Chathurartha Devadithya Gardiyawasam Lindamulage Roy Aloysius Felix de Silva, popularly known as Roy de Silva (රෝයි ද සිල්වා; 30 August 1937 – 30 June 2018),[1] was a Sri Lankan actor and film director in Sri Lankan cinema. He entered the film industry as an actor in 1964 with Sujage Rahasa, directed by Palaniyaandi Neelakantan. He later moved towards cinema directing, becoming one of the most successful film makers in the Sri Lankan film industry.[2] His blockbuster movies such as Re Daniel Dawal Migel series,[3] Cheriyo series, Clean Out, and Sir Last Chance were economically successful and made hallmarks in the industry.[4]
Roy de Silva | |
|---|---|
| රෝයි ද සිල්වා | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Chathurartha Devadithya Gardiyawasam Lindamulage Roy Aloysius Felix de Silva 30 August 1937 Yatawatta, British Ceylon |
| Died | 30 June 2018 (aged 80) Sri Jayawardenepura General Hospital, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, Sri Lanka |
| Resting place | Kanatte Cemetery, Colombo |
| Nationality | Sri Lankan |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Yatawatta Sinhala School St. Sebastian's College, Moratuwa Saint Joseph's College, Colombo |
| Occupation |
|
Personal life
editBorn on 30 August 1937, as Chathurartha Devadithya Gardiyawasam Lindamulage Roy Aloysius Felix de Silva, he quickly changed his name to Roy de Silva in the beginning of his cinema career. He was born in Yatawatta, Matale as the fourth of seven siblings.[5]
He first attended Yatawatta Sinhala School, and then moved to St. Sebastian's College, Moratuwa and completed advanced level from St. Joseph's College, Colombo. Just after completing school, he started to act in many stage dramas such as Narbona Hee Ranaweera Sebala and Surath Liliya.[6]
He was married to fellow Sri Lankan actress Sumana Amarasinghe and they have two children.[7][8][9] Roy died on 30 June 2018 at the age of 80. Sumana Amarasinghe died on 5 June 2022 at the age of 74 while receiving treatment at the Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital due to a sudden illness.[10]
Career as an actor
editDe Silva came to the silver screen through Sujage Rahasa directed by P. Neelakantan, a famous South Indian director who accompanied MGR as well. The film was released on 24 December 1964 and received a positive reception from critics. His success was achieved through stylish acting, Tamil Indian actor like personality[clarification needed] and fluency in Tamil.[11] This in turn gave him many opportunities to act under many Tamil directors in his early days.
In 1972, de Silva's film Sujeewa surpassed the gross earnings of Edath Suraya Adath Suraya, starring the most famous Sri Lankan actor of that time, Gamini Fonseka.[12]
De Silva's acting career mostly came under directors like Joe Dev Anand, Danny Mariyadasan, M S Anandan, K Venkat, Kingsley Rajapakse, Robin Tampoe, Lenin Morayes, and Cyril P. Abeyratne.
De Silva had the ability to remember long dialogues.[13]
As a singer
editApart from direction and acting, De Silva also performed as a playback singer on a few occasions, such as in the films Tom Pachaya and Minisun Athara Minisek.[14][deprecated source]
Death and legacy
editOn 30 June 2018, De Silva died while being treated for a heart attack at Sri Jayawardenepura General Hospital. His remains were cremated on 2 July 2018 at Kanatte Cemetery.[15]
On 1 September 2018, de Silva's autobiography was launched at Tharangani Hall. The book is titled Ada Siyawasaka Sadadara Roy.[16][17]
On 5 July 2020, de Silva's wife Sumana Amarasinghe organized an alms giving at an old house in Colombo in two year commemoration of his death.[18]
Filmography
edit- No. denotes the number of Sri Lankan films in the Sri Lankan cinema.[19]
| Year | No. | Film | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | 116 | Sujage Rahasa | |
| 1966 | 152 | Sudu Duwa | |
| 155 | Sanasili Suwaya | ||
| 1967 | 162 | Sangawunu Menika | |
| 1968 | 193 | Ruhunu Kumari | |
| 1969 | 213 | Uthum Sthree | Mahindayaa |
| 212 | Pick Pocket | Asoka | |
| 1970 | 222 | Sumudu Bharya | |
| 227 | Geetha | ||
| 1971 | 237 | Dawena Pipasaya | |
| 247 | Samanala Kumariyo | ||
| 1972 | 255 | Sujeewa[20] | Samantha |
| 256 | Singapuru Charlie | ||
| 260 | Hathara Wate | Rohana | |
| 263 | Me Dasa Kumatada | Doctor Roy de Silva | |
| 1973 | 277 | Sinawai Inawai | |
| 278 | Sunethra | Upul Mahinda Seneviratne | |
| 1974 | 287 | Sheela | Tissa Gunawardena |
| 1975 | 306 | Obai Mamai | Suminda Wijegunaratne |
| 312 | Sukiri Kella | Senaka Dharmapala | |
| 316 | Mage Nangi Shyama | ||
| 321 | Ranwan Rekha | ||
| 1976 | 358 | Ran Thilakaa | |
| 1977 | 361 | Sudu Paraviyo | Chandi |
| 371 | Honda Hitha | ||
| Saazish | |||
| 1978 | 387 | Mage Ran Putha | |
| 403 | Deepanjalee | ||
| 1979 | 410 | Samanmali | Amitha |
| 312 | Minisun Athara Minisek | Keerthi | |
| 427 | Anusha | Sarath | |
