Miyuri Samarasinghe

Miyuri Samarasinghe
මියුරි සමරසිංහ
Born
Wijeratne Miyuri Samarasinghe

(1939-03-15)March 15, 1939
Moratuwa, Sri Lanka
DiedFebruary 6, 2021(2021-02-06) (aged 81)
Colombo, Sri Lanka
NationalitySri Lankan
EducationMusaeus College
Occupation(s)Actress, Dancer, Producer, Director
Years active1965–2017
SpousePiyal Samarasinghe (m. 1956)
Children4

Wijeratne Miyuri Samarasinghe (15 March 1939 – 6 February 2021: as Sinhala: මියුරි සමරසිංහ), popularly as Miyuri Samarasinghe, was an actress in Sri Lankan cinema, theater and television.[1] Apart from acting, she also worked as a dancer, scriptwriter, producer and director. She was serving as the President of Sudarshi Institute.[2]

Personal life

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She was born on 15 March 1939 in Moratuwa. She first attended Holy Rosary Catholic School, Moratuwa and then went to Musaeus College. At the age of 14, she was able to perform upcountry and low country dances under the guidance of Jayantha Algama. Therefore, she was selected to perform the middle and end dances of the monthly radio show.[3]

She worked for the Sinhala Cultural Institute (Sudarsi) as a teacher, holding various positions.[2]

She married at the age of 17 and by the age of 24, she was a mother of four children. She met her husband Piyal Samarasinghe during school days. The couple has three daughters - Sujeewa, Deepthi, Awanthi - and one son, Ruwan. Deepthi and Awanthi are twins.[3] Her husband Piyal died in 1979, when she was 39 years old.[2]

She died on 6 February 2021 at the age of 81 after a prolonged battle with cancer.[4]

Acting career

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While still in school, she entered the Radio Ceylon and later went on to various radio programs with musician M. K. Rocksamy. She became a permanent member of the Maasika Reguma program. Meanwhile, she attended to radio drama screen test conducted by Dharma Sri Wickramasinghe and became one of the top five scorers. At that time, she joined other young artists in the radio such as Geetha Kanthi Jayakody and Niranjala Sarojini for programs such as Baloli Loli Loli. Although she moved away from art with her marriage, she later joined Mercy Edirisinghe for Welikala Ratna's stage play Aluth Dawasak.[5]

Then she received many opportunities for acting in stage plays such as Ran Kanda, Umathusan Warusawa, Bammanno, Uruvisi, Hitha Honda Ammandi, Nattukkarayo, Nekatha,[6] Othello, Sivamma Dhanapala, Lora and Nawasiya Anu Nawaya. She has acted in over 300 stage plays and produced and directed 10 plays. In 1981, she won the Award for Best Actress at Presidential Festival for the play Nawasiya Anu Nawaya. At the same year, her production Hima Kurullo received four awards at the Golden Design Awards for Best Actor, Actress, Script and Production.[3] In 1983, she wrote and directed the short drama Loka Dekak Athara, where she won the Best actress award. Then she directed the play ''Parasakwala Peyak. It also won awards for the Best Actress and Best Production.[2] She has appeared in over 300 different stage plays such as: Hita Honda ammaṇḍi, Pārā, Dēśapāluvā, Otelō, Næṭṭukkārayō, and Nækatha.[5]

While she was still active on stage, she made her film debut with the film Baduth Ekka Horu with a minor role.[5] Her first major role in films came through 1973 film Miringuwa directed by Amarasena Kumarasinghe.[3] Since then, she has acted in many films under renowned filmmakers, including Podi Vijay, Adhishtanaya, Ridee Thella, Madol Duwa, Viragaya, Yahalu Yeheli and Adara Hasuna.[7][2]

She entered television dramas with the New Year teledrama Erabadu Mal directed by Bandula Vithanage. After that she appeared in many motherly roles in over 500 tele serials such as Irata Handana Mal, Ira Paya, Ganga saha Nissanka, Sannaliyane, Nedeyo, Sihina Nimnaya, Sura Asura, Damini, Passe Gena Manamali and Sudo Sudu.[3] She was also awarded the actress who acted in the most teledramas.[8] She won Presidential Awards for Best Performance in 1976 and then Best Actress Award for drama Kemmura in 2002.[2]

A concert Miyuri Samarasinghe Rangabhinandana organized by the Department of Culture and the Tower Hall Theater Foundation to pay tribute to her was held at the Maradana Tower Hall Theater on 4 October 2015.[3][9][2] As she passed the 50th anniversary of her drama career, she wrote her life story and published a book titled Kala Lowe Mama Ipadunemi.[2]

She has directed and produced nine stage dramas - Loka Dekak Athara, Parasakwala Peyak, Ammai Puthai, Hima Kurullo, Paara, Anna Karonina, Sapatheru Hamine, Abarthuwak, Miyuri Rangamala - and produced one play Muthu Aete.[2] She was awarded the honorary title of Maanava Hithavadee Keerthi Sri Veeraputra Deshabandu in June, 2019 for the service towards drama in Sri Lanka.[10]

