Wilson Gunaratne

Wilson Gunaratne
විල්සන් ගුණරත්න
Born (1949-03-09) 9 March 1949 (age 75)
Kadawatha, Sri Lanka
NationalitySri Lankan
EducationKalutara Vidyalaya
Sri Dharmaloka College
Occupation(s)Actor, comedian, director
Years active1983 – present

Wilson Gunaratne (born March 9, 1949, as විල්සන් ගුණරත්න [Sinhala]) is an actor and comedian in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television. He is most notable for the role of Kodithuwakku in television comedy sitcom Nonavaruni Mahathvaruni and stage drama Charitha Atak. It is the only stage play in Sri Lanka in which one actor portrays eight different characters with eight different voices.[1]

Acting career

At that time when he was working in an executive position in the field of hotel management, Gunaratne met Tony Ranasinghe through his elder brother. Under his guidance, Gunaratne played a minor role in a scene shot in the hotel premises for a film. Then Tony nominated Gunaratne for the role of the 'Duke' in Shakespeare's translation stage play Veniciye Welenda directed by playwright Bandula Vithanage. The play marked the turning point of his acting career. Later he performed in two of Vithanage's plays: Sakala Jana, Muhuṇu Dekak. Meanwhile, he did a scientific study of comedy at IFT, an affiliate of the University of Noida, New Delhi.[2]

He was introduced to teledrama under the guidance of former parliamentary translator and actor Alfred Perera. Alfred has worked in China and the Philippines Radio. He invited Gunaratne to the orchestra for the popular television serial Vinoda Samaya program aired by the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation. He was the drummer of that program.[3] His maiden cinema acting came through film Samuganimi Ma Samiyani directed by his elder brother. Then he got a chance to play in his brother's second directed film Sasaraka Pethuma.[3]

Gunaratne was highly popularized with the television sitcom Nonavaruni Mahathvaruni through the character Kodithuwakku.[4] In the meantime, he acted in the serial Sathpura Wasiyo with the role "Pappa" which made his hallmark in drama career.[3] Apart from that, he produced a political comedy stage drama titled Charitha Hathak, which was later updated into Charitha Atak.[5] Since its opening, Charitha Hathak has completed 37 shows within eight months. His seven characters include, Kodituwakku from "Nonava-runi Mahatvaruni", Pappa, Prof. Pragnaratne, Transport Teacher Mr. Bastian, Prof. Marenzie (Italian).

In 1998, he made first directorial debut with the television political satire Kodivinaya telecast by ITN.[6]

Selected stage dramas

  • Charitha Hathak[7]
  • Charitha Atak[8]

Selected television serials

  • Bhavana - Amuttha[9]
  • Charitha Dekak[10]
  • Hathara Wate[11]
  • Kinihiraka Pipi Mal [12]
  • Kodivinaya
  • Kiyadenna Adare Tharam
  • Kula Kumariya [13]
  • Kulavilokanaya[14]
  • Nonavaruni Mahathvaruni
  • Kathura
  • Sadisi Tharanaya [15]
  • Vinivindimi[16]
  • Willy King Show
  • Yes Madam

Filmography

  • No. denotes the Number of Sri Lankan film in the Sri Lankan cinema.[17]
Year No. Film Roles Ref.
1983 552 Samuganimi Ma Samiyani
1985 611 Adara Kathawa
1986 646 Koti Waligaya
1987 656 Sathyagrahanaya Lockout orator [18]
1990 698 Thanha Asha
1991 722 Keli Madala Office Ranjani greeter
1998 890 Gini Avi Saha Gini Keli Paththini Charles [19]
1999 922 Theertha Yathra [20]
2000 944 Pem Kekula Jayathunga [21][22]
2003 1003 Thani Thatuwen Piyabanna Garage owner [23]
2012
-
 A Common Man Prakash Kumar [24]
2012 1183 Jeevithe Lassanai Jayasundara, Wishwa's father [25]
2013 1193 Kauda Machan Alice [26]
2013 1196 Samanala Sandhawaniya Danny, Vadisha's Manager [27]
2013 1197 Double Trouble [28]
2013 1184 Sri Siddhartha Gautama Sage Asitha [29]
2015 1230 None Mage Sudu None Hector [30]
2017 1276 Ali Kathawa Maha Amathi [31]
2018 1304 Bimba Devi Alias Yashodhara Sage Asitha [32]
2019 1322 Thaala Secretary Senaratne [33]
2019 President Super Star J.R. Jayawardena dummy [34]
2020 Suparna Professor [35]
TBD Eka Gei Sokari [36]

References

  1. ^ "Fun times With Wilson Gunaratne's Charitha Atak". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  2. ^ "I became a comedian to heal people's minds". Silumina. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  3. ^ a b c "I'm an artist who heals people's minds". Dinamina. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  4. ^ "One of a kind". Daily News. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  5. ^ "New version Charitha Atak". Sunday Times. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  6. ^ "'Kodivinaya': curse overtakes country". Sunday Times. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  7. ^ "'Charithe Hathak':Two hours with Kodituwakku". Sunday Times. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  8. ^ "'Charitha Atak' A Stress free evening". Sunday Times. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  9. ^ "16 short stories on mini screen". Sunday Times. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  10. ^ "Bermin Lyle's hilarious drama". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  11. ^ "'Hatara Wate' deals with routine events". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  12. ^ "Screen show for Women's Day". Sunday Times. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  13. ^ "'Jane Eyre' on miniscreen". Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  14. ^ "Treble teledrama treat from Swarnavahini". Sunday Times. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  15. ^ "Devinda starts new journey with 'Sadisi Tharanaya'". Sunday Times. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  16. ^ "Top short stories on mini screen". Sunday times. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  17. ^ "Sri Lankan Cinema History". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  18. ^ "All about Sathyagrahanaya". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  19. ^ "Sinhala screened films". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  20. ^ "'Theertha yatra' goes in search of family roots". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  21. ^ "Roy's 'Pem Kekula' will blossom soon". Sunday Times. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  22. ^ "'Pem Kekula' goes back to a hilarious past". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  23. ^ "FLYING WITH ONE WING". WordPress.com. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  24. ^ "Lankans' film wins three awards". The Island. 2013-07-08. Retrieved 2013-07-09.
  25. ^ "Jeevithe Lassanai". www.nfc.gov.lk. Retrieved 2016-07-01.
  26. ^ "Kawda Machan Alice". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  27. ^ "Samanala Sandhawaniya (2013) Plot Summary". IMDB. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  28. ^ "Double Trouble". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  29. ^ "Sri Siddhartha Gautama cast take a bow". Daily News. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  30. ^ "None Mage Sudu None". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  31. ^ Ali Kathawa (2017), retrieved 2017-05-07
  32. ^ "'Yashodhara' in theatres from April 26". Sunday Times. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  33. ^ "Thaala - තාල". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  34. ^ "The presidential stage where four people are competing". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  35. ^ "The girl from Bhima - plot of Suparna". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
  36. ^ "Real life Draupadis in the picture". Daily News. Retrieved 17 July 2019.