| 1980 | 443 | Silva | Chamika |
| 447 | Adara Rathne | Lal | |
| 1981 | 531 | Mihidum Sihina | Sinna |
| 484 | Sanasuma | ||
| 1982 | 517 | Pethi Gomara | |
| 1985 | 624 | Obata Diwura Kiyannam | |
| 1987 | 670 | Ahinsa | Jaye |
| 1988 | 671 | Rasa Rahasak | |
| 676 | Amme Oba Nisa | ||
| 677 | Angulimala | ||
| 1989 | 688 | Okkoma Rajawaru | |
| 1990 | 704 | Hondin Naththam Narakin | |
| 710 | Madu Sihina | ||
| 712 | Christhu Charithaya | Caiaphas[21] | |
| 1991 | 723 | Obata Pamanay Adare | |
| 1992 | 744 | Jaya Sri We Kumariye | |
| 762 | Suranimala | ||
| 764 | Muwan Palasse Kadira | ||
| 1993 | 773 | Sagara Thilina | |
| 779 | Chaya Maya | ||
| 774 | Prathingya | ||
| 776 | Sasara Sarisarana Thek Oba Mage | ||
| 777 | Mawila Penewi Roope | ||
| 780 | Come O' Go Chicago | Mr. Wickremasinghe | |
| 781 | Yasasa | ||
| 1994 | 798 | Nohadan Kumariyo | |
| 813 | Aathma | ||
| 814 | Sudu Piruwata | ||
| 1997 | 881 | Apaye Thappara 84000k | |
| 2002 | 975 | Sansara Prarthana | |
| 2015 | 1239 | My Name Is Bandu | Sinhabahu |
As a director
editDe Silva was primarily a director of comedy films, which made him one of Sri Lanka's promising directors in Sri Lanka cinema industry. His first direction was of the 1977 film Tom Pachaya, co-directed with Stanley Perera. Up to 2016, he directed 33 films, with more than 70 percent of the films easily passing 100 days and becoming blockbuster hits.[22] De Silva's first English film direction was It's a Matter of Time in 1991.[23]
| Year | No. | Film | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 379 | Tom Pachaya | Chaminda Edward |
| 1982 | 507 | Thana Girawi | |
| 1982 | 531 | Mihidum Sihina | Sinna |
| 1982 | 541 | Kadawunu Poronduwa | remake |
| 1983 | 547 | Sumithuro | |
| 1984 | 588 | Hitha Honda Kollek | |
| 1987 | 657 | Thaathi Man Adarei | |
| 1987 | 674 | Gedara Budun Amma | Samantha |
| 1990 | 710 | Madhu Sihina | Sinna |
| 1990 | 714 | Hitha Honda Puthek | |
| 1991 | It's a Matter of Time | ||
| 1991 | 734 | Cheriyo Doctor | |
| 1992 | 758 | Okkoma Kanapita | |
| 1993 | 778 | Soorayan Athara Veeraya | |
| 1993 | 783 | Jeevan Malli | |
| 1994 | 815 | Love 94 | Baby's Father |
| 1995 | 822 | Vijay Saha Ajay | |
| 1995 | 839 | Cheriyo Captain | |
| 1996 | 863 | Cheriyo Darling | |
| 1997 | 875 | Ramba Saha Madu | |
| 1998 | 894 | Re Daniel Dawal Migel 1 | Detective Cobra |
| 2000 | 932 | Re Daniel Dawal Migel 2 | Detective Cobra |
| 2000 | 944 | Pem Kekula | |
| 2001 | 959 | Jonsun and Gonsun | Station Master |
| 2002 | 991 | Love 2002 | |
| 2003 | 1006 | Sepata Dukata Sunny | |
| 2004 | 1026 | Clean Out | |
| 2004 | 1034 | Selamuthu Pinna | |
| 2004 | 1034 | Re Daniel Dawal Migel 3 | |
| 2006 | 1075 | Sonduru Wasanthe | Jayawardena |
| 2007 | 1083 | Mr Dana Rina | |
| 2009 | 1122 | Sir Last Chance | |
| 2011 | It’s a Matter of Love |
References
edit- ^ "Roy de Silva passes away". Retrieved 1 July 2018.
- ^ "Roy de Silva, the master blaster of Sinhala cinema". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
- ^ "Daniel and Migel appear again". Sunday times. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
- ^ "Roy's 'Pem Kekula' will blossom soon". Sunday Times. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
- ^ "මල්පෙති යට සැඟවුණු සදාදර රෝයි". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
- ^ "Tale of Roy". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
- ^ "Sumana Amarasinghe in ICU .... after food poisoning in Chennai". Gossip Lanka. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
- ^ "රෝයි-සුමනා දිගු කලකට පසු හමුවී." Sarasaviya. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
- ^ "රෝයි – සුමනා සැබෑව අනාවරණය කරයි". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
- ^ "Veteran actress Sumana Amarasinghe passes away". www.adaderana.lk. Retrieved 2022-06-06.
- ^ "Its 51 to Roy". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
- ^ "Roy De Silva filmography". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
- ^ "Roy De Silva films". Sirisara. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
- ^ "Roy de Silva Discography". Rate Your Music. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
- ^ "Veteran actor Roy de Silva passes away". Colombo Page. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
- ^ "අඩ සියවසක සදාදර රෝයි හෙට එළිදකී". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
- ^ "Sadadara Roy launched". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
- ^ "Roy's a two year pinnacle". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
- ^ "Sri Lankan Cinema History". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
- ^ "All about Sujeewa". Retrieved 23 July 2020.
- ^ "All about Kristhu Charithaya". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
- ^ "Roy de Silva direction". imdb. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
- ^ "It's a Matter of Love". Life.lk. Retrieved 4 October 2016.