Christy Leonard Perera

Kala Keerthi Madurawela Arachchilage Christy Leonard Perera (born 27 July 1932 – died 23 December 2015 as ක්‍රිස්ටි ලෙනාඩ් පෙරේරා) [Sinhala]), popularly as Christy Leonard Perera, was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema as well as a musician and comedian.[1][2]

Christy Leonard Perera
ක්‍රිස්ටි ලෙනාඩ් පෙරේරා
Born
Madurawela Arachchilage Christy Leonard Perera

(1932-07-27)27 July 1932
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Died23 December 2015(2015-12-23) (aged 83)
Maligawatte, Colombo
NationalitySri Lankan
OccupationActor, Singer
Years active1949–1982
Spouse(s)Mary Loretta Rachal Perera (m. 1982)
AwardsKalabushana

Personal life

Perera was born on 27 July 1932 in Colombo.[3] He completed education from St. Lucia's College Colombo 13 .[4] His father worked as a port checker. He has two sisters. After the sudden death of father, his mother worked as a midwife at Suleiman Hospital. In the meantime, his older sister died suddenly. The other sister also died with that sadness.[5]

He was married to Mary Loretta Rachal Perera, a trained teacher.[6] Perera got married Rachel at St. Lucia Cathedral in Kotahena on 7 August 1982 at the age of 43. At that time, Perera was working at the Polythene Factory in Kotahena.[5]

He was a devoted Roman Catholic and regularly attached with St. Lucias Catherdral, Kotahena. He died on 23 December 2015 at the age of 83.[7] His remains were brought to his residence at Maligawatte housing scheme.[8] His final rites was held on 26 July 2015 at Borella Cemetery.[9][10]

Cinema career

In 1946 he participated amateur program at Radio Ceylon coordinated by Thevis Guruge. He imitated comedian Eddie Jayamanne and finally won the contest.[11] In 1948, Perera joined as a comedian in Radio Ceylon. Perera learned music under renowned composer B. S. Perera. Then he worked as a musician and playback singer. His first song was Kullen Pola Pola.[6] Some of her popular songs are, Mama Badapissa, Amma Kiyana Kiyatha Haki andAduru Walawe Punsada were recorded for HMV labels.[12][13] He sang the duet Hitha Yana Atha Yannata Heka with Gamini Fonseka and then sang the song Tikiri Lande Ali Nawathina Colomba Nagare with H. R. Jothipala.[14] His song Sakala Sirin Piri Siri Lankawe was an integral part of music shows back then.[15]

His classmate Prem Jayanth was the main actor in the film Sujatha.[11] With the guidance from Jayanth and fellow actor Dommie Jayawardena, Perera entered cinema.[16] He started cinema career in 1954 with the film Warada Kageda directed by T.R. Sundaram. The film was released at Gamini theatre, Colombo and became highly popular.[6] Then he acted in the film Adata Vediya Heta Hondai produced at Hendala Wijeya studio, Sri Lanka's first production house. He continuously established as a prominent comedian of early 1960s and played popular roles in the films Chandiya, Sukumali, Suneetha, Sundara Birinda, Allapu Gedara and Hondama Welawa.[17] His only television acting came through Athma Pooja directed by Ajith Perera. But the teledrama was not aired.[5]

His last film was Onna Mame Kella Panapi premiered on September 3, 1976.[11] He quit from acting after the death of his mother in 1979. The song Amma Kiya Kiyatha Haki Ekama Landakatai was written by Karunaratne Abeysekera for Perera's mother.[5] In 1994, he directed the film Aragalaya.

On 17 August 2002 Perera was honored with a festive ceremony.[5]

Filmography
YearFilmRoleRef.
1954Warada KagedaGobo
1954Radala PiliruwaThomas
1954Duppathage Duka
1956Suraya
1957SukumaliNikama
1957Salli Malli Salli
1958Suneetha
1958Sepali
1958SirimaliPenda
1960Sundara Birinda
1960Veera Vijaya
1963Adata Vediya Heta Hondai
1963Udarata Manike
1964Dheewarayo
1964Sithaka Mahima
1965ChandiyaKavi Kola Karaya
1965Yata Giya Dawasa
1965Allapu GedaraMusician
1966Maha Ra Hamuwu Sthriya
1967Okkoma Hari
1967Sura Chauraya
1968Wanasara
1968Ataweni Pudumaya
1969Oba Nathinam
1969Kohomada Wade
1970Athma Puja
1970Penawa Neda
1971Kalana Mithuro
1973Hondama Welawa
1974Duppathage HithawathaAnanda's friend[18]
1976Onna Mame Kella Panapi

References
  1. "Christy Leonard Perera - ක්‍රිස්ටි ලෙනාඩ් පෙරේරා filmography". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  2. "Actors in Sinhala cinema - Cristy Lenard Perera". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  3. "කලාකරුවන් සැමට සුබ උපන්දිනක් වේවා!!! 27.07.2014". suratha. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  4. "Christy Leonard Perera Passes Away". Asian Mirror. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  5. "He's a god to me - Christy Leonard Perera's wife Mary Loretta Racer Perera". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  6. "The popular actor-cum-singer". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  7. "Veteran actor, singer Christy Leonard dies". Daily News. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  8. "Christy Leonard is leaving". Dinamina. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  9. "Christy Leonard no more". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  10. "Popular singer and comedian Christy Leonard Perera has passed away". fastnews. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  11. "Christy Leonard passes away". Divaina. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  12. "Veteran Singer Christie Leonard expires at 83". dailynewssrilanka. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  13. "Musician Christy Leonard Perera passes away". News First. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  14. "Christy Leonard Perera remembrance". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  15. "Christy Leonard is silent". BBC Sinhala. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  16. "Christie Leonard Perera career". The Sunday Leader. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  17. "Christy Leonard Perera films". IMDb. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  18. "All about Duppathage Hithawatha". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.