Yasapalitha Nanayakkara

Delgahawatte Yasapalitha Wickramathilaka Nanayakkara (born 19 June 1940 – died 23 June 1996 as යසපාලිත නානායක්කාර) [Sinhala]), popularly known as Yasapalitha Nanayakkara, was an award-winning director in Sri Lankan cinema and stage drama.[1] He was also a screenwriter, producer, lyricist and actor.[2]

Yasapalitha Nanayakkara යසපාලිත නානායක්කාර
Born	Delgahawatte Yasapalitha Wickramathilaka Nanayakkara (1940-06-19)June 19, 1940 Udalamatta, Galle, Sri Lanka
Died	June 23, 1996(1996-06-23) (aged 56)
Nationality	Sri Lankan
Education	Richmond College, Galle
Occupation	Director, Producer, Screenplay writer, lyricist
Years active	1967–1996
Spouse(s)	Manoshi Perera
Children	Rajeewa Harshana
Parents	Francis Nanayakkara (father) Irene Elizabeth Wijesekara Dissanayake (mother)

He died on 23 June 1996 at the age of 56.

Personal life

Yasapalitha Nanayakkara was born on 19 June 1940 in Udalamatta village closer to Galle as the second of a family with nine siblings.[3] His father was Francis Nanayakkara and mother was Irene Elizabeth Wijesekara Dissanayake. He started his education from Buddhist Mixed School, Mihiripanna and then from Richmond College, Galle. He has four brothers - Vasudeva, Padmakumara, Hemakumara, Asanga and four younger sisters - Swarna Sakunthala, Ranjani, Lanka and Nilmini. His eldest brother Vasudeva Nanayakkara is a former minister and a member of the parliament.[4] His younger brother Hemakumara Nanayakkara is a former minister and governor of Western Province. Younger brother Padmakumara Nanayakkara is looking after father's business.[5]

He was married to Manoshi Perera and couple has two sons. His brother-in-law Somasiri Alakolanga, who is married to Manoshi's younger sister is also an actor.[6] His elder son, Rajeewa is a renowned actor as well as screenplay writer and an assistant director.[7] His younger son Harshana also acted in few films and a lawyer by profession.[8]

Drama career

He had a keen interest on drama since grade 2, where he acted as a newspaper salesman. At Richmond College, he acted in the school drama Hima Kumari Saha Agurumittan Hathdena. Yasapalitha joined Wijaya Abhayadeva as a supporting producer in the film Tissahamila. He was the producer of the film Vasanthi directed by Ananda Wickramasinghe. In that film, he played the role of an arrogant young man.[3]

In 1970, Yasapalitha joined the Chitrasena Kalayathanaya in Kollupitiya and learned the classical music from Titus Nonis, a music teacher.[3] He also directed the popular television serial - Patalawilla.[9]

Yasapalitha's first directorial venture, Thushara, was released in 1973, smashing income records. He also wrote the screenplay for the film. The film was shown in six cinemas for hundred consecutive days. By making fifty days in nineteen cinemas, it earned a large income.[3] He has directed 26 films from 1973 to 1999.[10][11]

Legacy

On 19 July 2007, there was a mega event to pay homage to the late popular filmmaker Yasapalitha Nanayakkara. The event was titled Rasa Sagarayak was held at the BMICH at 7.00 pm with the participation of Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake as Chief Guest jointly coordinated by the Kala Lanka Padanama. In the meantime, his popular films were telecasted on Sirasa TV at 10.30 pm.[12]

Filmography

Year	Film	Roles	Ref.
1967	Vasanthi	Producer, Actor
1973	Thushara	Director, Screenwriter
1974	Sahayata Danny	Director, Screenwriter
1976	Pradeepe Maa Wewa	Director, Screenwriter
1977	Age Adara Kathawa	Director, Screenwriter
1979	Geheniyak	Director, Screenwriter
1979	Monarathanna	Director
1980	Tak Tik Tuk	Director
1980	Muwan Pallessa 2	Director
1981	Geethika	Director, Screenwriter, Producer
1981	Anjaana	Director
1982	Newatha Hamuwemu	Director	[13]
1984	Jaya Sikurui	Director, Screenwriter, Producer
1985	Rosy	Director
1987	Yukthiyada Shakthiyada	Director, Screenwriter, Producer
1988	Rasa Rahasak	Director, Screenwriter, Producer
1990	Dedunnen Samanliyak	Director
1991	Sihina Ahase Wasanthaya	Director
1992	Jaya Sri We Kumariye	Director
1992	Suranimala	Director
1992	Muwan Palesse Kadira	Director
1993	Prathigna	Director, Screenwriter, Producer	[14]
1993	Chaya Maya	Director, Producer
1999	Rathu Aluyama	Director	[15]

References

1. "Production House in Sri Lanka". NKAR Travels & Tours (Pvt) Ltd. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
2. "Yasapalitha Nanayakkara". National Film Corporation Of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
3. "The ocean of taste in cinema". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
4. ""My Brother The Politician"". The Sunday Leader. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
5. "'Narrow escape from death' - Hemakumara". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
6. "Yasapalitha Nanayakkara :A name synonymous with keeping the cinemas Industry afloat". The Island. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
7. "Actor Rajeewa Nanayakkara". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
8. "Our political culture is on default mode Lawyer - Harshana Nanayakkara". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
9. "Patalawilla". Paradisaya. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
10. "Yasapalitha Nanayakkara filmography". The Island. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
11. "Yasapalitha Nanayakkara filmography". Rate Your Music. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
12. "'Yasapalitha instilled responsibility and discipline in me': Sanath". Sunday Times. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
13. "'Yasapalitha instilled responsibility and discipline in me': Sanath". Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
14. "Yasapalitha's 'Prathigna' on Rupavahini". Sunday Times. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
15. "' Rathu Aluyama': last creation of Yasapalitha". Sunday Times. Retrieved 14 July 2019.

External links

• Death of Irene Nanayakkara