Ravindra Randeniya
Liyanage Boniface Walter Perera (born 5 June 1945), popularly known by his stage name Ravindra Randeniya, is a Sri Lankan actor and former politician.[1] He rose to fame in Lester James Peries's film Desa Nisa in 1972, and was a popular actor during the 1970s and 1980s; He won the Sarasaviya Best Actor Award in 1984 (Dadayama), 1985 (Maya), 1989 (Sandakada Pahana), and 1990 (Sri Medura).[2]
Ravindra Randeniya MP | |
|---|---|
| Member of Parliament for Gampaha District | |
| In office 2001–2004 | |
| Majority | 56,449 Preferential Votes |
| Member of Parliament for National List | |
| In office 2000–2001 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Liyanage Boniface Walter Perera June 5, 1945 Dalugama, Kelaniya, Sri Lanka |
| Spouse | Preethi Pramila (m. 1974) |
| Children | Sachindra Nirmal Sameera Manabarana Umayangana Indrachapa |
| Occupation | Actor, Politician |
| Known for | Cinema |
Randeniya hosted the quiz program Mind Star on ITN, which gain huge publicity.[3]
Personal life
Randeniya was born in Dalugama, Kelaniya Sri Lanka in 1945 as the second child in a family with 6 siblings.[4] His father, L.P. Perera was a well known businessman in Dalugama, Kelaniya who was popular in the brass hinge industry. His mother was Caroline Egodawatte, born in Sapugaskanda. Ravindra has one elder brother: Callistus, two younger sisters: Gertie, Helen, and two younger brothers: Amal and Shantha.[5]
Randeniya attended St. Benedict College in Kotahena. His beloved friend was his classmate Vijaya Kumaratunga. Though he was a good student, he failed to pass his A-level examination and didn't pursue higher education. Randeniya instead joined his family business of manufacturing hardware products.[6]
Dalugama was a small village filled with paddy fields and streams. Randeniya appreciated nature growing up often spending evenings looking over the fields; he was also an avid reader from a young age immersing himself in the works of acclaimed Sinhala authors like Martin Wickremasinghe, Prof.Ediriweera Sarachchandra, Kumaratunga Munidasa, and Wimalaratne Kumaragama.[6]
Randeniya is married to fellow actress Preethi Pramila Seneviratne, where the wedding ceremony was celebrated on 31 October 1974. They have two sons, Sachindra Nirmal, Sameera Manabarana and one daughter Umayangana Indrachapa.[7] Preethi Randeniya is a poet and an author of children's books.
Career
He gave priority to studies over art and at school he acted as 'Kashyapa' in the school play Sigiriya Kashyapa. He excelled in writing short stories and won the first prize in the short story competition organized by the College Literary Society in 1962. Both Kumaratunga and Randeniya were introduced to art and literature by Wilfred Perera, a well-known school teacher and a staunch leftist who was the brother of dramatist Anthony C. Perera.[5]
In his free time, Randeniya started taking courses in theater decor and screenwriting at Lionel Wendt Theatre Workshop. Randeniya became interested in acting while taking a required general acting class under Jagoda; he gradually became fascinated with the idea of acting over the two years he spent at the school. He joined the Lionel Wendt Art Gallery in 1969, to learn drama, screenplay, direction and stage decoration. Randeniya got his first starring role in the student production Mudu Puththu directed by Gallapaththi at the age of 25. Veteran photographer Ralex Ranasinghe baptized Boniface as 'Ravindra Randeniya'.[5]
His performance in the film drew praise from well-known director Lester James Peries. He next appeared in Kalu Diya Dahara, considered "a watershed in the annals of Sinhala films", which dealt with a struggle between workers and administration in a tea plantation. It was made in 1971, and shown nationwide in 1974.[6] Peries, who was a fan, picked Randeniya for one of the three main roles in Desa Nisa alongside Joe Abeywickrema and Sriyani Amarasena. This would be his breakthrough role, and established him as a popular actor when screened in 1972.[6] The 1989 film Siri Medura is the most difficult film character played by Randeniya, the character of 'Sampath Hamu', a paralyzed man who is confined to a wheelchair after an accident and his whole body is paralyzed and unable to move his head. He later won the Sarasaviya Award for Best Actor for this role in 1990, naming him as the first unanimous decision of the jury without recommendation.[5]
Political
Later Randeniya elected to Sri Lanka Parliament for United National Party. He served as a member between 2000 - 2004.
