Kala Suri Somalatha Subasinghe (2 July 1936 – 30 May 2015 as සෝමලතා සුබසිංහ) was a Sri Lankan actress, playwright, theatre director and educator from Sri Lanka.[1] She received both the Kala Suri and the Kala Keerthi in recognition of her contribution to Sri Lankan theatre.
Somalatha Subasinghe සෝමලතා සුබසිංහ | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 2 July 1936 Gampaha, Sri Lanka |
| Died | 30 May 2015 (aged 78) Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| Nationality | Sri Lankan |
| Education | University of Peradeniya |
| Occupations |
|
| Spouse | Lionel Fernando |
| Children | Kaushalya Fernando, Shyamalika Nanayakkara |
| Relatives | D. W. Subasinghe (brother) |
| Awards | |
Biography edit
Early life and education edit
Somalatha Subasinghe was born in Gampaha on 2 July 1936. Her father was a principal and her mother was a teacher. She attended Musaeus College and later Buddhist Ladies College, Colombo.[2] After successfully life
Subasinghe joined the Education Department of Sri Lanka in 1962 as a graduate teacher.[3] She taught drama at Nalanda College, Colombo in the mid-1970s.[4]
Family edit
In 1962, Somalatha was married to Lionel Fernando, who has acted as Sri Lanka's ambassador to Malaysia, the Netherlands and France.[2][5] They have two children, Kaushalya Fernando,[6] who is married to Dr. Chandana Aluthge,[7] and Shyamalika Nanayakkara.[5]
She died on 30 May 2015 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.[8]
Career edit
Involvement in theatre edit
Having shown an interest in art and music from a young age, Subasinghe's stage career took off while she was studying at the University of Peradeniya. Her first role, at age 24, was that of an old woman, the only female character in the original cast[9] of Ediriweera Sarachchandra's play Raththaran.[10] Sarachchandra encouraged her to consider a career in acting and became a lifelong influence on her.[9]
She founded the Lanka Children's and Youth Theatre Foundation (LCYTF) (also known as Play House - Kotte) in 1981.[11]
Somalatha Subasinghe's involvement in Sri Lankan theatre included her participation as an actress and later, as a scriptwriter and director of her own productions.[9][12] When she appeared as Sara in Mudu Puththu by Gunasena Galappaththi she performed her own songs, and sang with rhythm and melody.[12] The play, an adaptation of Garcia Lorca's Yerma,[1] included a well known song that is now sung by children.
Films edit
Somalatha Subasinghe also acted in films including Viragaya, Madol Duwa, Mahagedera, Thilaka Saha Thilaka, Me Mage Sandai, Sudu Kaluwara and Siribo Aiya.[13]
Television dramas edit
Somalatha Subasinghe acted in several television dramas including Ella Langa Walawwa, Gamperaliya and Suba Anagathayak.[8]
Awards and honours edit
Somalatha Subasinghe won Best Director and Best Translated Production awards for the stage play Yadam and the Best Director award for the play Antigone, at State Drama Festivals.[3] She has been recognised with the national Kala Suri award. She was given the Kala Keerthi awards for her contribution to theatre on 15 November 2005.[14]
Filmography edit
As a film actress edit
| Year | Film | Role | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Dahakin Ekek | Sirisena's mother | |
| 1976 | Madol Duwa | Upali's stepmother | [15] |
| 1976 | Thilaka saha Thilakaa | Thilake's mother | |
| 1979 | Wasanthaye Dawasak | Sudu Menike | |
| 1980 | Siribo Ayya | Biso's mother | |
| 1982 | Maha Gedara | Malwinna mother | [16] |
| 1983 | Muhudu Lihini | ||
| 1984 | Arunata Pera | Banda's sister | |
| 1984 | Parasathuro | Ran Ethana | |
| 1985 | Rejina | ||
| 1987 | Viragaya | Veda Hamine | [17] |
| 1993 | Guru Gedara | Ariya's mother | |
| 2003 | Sudu Kaluwara | Appuhamy's mother |
As a stage actress edit
- Role in Raththarang by Ediriweera Sarachchandra
- Role in Elowa Gihin Melowa Awa by Ediriweera Sarachchandra
- Role of Sara in Mudu Puththu (adaptation of Garcia Lorca’s Yerma) by Gunasena Galappaththi[12]
- Role of Jessica in Liya Thambara by Ranjith Dharmakeerthi
- Role in Diriya Mawa saha Age Daruwo (Sinhalese translation of Mother Courage) by Henry Jayasena
- Role of Ranavishaya in Cherry Uyana by Ranjith Dharmakeerthi
- Role in Hiru Nethi Lowa by Ranjith Dharmakeerthi
- Role of Kumari in Wes Muhunu by Dhamma Jagoda
- Role in Dayananda Gunawardena’s Nari Bena
As playwright/director edit
- 1982 Vikurthi (Distortion) an original play focusing on the problems of the education system of Sri Lanka.[18]
- 1985 Para Haraha (Across the Road) an original play based on the conflict between traffic and pedestrians.
