Douglas Ranasinghe
ඩග්ලස් රණසිංහ | |
|---|---|
| Born | Morathennage Douglas Ranasinghe (1945-05-27) May 27, 1945 (age 79)
Kurunegala, Sri Lanka
|
| Nationality | Sri Lankan |
| Education | St. Anne's College, Kurunegala |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, Dramatist, Director, Writer , Broadcaster |
| Years active | 1967–present |
| Known for | Acting |
| Spouse | Sandya Kumari Ranasinghe |
| Children | Shribodhi Indrakheela Ranasinghe |
| Relatives | Thilaka Ranasinghe (sister) Narada Disasekara (brother-in-law) Saranga Disasekara (nephew) |
Morathennage Douglas Ranasinghe (born May 27, 1945, Sinhala: ඩග්ලස් රණසිංහ), is an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, theater, and television.[1][2] He acted in many supportive roles in movies including Akkara Paha, Yuganthaya, Viragaya, Sri Siddhartha Gautama and Dharmayuddhaya.[3]
Douglas Ranasinghe was born on 27 May 1945 in Thorawathura village, Kurunegala as the fourth child of the family. His father, James Ranasinghe, was a landowner and planter where he also served as a Village Head and Village Administration Secretary as well. His mother Seelawathi Valimuni was a teacher. Douglas was educated at St. Anne's College, Kurunegala. He is a fluent speaker of the College Sinhala and English Debating Team, a boxer, a member of the Cadet Corps and an athlete. He topped the 200 meters as a long distance runner and was also a short story writer.[4]
The Ranasinghe couple had seven children.[3] The eldest in the family, Malkanthi Gunaratne was also a writer and married to the owner of Maradana Ratna Book Publishing Company, L. A. Gunaratne. The second is Rupa Khemaratne, an English teacher. The third was Prema Srimathi worked as a Teacher Training Housing Superintendent in Ihalagama. The fifth is Lionel, a planter. Chandrara Siriwardena is the sixth child who served in the Ports Authority.[4] Youngest one is Tilaka Ranasinghe, an actress and broadcaster. Tilaka Ranasinghe worked at Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation.[5] Thilaka was married to singer Narada Disasekara.[6] The couple has one son Saranga Disasekara, an actor in Sinhala cinema and television.[7] Saranga was married to popular actress Dinakshie Priyasad.
He studied at St. Anne's College, Kurunegala and excellent in sports.[8] After the school, he was interested to become a lawyer and applied for Law College.[8] However, then he applied for the post of Sub Inspector.[3] He failed twice, but succeeded in third attempt. He was then transferred to a training course at Kalutara.[9]
Ranasinghe is married to Sandya Kumari, and the couple has one son, Shribodhi Indrakeela.[10]
Douglas came to Colombo from Kurunegala in 1966 to meet playwright Sathischandra Edirisinghe with his close relative Peter Amarasinghe. Then he got a character certificate from Edirisinghe for a police service interview. However, Edirisinghe brought Douglas to Henry Jayasena for his play.[4] He was chosen to play the role in stage drama Hunuwataye KathawabyHenry Jayasena.[9] This turned him towards the drama career. He acted in many critically acclaimed stage plays including Henry Jayasena's Apata Puthe Magak Nathe[11] and Ediriweera Sarachchandra's Hotabari Yuddhe.[12] He also appeared in the plays: Dunḍu Berē, Janēlaya, Kuvēṇi, The wedding, Taming of the Sorrow and Ahas Māḷigā. His last stage drama acting was Kusa Pabawathi.[4]
His maiden cinema acting came through 1970 film Akakra Paha, however his second film Romeo Juliet Kathawak directed by G. D. L. Perera released before Akkara Paha.[13] He acted in the short film Bhavana, directed by the Paul Zils.[8] With that film, he was able to entered into the Berlin Film Festival of 1970/1971.[9] Then he completed a three-year course at the London School of Filmmaking.[12] After the course, he was asked to stay back and take part in Shakespearean productions. However, he refused the offer and landed to Sri Lanka.[3]
In 1980s, he was the voice actor in the programs Guwan Viduli Ranga Madala and Keti Katha produced by Sugathapala de Silva. As a radio sound administrator, he recorded high drama, feature and music programs. He has directed few stage plays and television serials including Ranmasu Uayana and Sasara Chakra respectively.[3] As a television actor, he made notable roles in the serials: Avasanda, Maṭa Mahalu Vayasē, Ranmasu Uyana and Kaḷu Hansayō. He attended a three-year course at the International Film School in London, where he wrote the screenplay for the film Dancing Devils.[4]
| Year | Film | Role | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Romeo Juliet Kathawak | Romeo | [32] |
| 1970 | Akkara Paha | Samarasena | [33] |
| 1981 | Saranga | Suresh | |
| 1982 | Thana Girawi | Rathnapala | |
| 1982 | Kele Mal | Tissa | |
| 1983 | Siw Ranga Sena | Janaka | |
| 1984 | Adara Geethaya | Thushara | |
| 1984 | Niwan Dakna Jathi Dakwa | ||
| 1985 | Wathsala Akka | ||
| 1985 | Du Daruwo | ||
| 1985 | Yuganthaya | Aravinda | [34] |
| 1987 | Viragaya | Siridasa | [35] |
| 1992 | Kulageya | ||
| 1994 | Yuwathipathi | Janaraja | |
| 1994 | Le livre de cristal | Siri de Silva | |
| 1996 | Hiru Sanduta Mediwi | ||
| 1996 | Amanthaya | ||
| 2000 | Indrakeelaya | ||
| 2003 | Irasma | Sonali's husband | [36] |
| 2001 | Aswesuma | Senior Police Officer | [37] |
| 2006 | Ammawarune | Divisional Secretary | [38] |
| 2008 | Adara Meena | ||
| 2013 | Sri Siddhartha Gautama | King Suppabuddha | [39] |
| 2016 | Weerawarna | Ayesha's father | [40] |
| 2016 | Zoom | Father of two daughters | [41] |
| 2017 | Aloko Udapadi | Thanasiwa | [42] |
| 2017 | Dharmayuddhaya | Upali | [43] |
| 2018 | Nidahase Piya DS | Richard Aluwihare | [44] |
| TBD | Akarshaa | [45] | |
| TBD | CineMa | Sagara Premachandra | [46] |
| TBD | Visangamanaya | Dissanayake | [47] |