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Kalu Diya Dahara | ||
| 1972 | Desa Nisa | Hermit | [8] |
| 1974 | Kalyani Ganga | Namal's friend | |
| 1974 | The God King | Mogallana | |
| 1975 | Tharanga | Ravindra Randeniya | |
| 1975 | The God King | Mogollana | [9] |
| 1976 | Duhulu Malak | Rohan Atukorale | [10] |
| 1976 | Hariyata Hari | Piyal | |
| 1976 | Ganga | ||
| 1977 | Siripala Saha Ranmenika | Siripala | [11] |
| 1977 | Yakadaya | Siripala | [12] |
| 1977 | Ektem Ge | Sarath | [13][14] |
| 1977 | Pembara Madhu | [15] | |
| 1978 | Seetha Devi | Lakshman 'Lal' | |
| 1978 | Veera Puran Appu | Puran Appu | [16] |
| 1979 | Wasanthaye Davasak | Wasantha | |
| 1979 | Higana Kolla | Sir Henry Wijekoon | [17] |
| 1979 | Chuda Manikyaya | Ivan | |
| 1979 | Sugandi | Susantha | |
| 1979 | Podi Malli | Siripala 'Siri' Rathnasingha | |
| 1979 | Hari Pudumai | Ravi | |
| 1980 | Muwan Palassa II | ||
| 1980 | Raja Dawasak | ||
| 1981 | Thawalama | Sikuru Aththo | |
| 1981 | Induta Mal Mitak | ||
| 1981 | Bamba Ketu Hati | Nihal | |
| 1981 | Eka Dawasak Re | Jayantha 'Jaya' Jayadeva | |
| 1981 | Induta Mal Mitak | ||
| 1981 | Aradhana | Senaka | [18] |
| 1981 | Sathweni Dawasa | Arachchila Muththusami | |
| 1981 | Ranga | Ranga / Chaminda 'Punchi Hamu' / Sanath Hamu | |
| 1982 | Ra Manamali | Jagath | |
| 1982 | Bambara Geethaya | Ravi | |
| 1982 | Paaramitha | Kamal | |
| 1982 | Sandaa | Seneviratne | |
| 1983 | Dadayama | Weerasinghe Arachchilage Priyanka Jayanatha | [19] |
| 1983 | Ran Mini Muthu | ||
| 1983 | Yali Pipunu Malak | ||
| 1984 | Bambara Patikki | ||
| 1985 | Hithawathiya | Sarth | |
| 1985 | Hima Kathara | Sir Charles | |
| 1985 | Maya | Ananda | [20] |
| 1985 | Deweni Gamana | Saman's brother | |
| 1986 | Koti Waligaya | Doctor Ravindra | |
| 1986 | Der Stein Des Todes | Vic | |
| 1986 | Sura Saradiel | Saradiel | |
| 1987 | Maldeniye Simion | Dayaratne | [21] |
| 1987 | Witness a Killing | ||
| 1987 | Janelaya | Mr. Weerasinghe | |
| 1987 | Thaththi Man Adarei | ||
| 1987 | Mangala Thagga | Nihal Perera | |
| 1987 | Kele Kella | Koti Albert 'Wimal' | |
| 1987 | Raja Wedakarayo | Inspector Kapila | |
| 1987 | Ahinsa | Party guest | |
| 1988 | The Iron Triangle | (Production coordinator) | |
| 1988 | Kedapathaka Chaya | ||
| 1988 | Sagara Jalaya | Mudalali | |
| 1988 | Angulimala | Ahinsaka/Angulimala | |
| 1989 | Sandakada Pahana | Suranga Wijebandara | |
| 1989 | Siri Medura | Sampath Samarawickrama | |
| 1990 | Saharawe Sihinaya | ||
| 1990 | Hima Gira | Sumith Abeypitiya | |
| 1991 | Golu Muhude Kunatuva | ||
| 1993 | Madara Parasathu | Keerthi | |
| 1993 | Surabi Dena | Keerthi | [22] |
| 1993 | Gurugedara | Arjuna Wimaladharma | |
| 1994 | Dhawala Pushpaya | Doctor Nalin | |
| 1994 | Aragalaya | Gajanayake | |
| 1994 | Pavana Raluviya | ||
| 1994 | Sudu Piruwata | Jagath Ediriweera | |
| 1995 | Seilama | Sira | [23] |
| 1995 | Sudu Valassu | ||
| 1996 | Anantha Rathriya | [24] | |
| 1996 | Maduree | Wickie 'Loku Hamu' | |