- 1986 Sanda Kinduru (Buddhist theme) written by Gunasena Galappatthi, staged in collaboration with Sujatha Vidyalaya, subsequently for television - drama.
- 1990 Mudu Putthu (Yerma by Garcia Lorca) adaptation by Gunasena Galappatty
- 1990 Pawara Nuwarak (city of Fame) Adaptation of a Sinhala classical poem as a contemporary social comment
- 1991 Opera Wanyosi of Wole Soyinka (Adaptation as a trilingual Play-English/Sinhala/Tamil in collaboration with Dept. of English, University of Colombo.
- 1992 The Trial of Dedan Kimathi by Nugugi Wa Thionogo and Micere Gitahe Mugo Production in English in collaboration with the British Council, Colombo.
- 1992 Yadam (Chains) Sinhala Translation of The Trial of Dedan Kimathi by Nugugi Wa Thionogo.
- 1993 Antigone by Sophoclese Sinhala Production; Translated from English translation by E. F. Watling
- 1998 Mavakage Sangramaya Sinhala Translation of Mother Courage and Her Children by Bertolt Brecht, in collaboration with German Cultural Centre to commemorate 100th birth anniversary of Bertolt Brecht.
Plays for children edit
- 1979 Punchi Apata dan Therei (We Know It Now)[19]
- 1979 Thoppi Welenda (Hat Seller)[12]
- 1981 Gamarala Divya Loketa (Gamarala Going to Heaven)
- 1981 Rathmalee (adaptation of Red Riding Hood)
- 1988 Ottooi (Challenge)
- 1995 Hima Kumariya (adaptation of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs)
- 2003 Walas Pawula (adaptation of Goldilocks and Three Bears)
References edit
- ^ a b "She opened a magical chapter for children's drama". The Sunday Times. 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
- ^ a b "Somalatha's significance". The Sunday Observer. 2015. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
- ^ a b "Veteran dramatist Somalatha Subasinghe's funeral today". News.lk. 2015. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
- ^ ස්කෝලෙට යක් බෙරයක් ගන්නත් නාට්ය පෙන්නුවා ගාමිණී හෙට්ටිආරච්චි අතීතාවර්ජනය
- ^ a b "Somalatha Subasinghe plays multiple roles on 'Celeb Chat'". Sunday Times. 24 April 2011. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
- ^ "Somalatha, doyen of drama no more". Sunday Observer. 31 May 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
- ^ "Doyen of Sinhala drama bids farewell to the nation". Daily News. 1 June 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
- ^ a b "Veteran dramatist Somalatha Subasinghe passes away". The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). 2015. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
- ^ a b c "Multi-faceted theatre personality Somalatha Subasinghe". The Sunday Observer. 2001. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
- ^ "Successful survival". Ceylon Today. 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
- ^ "Somalatha Subasinghe; Pioneer of children's theatre". Sunday Times. 2015. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
- ^ a b c d "Somalatha Subasinghe: Creator of quality children's entertainment". The Sunday Observer. 16 November 2008. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
- ^ "Actress Somalatha Subasinghe passes away". News First. 2015. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
- ^ "National Honours". Sunday Observer. 20 November 2005. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
- ^ "All about Madol Duwa". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
- ^ "All about Maha Gedara". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
- ^ "All about Viragaya". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
- ^ "A fitting theatrical analysis on modern education: Somalatha Subasinghe's "Vikurthi"". Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
- ^ "Popular children's plays go on the boards". sundaytimes. Retrieved 11 January 2021.