Dehipitiyage Don Somasiri (January 29, 1933 – April 27, 1982), popularly as Somasiri Dehipitiya, was a popular Sri Lankan character actor.[1] He is best known for performances in Dharmasena Pathiraja and Vasantha Obeysekera films.

Somasiri Dehipitiya
සෝමසිරි දෙහිපිටිය
Born
Dehipitiyage Don Somasiri

(1933-01-29)January 29, 1933
Gampaha, Sri Lanka
DiedApril 27, 1982(1982-04-27) (aged 49)
Gampaha, Sri Lanka
NationalitySri Lankan
EducationGalahitiyawe Central College
OccupationActor
Years active1967–1982
SpouseRupa Ranasinghe
Children2

Personal life

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Dehipitiya was born on January 29, 1933, in Gampaha, Sri Lanka. His father, Wilson Dehipitiya worked in the Railway Department. His mother Catherine Wingasinghe was a housewife.[2] He completed education from Gampaha Primary School and later at Galahitiyawa Central College. After completing his primary education, he began work as a civil servant eventually reaching a position at the Vehicles Department - Colombo in the engineer division.[3] While appearing in cinema and theatre, he professionally worked as a store keeper in the Irrigation Department.[2]

His younger brother, Chandrasiri Dehipitiya was also a renowned actor, art director and sculptor. Chandrasiri was the artistic director of the film 'Ves Gatto'. He was also a member of the choir in the play 'Maname'. Chandrasiri died on 9 December 2020.[4] Dehipitiya was married to his longtime partner Rupa Ranasinghe who worked as a dance teacher in government schools and also acted as a dancer in about four films including Laa Dalu and Akkara Paha. He was a father of one son: Damith Sirilal, and one daughter: Nayananjali, who specializes in advertising as well as film costume design. Damith is a Regional Manager at a private bank who is three years older than Nayananjali.[2]

In 1981, he suffered from jaundice.[2] He died of alcoholism in 1982.[3]

Career

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He displayed his artistic talents since the age of ten, where in 1951 he greeted the then Prime Minister DS Senanayake with a warm welcome who came to his college. He later moved to drama and later won the Best Actor award for his role in Manamula at the 1954 School Drama Competition. Somasiri then entered radio at a young age with many talents. He once played the flute and at one time exhibited his talents as a radio dramatist. Meanwhile, veteran radio artist Gemunu Wijesuriya saw his talent and took steps to introduce Somasiri to the public stage.[2]

He started to act in stage plays such as Mati Karaththaya, Rathnawali produced by P. Welikala as well as Mahagamasekera's Kundalakeshi, Swarnahansi. Then he joined Ediriweera Sarachchandra for his numerous stage plays such as Pabawathi, Raththaran, Elowa Gihin Melowa Awa and Kundala Keshi. Then he acted in Dayananda Gunawardena's Ibi Katta, Amathi Pattama, and Neil Wijesinghe's Ane Massine.[5]

Dehipitiya made his acting debut in Siri Gunasinghe's landmark Sath Samudura in 1967. Throughout the 1970s and early-1980s, he was a mainstay in alternative cinema with roles in such critically acclaimed works as Thun Man Handiya (1970), Ves Gatho (1970), Hara Lakshaya (1971), Ahas Gauwa (1974), Sihasuna (1974), Walmath Wuvo (1977), Deviyani Oba Koheda (1977), Eya Dan Loku Lamayek (1977), Bambaru Awith (1978), Anupama (1978), Sarungale (1979), Podi Malli (1979), Siribo Aiyya (1980), Para Dige (1980), Karumakarayo (1980), Soldadu Unnahe (1981), Sagarayak Meda (1981) and Ridi Nimnaya (1982).[3][6]

Dehipitiya also dabbled as an assistant director with Ves Gatho in 1970 and as a playback singer in Walmath Wuvo with Cyril Wickramage. In 1980, Dehipitiya won the award for the Best Supporting Actor for his role in Siribo Ayya in Presidential Award Ceremony.[5]