| 1996 | Cheriyo Darling | Professor | [25] |
| 1997 | Yasoma | ||
| 1997 | Les Mysteres Du Sadjurah | Colonel Taradjahi | |
| 1997 | Mother Teresa: In the Name of God's Poor | Police Commissioner, Calcutta | |
| 1997 | Ramba Saha Madhu | ||
| 1997 | Bawa Duka | Muhandiram | [26] |
| 1997 | Ninja Sri Lanka | ||
| 1997 | Bawa Karma | Muhandiram | [27] |
| 1999 | Anduru Sewaneli | ||
| 1999 | Mandakini | [28] | |
| 1999 | Theertha Yathra | Mr. Sooriyabandara | [29] |
| 2000 | Saroja | Major Fernando | [30] |
| 2001 | Anantha Rathriya | Suwisal Abeysekara | [31] |
| 2001 | Poronduwa | Vijendra Rambukwalla | [32] |
| 2001 | Aswesuma | Doctor Thilakawardena | [33] |
| 2002 | Sansara Prarthana | ||
| 2003 | One Shot | Police officer | [34] |
| 2003 | Wekande Walauwa | Lucas | [35] |
| 2003 | Mother Teresa of Calcutta | Inspector Shankar | |
| 2004 | Mille Soya | Kingsley | [36] |
| 2005 | Aksharaya | father, Retired High Court Judge | [37] |
| 2006 | Nilambare | Jayasuriya | [38] |
| 2006 | Sewwandi | Priyantha | [39] |
| 2007 | Nisala Gira | Minister Saliya | [40] |
| 2008 | Puthuni Hambagiya | Lawyer Weeratunga | |
| 2008 | Aba | Pandula Brahmin | [41] |
| 2009 | Dancing Star | [42] | |
| 2009 | Juliya | [43] | |
| 2012 | Matha | Brigadier | [44] |
| 2012 | Kusa Pabha | King Okkaka | [45] |
| 2014 | Parapura | Minister Rajamanthri | [46] |
| 2014 | Rupantharana | Brigadier Vimal | [47] |
| 2016 | Weerawarna | Prasad Madugalla | [48] |
| 2016 | Paththini | Pandya King | [49] |
| 2016 | Sujatha Puthra | Minister | [50] |
| 2017 | Nimnayaka Hudekalawa | The Client | [51] |
| 2017 | Ali Kathawa | Hermit | [52] |
| 2018 | Wassanaye Sanda | Sandesh's father | [53] |
| 2019 | Distant Teardrop | ||
| 2020 | Rookada Panchi | cameo role | |
| TBD | Gaadi | Ehelepola Adigar | [54] |
| TBD | Ridee Seenu | [55] |
Teledramas
Awards
Presidential Film Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Podi Malli | Merit Award | Won |
| 1983 | Paramitha | Merit Award | Won |
| 1984 | Dadayama | Best Actor | Won |
Sarasaviya Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Dadayama | Best Actor[60] | Won |
| 1985 | Maya | Best Actor | Won |
| 1989 | Sandakada Pahana | Best Actor [61] | Won |
| 1990 | Siri Medura | Best Actor | Won |
| 1996 | Seilama | Best Actor | Won |
| 1998 | Bawa Duka | Best Supporting Actor[62] | Won |
Sumathi Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Contribution to cinema | U.W. Sumathipala Lifetime[63] | Won |
| 2011 | Mind Star quiz program | Jury Appreciation | Won |
Raigam Tele'es
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Contribution to cinema | Prathibha Prabha Lifetime [64] | Won |
Hiru Golden Film Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Contribution to cinema | Hiru Lifetime Achievement [65] | Won |
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External links
- Ravindra Randeniya's Biography in Sinhala Cinema Database
- Official Website - National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka
- sundaytimes