D.R. Nanayakkara

Don Ruter Nanayakkara (15 March 1915 – 4 January 1989) was a Sri Lankan actor in Sri Lankan cinema as well as in British drama. Playing lanky villains and comedic characters, Nanayakkara gained popularity in movies like ''Rekava'', ''Kurulu Bedda'', and ''Sikuru Tharuwa''. He also appeared as the old shaman in Steven Spielberg's 1984 Oscar-winning movie ''Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom''.

Personal life

He was born on 15 March 1915 in Kolonnawa, Sri Lanka. His father Don Diyas Nanayakkara was from Kolonnawa. His mother Nonno Caldera was from Gothatuwa. He attended the Kolonnawa Government School and St. Matthew's College, Dematagoda. Starting as a child, he was drawn to music and learned to play the Japanese mandolin.

He was married to Adeline Perera in 1945, after he met while performing the play. They had six children: daughters – Asoka, Shanthi, Sirima, and Kalyani and sons – Dilip and Ranjith. Adeline died on March 10, 1983.

He died of AIDS-related tuberculosis in 1989. He had been diagnosed with HIV in 1988.

Career

As a young adult, Nanayakkara showed interest in theater and became a regular attender of stage plays. At one such drama around 1936, he was noticed by playwright Sirisena Wimalaweera who took him into his troupe of players. Later he was chosen to play the role of 'Saranapala' in the play ''Amma''. Beginning with ''Amma'', Nanayakkara appeared in many of Wimalweera's plays; these include ''Seedevi'', ''Pitisara Kella'', ''Rodi Kella'', and ''Maggona Charlie''.

Nanayakkara debut in film came when Wimalaweera adapted ''Amma'' into a motion picture in 1949, two years after the release of the first major Sinhalese film ''Kadawunu Poronduwa''. Nanayakkara dabbled as a vocalist in Wimalaweera's films singing two songs for ''Amma''. He continued to appear in Wimalaweera's movies up to Wimalaweera's death in 1963.

Nanayakkara's had one of his most celebrated performances in ''Rekawa'' (1956) which is considered a landmark in film. He appeared in the critically acclaimed role of Sooty, the protagonist's father who is a thief and attempts to use his son's supposed healing powers to gain wealth causing a death and his son's condemnation by the whole villages.

Nanayakkara continued his celebrated villainous roles in ''Kurulu Bedda'' (1961), ''Sikuru Tharuwa'' (1966), and ''Binaramali'' (1969). He won the Sarasaviya Best Actor Award for his role in ''Bicycle Hora'' in 1968. In 1984, Nanayakkara was chosen as one of the Sri Lankan actors in ''Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom''. In the movie he played the old shaman of Mayapore, India, who tells Indiana Jones that Shiva brought him (Jones) to this village in order that he may go to Pankot Palace to find a sacred stone that protects the village and which was stolen by individuals from the and return it to the village.

In ''Kathuru Muwath'' (1971) he played the lead role of the Kathuru Muwath. He had major roles in many of K.A.W. Perera's other films like ''Kapatikama'' (1966), ''Duleeka'' (1974), ''Lasanda'' (1974), and ''Nedeyo'' (1976). Working with Lester James Peries again in ''Baddegama'' (1981) he played another major negative role as the Medicine Man.

Other film appearances include '' Chandiya'' (1965), ''Parasathumal'' (1966), ''Ahasin Polawata'' (1978), ''Siribo Aiya'' (1980), and ''Dese Mal Pipila''. Nanayakkara's last film ''Ahas Maliga'' was screened five years after his death.

Filmography

Film

References

External links

*
D.R.Nanayakkara in Sinhala Cinema DatabaseD R Nanayakkara - ඩී ආර් නානායක්කාර 's song - Listen on-line at Siyapath Arana.com

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nanayakkara, D. R.
1915 births
1989 deaths
Sri Lankan male film actors
Date of death missing
Place of birth missing
Male actors from Colombo
20th-century Sri Lankan male actors