Legacy

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The 40th Commemoration Ceremony was held on Saturday 23rd at 3.00 pm at the Tharangani Hall of the National Film Corporation. After that, the film Diyamanthi was screened.[2]

Filmography

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Year Film Role Ref.
1967 Sath Samudura Peter [7]
1970 Thun Man Handiya Jamis
1970 Wes Gaththo Somey
1971 Haara Lakshaya Seney's brother-in-law
1973 Hathdinnath Tharu Pearli's father
1973 Dahakin Ekek Consoling Villager
1973 Sadahatama Oba Mage
1974 Ahas Gauwa Somey
1974 Sihasuna Kirigora
1974 Kasthuri Suwanda Danapala 'Dannaya' [8]
1974 Dinum Kanuwa
1974 Kalyani Ganga Fisherman
1974 Sagarika
1975 Aese Idiripita
1975 Lassana Dawasak Somey
1976 Pradeepe Ma Wewa
1976 Saradielge Putha Mudalithuma 'Mudaliyar'
1976 Mangala
1976 Nilla Soya [9]
1976 Walmath Wuwo Somadasa
1976 Diyamanthi Kushan Gunawardena 'Kojath Gune'
1977 Deviyani Oba Kohida Jamis [10]
1977 Pembara Madhu
1977 Eya Dan Loku Lamayek Bootlegger
1977 Chandi Putha Cyril [11]
1977 Maruwa Samaga Wase Piyadasa 'Mudalali'
1978 Asha Dasin
1978 Selinage Walawwa Simon 'Aiyya'
1978 Veera Puran Appu Puran Appu's brother
1978 Bambaru Avith Anton's friend
1978 Kumara Kumariyo William
1978 Anupama Mudalali [12]
1979 Sarungale Mr. Jayasekara [13]
1979 Visihathara Peya Jothindra
1980 Jodu Walalu
1980 Kanchana
1980 Siribo Ayya Bandulahamy
1980 Parithyagaya Jayathilaka's uncle
1980 Para dige
1980 Karumakkarayo Weladum Mahathaya [14]
1981 Valampuri
1981 Soldadu Unnehe
1981 Vajira Vajira's father
1981 Sagarayak Meda Jailed abortion doctor
1981 Sathara Diganthaya
1981 Samawenna Peter
1982 Re Manamali Manori's father
1982 Sakvithi Suwaya Mr. Gunawardena 'Gune'
1982 Ridee Nimnaya
1982 Yahalu Yeheli Kalu Diyonis
1983 Sandamali Appuhamy
1983 Sumithuro Suranga's father
1983 Niliyakata Pem Kalemi Brucle 'Mudalali'
1983 Bonikka Duncan Wickremasinghe
1984 Niwan Dakna Jathi Dakwa
1984 Batti
1985 Karadiya Walalla

References

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  1. ^ "සෝමසිරි දෙහිපිටිය නම් වූ හිත හොඳ මිනිසා..." Divaina. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Will my daughter applaud if I receive a gift?". සරසවිය. 2022-04-20. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
  3. ^ a b c Kumara, Nuwan Nayanajith (2005). Sri Lankeya Cinema Vanshaya (Sri Lankan Film Chronicle). Sarasavi Publishers. ISBN 955-573-367-8.
  4. ^ "Dehipitiya bids farewell". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2020-12-11.
  5. ^ a b "දෙහිපිටිය සමුගෙන තිස් හතර වසරයි". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  6. ^ "50 years for Dehipitiya's demise". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  7. ^ "All about "Sath Samudura"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2020-12-02.
  8. ^ "All about the film "Kasthuri Suwanda"". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  9. ^ "All about Nilla Soya". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  10. ^ "Deviyani Oba Koheda". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  11. ^ "All about Chandi Putha". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  12. ^ "All about the film "Anupama"". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  13. ^ "All about Sarungale". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  14. ^ "All about the film "Karumakkarayo"". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
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