Selected television serials

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  • Damini
  • Doo Daruwo[11]
  • Ganga saha Nissanka
  • Hiruta Pipena Sooriyakantha[12]
  • Ilandariyo [13]
  • Ingammaruwa
  • Ira Paya
  • Irata Handana Mal
  • Malsara Akunu
  • Maya Seya [14]
  • Nedeyo
  • Paata Sarungal[11]
  • Passe Gena Manamali[11]
  • Sannaliyane
  • Sansara Sakmana [15]
  • Sihina Nimnaya
  • Sudo Sudu
  • Sura Asura
  • Theertha Tharanaya
  • Yes Boss

Filmography

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Year Film Role Ref.
1969 Baduth Ekka Horu Beach layer
1972 Sithijaya
1976 Madol Duwa Upali's mother [16]
1976 Vanarayo
1977 Eya Dan Loku Lamayek School trip teacher
1978 Madhuwanthi
1978 Saara
1978 Anupama Louie's wife
1979 Samanmali
1979 Nuwan Renu Mrs. Perera
1979 Visihathara Peya
1981 Ridee Thella
1982 Yasa Isuru Suraj and Suramya's aunt [17]
1982 Adhistana
1982 Yahalu Yeheli Karunawathie
1983 Sumithuro Harassed woman
1983 Siw Ranga Sena
1983 Sister Mary Church servant
1984 Wadula Gatambi
1984 Muthu Menike
1984 Walle Thanu Maliga Cyril's mother
1984 Veera Madduma Bandara Second Queen
1985 Yuganthaya
1986 Gimhane Gee Naade Aunty
1986 Avurudu Da
1986 Aadara Hasuna
1987 Yugayen Yugayata
1987 Podi Vijay
1987 Mangala Thegga Mrs. Fernando [18]
1987 Viragaya Gunawathie [19]
1990 Pem Raja Dahana
1991 Keli Madala Gunawathie [20]
1992 Sinha Raja
1992 Umayangana
1992 Salli Thibunata Madi
1993 Nelum Saha Samanmali
1994 Pawana Ralu Viya
1994 Handana Kinkini
1994 Yuwathipathi Janaraja's mother
1995 Maruthaya Dharme's associate's wife
1995 Ayoma
1996 Obatai Me Aradhana
1996 Sihina Deshayen
1996 Hitha Hondanam Waradin Na
1996 Bawa Sasara
1997 Bawa Duka Peduru's mother
1997 Bawa Karma
1998 Anthima Reya
1999 Salupata Ahasata
1999 Sathyadevi Aggie
2000 Salupata Ahasata 2
2001 Jack and Jill [21]
2002 Kamasuthra Nelum's mother
2002 Rosa Patikki [22]
2003 Sonduru Dadabima Kamal's mother
2003 Bheeshanaye Athuru Kathawak Sopina
2003 Sudu Salu Amara's mother
2005 Samantha
2005 Alu Yata Gini
2006 Samunoganna Sugandhika
2006 Bherunda Pakshiya
2008 Rosa Diganthe
2012 Vijaya Kuweni
2013 Ira Laga Wadi
2015 Aathma Warusha
2016 Paththini Villager
2017 Hima Tharaka [23]
2017 Sellam Nethnam Lellam
TBD Back to School [24]

References

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  1. ^ "Miyuri Samarasinghe films". IMDb. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Flowers of the spring of life are fragrant". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Because of understanding and competence, I did not take a step back - veteran artist Miyuri Samarasinghe". Divaina. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  4. ^ "Veteran actress Miyuri Samarasinghe no more". newsfirst. Retrieved 2021-02-06.
  5. ^ a b c "'Sapatheru Hamine' who hid lovely laugh". Silumina. Retrieved 2021-06-18.
  6. ^ "Nekatha at two places". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  7. ^ "Miyuri Samarasinghe filmography". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  8. ^ "Actress Miyuri Samarasinghe, who acted in the most teledramas, has passed away". gossiplankanews. Retrieved 2021-02-06.
  9. ^ ""Miyuri Samarasinghe Rangabhinandana" Festival". Sinhala news. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  10. ^ "Dayan honorary title". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  11. ^ a b c "Nalan Mendis teledramas". Nalan Mendis official website. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  12. ^ "Hiruta Pipena Sooriyakantha ready for telecast". Sunday Times. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  13. ^ "Not just this story but just one chapter: Eranga Senaratne about Ilandariyo". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-04-04.
  14. ^ "Sinhala Tele-Drama Maya Seya". vodtv. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  15. ^ "Sansara Sakmana on Sirasa TV". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  16. ^ "All about Madol Duwa". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  17. ^ "All about 'Yasa Isuru'". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  18. ^ "All about "Mangala Thegga"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  19. ^ "All about Viragaya". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  20. ^ "Keli Madala Sinhala Movie කෙළි මඬල". vodtv. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  21. ^ "Jack and Jill Sinhala Movie". vodtv. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  22. ^ "Rosa Patikki Sinhala Film (Adults Only)". vodtv. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  23. ^ "Challenging portrayals". Daily News. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  24. ^ "New director with Back to School". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
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