Somapala Dharmapriya (29 September 1940 – 14 September 1992) (Sinhala: සෝමපාල ධර්මපි‍්‍රය), was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema as well as a cinematographer.[1][2]

Somapala Dharmapriya
සෝමපාල ධර්මපි‍්‍රය
Born
Somapala Dharmapriya

(1940-09-29)29 September 1940
Died14 September 1992(1992-09-14) (aged 51)
NationalitySri Lankan
EducationPrince of Wales' College, Moratuwa
Occupation(s)Actor, cinematographer
Years active1956–1990
SpousePrincy de Silva

Personal life

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Fernando was born on 29 September 1940 in Jaffna even though lived in Moratuwa. He was educated at Lakshapathiya Student College, Moratuwa, Prince of Wales' College, Moratuwa and Hunumulla Central College.[3]

In March 1990, he suffered from a malignant cancer of the tongue.[4] Doctors had his tongue amputated and underlying teeth were also removed. He could not speak and quit from cinema. There was also a film festival conducted by Lester to help him. In the final days, he only depend on melted food. He died on 14 September 1992 at the age of 51. He was married to Princy de Silva.[3]

Career

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In 1956 he entered cinema as a child artist with the film Rekava directed by Lester James Peries with the role "Sena".[4] Because he spent six months in Alawwa, Bandarawela and Kelaniya for about a month for filming, he lost the school and then attended to another school. He was highly popularized with the film. After that film, Dharmapriya acted in several commercially successful films directed by Lester, including Delovak Athara, Desa Nisa and Gehenu Lamai. However, he preferred to study cinematography and the technical side of cinema. Then, he studied cinematography under Willie Blake and worked as an assistant cinematographer in the films Gamperaliya and Delowak Athara.[3]

His maiden cinematography came through the film Adarawanthayo directed by Amaranath Jayathilake. He was the chief cinematographer in the films Pem Kurullo, Bonikka, Mawubima Nathnam Maranaya, Adara Kathawa, Salambak Handai, Salli Thibunata Madi and Mawubime Weerayo.[3][4]

Filmography

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Year Film Roles Ref.
1956 Rekava Sena [5]
1966 Delovak Athara Martin [6]
1679 Ran Salu Assistant Cinematographer
1968 Golu Hadawatha Assistant Cinematographer
1968 Adarawanthayo Cinematographer
1969 Baduth Ekka Horu Cinematographer
1969 Bakmaha Deege Assistant Cinematographer
1971 Abhirahasa Assistant Cinematographer
1975 Pem Kurullo Cinematographer
1975 Desa Nisa Shirtless villager. Assistant Cinematographer
1976 Madol Duwa Assistant Cinematographer
1978 Seetha Devi Assistant Cinematographer
1978 Gehenu Lamai Cyclist. Assistant Cinematographer
1978 Veera Puran Appu Assistant Cinematographer
1978 Ahasin Polawata Assistant Cinematographer
1980 Kinduru Kumari Assistant Cinematographer
1981 Tarzan, the Ape Man Camera Operator
1982 Hello Shyama Assistant Cinematographer
1983 Bonikka Cinematographer
1983 Kaliyugaya Assistant Cinematographer
1985 Adara Kathawa Cinematographer
1985 Mawubima Nathnam Maranaya Cinematographer
1985 Yuganthaya Assistant Cinematographer
1987 Sathyagrahanaya Cinematographer
1988 Sagara Jalaya Madi Handuwa Assistant Cinematographer
1991 Salambak Handai Cinematographer
1991 Awaragira Assistant Cinematographer
1993 Juriya Mamai Cinematographer
1994 Mawubime Veerayo Cinematographer
2000 Hansa Vilapaya Cinematographer

References

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  1. ^ "Actors of Sinhala cinema - Somapala Dharmapriya". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  2. ^ "Somapala Dharmapriya films". IMDb. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d "On the line, Anula and Sena went away". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  4. ^ a b c "පිළිකාව නිසා අපි අතරින් සමුගෙන ගිය සොඳුරු මිනිසුන්". lifie.lk. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  5. ^ "Lester says no to make movies". Divaina. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  6. ^ "දෙලොවක් අතර". mirrorarts. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
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