. Chandika Wijesena and Prabath Dushyantha are now the directors.[15]
References edit
- ^ "Kopi Kade". Sunday Times. Retrieved 2010-08-14.
- ^ "30 years for Kopi Kade - කෝපි කඩේට තිස් වසරයි". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
- ^ "Five Iconic Local Teledramas". Muncheedaily.com.
- ^ a b "Kopi Kade - ITN". Sunday Observer. 2006. from the original on 2012-10-15. Retrieved 2007-07-18.
- ^ "Kopi Kade gets stronger with every programme". Daily News. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
- ^ "Successful 1500 episode". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
- ^ "Athula draws pictures while writing in the Kopi Kade". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
- ^ "Jayarathna in Kopi Kade". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
- ^ "Piyum Mahathaya in Kopi Kade". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
- ^ "Four stars died within two days". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
- ^ "Ensine left Kopi Kade without notice". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
- ^ "Kopi Kade Asilin left the world". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
- ^ "Iskole Mahaththaya died". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
- ^ "Sri Lal Abeykoon no more". Retrieved 17 April 2020.
- ^ "කෝපි කඩේට ගොඩ වෙන්න කැමතිද?". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 20 February 2020.