Sanath Gunathilake

Sanath Gunathilake
Born
Somsiri Sanath Julien Gunatilake

(1955-10-27) 27 October 1955 (age 69)
Kandy, Sri Lanka
EducationKingswood College
OccupationActor
Years active1978–present
Known forSinhala Cinema Hero in '80s and '90s
Notable workViragaya

Somsiri Sanath Julien Gunatilake (born 27 October 1955: Sinhala:සනත් ගුණතිලක), popularly as Sanath Gunatilake, is an actor, director, screenwriter in Sri Lankan cinema and film director. A highly versatile actor across many genres, Gunatilake is a veteran actor in the Sri Lankan cinema industry with a career spanning more than four decades. He Served as a member of Western Provincial Council as United National Party member, and later join as media head of President Chandrika Kumaratunga.

Personal life

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Gunatilake was born on 27 October 1955, in Mulgampola, Kandy, Sri Lanka, to a middle-class family where his father Hector Gunatilake was a lawyer and mother Grace Goonetileke was a teacher. According to him, his father is a good fan of cinema, and this has influenced him to take part in art at an early age. He was educated at Kingswood College, Kandy and successfully passed GCE O/L, but failed to mark in A/L as he wished to do.[1]

As his first job, he worked as chemistry teacher. Meanwhile, he came to Colombo in search of a new job by quitting his tuition classes in Kandy.[2]

Film career

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He made his cinema debut in 1978 in the movie Situ Kumariyo, directed by Vijaya Dharmasiri. However, before the release of his first film, his second film Ganga Addara was screened. Then Sathweni Dawasa was screened. After screening Situ Kumariyo his next film Vajira was screened. The turning point of his success as an actor was his starring role in the movie Ganga Addara, directed by Sumitra Peries. Then his most notable acting came through the role 'Aravinda' in the film Viragaya. For that role, he won Best Actor awards at every film festival in Sri Lanka. Among the high-profile films Sanath has acted in are: Kedapatha, Palama Yata, Doorkada Marawa and Rajya Sevaya Pinisai.[2]

Apart from dramatic role, he made several commercial film appearances along with Vijaya Kumaratunga, Jeewan Kumaratunga and Ranjan Ramanayake in the films Koti Waligaya, Dinuma, Raja Wedakarayo, Nommara 17, Obatai Priye Adare and Inspector Geetha.[2]

Filmography

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Key
† Denotes films that have not yet been released
Year Film Role Notes
1980 Ganga Addara Ranjith
1981 Situ Kumariyo
Vajira Newton
Sathweni Dawasa Alphonso
Sathkulu Pauwa
Saranga
Aradhana
Amme Mata Samawenna Wasantha
1982 Yahalu Yeheli Pujitharatne
Thani Tharuwa Tharanga
Ridee Nimnaya Rathnapala
Nawatha Hamu Wemu
Kiri Suwanda
Kele Mal Chandana
Chathu Madhura Sunil
1983 Sivu Ranga Sena
Sister Mary
Kaliyugaya
1984 Thaththai Puthai Saliya
Shirani
Batti Surin Hamu
Sathi Puja Kapila
Sasara Chethana
Podi Ralahami
Maya
Maala Giravi
Dewani Gamana Saman
1985 Vasity Kella
Mihidum Salu Doctor Senaka
Kiri Madu Wel
Chalitha Rangali as Producer
Aya Waradida Oba Kiyanna
Araliya Mal Chandana
1986 Prarthana
Maldeniye Simiyon Justin [3]
Mal Warusa Jagath Weerasuriya
Koti Valigaya
Dinuma Sarath Jayathilaka
Avurududa Dhanushka
1987 Viragaya Aravinda Sarasaviya Awards - Best Actor [4]
Thaththi Man Adarei
Randamwel
Raja Wedakarayoo Ranjan
Obatai Priye Adare Amith
Mangala Thegga
Kawuluva
1988 Satana
Rasa Rahasak Sanath / Wickrama
Chandingeth Chandiya Dharmadasa
1989 Okkoma Rajavaru
Nommara 17 Naatha
Kedapathaka Chaya Piyathilaka Sarasaviya Awards - Best Supporting Actor [5]
Sebaliyo Nimal
1990 Pem Raja Dahana Sargent Ranasinghe
Palama Yata Willie Sarasaviya Awards - Best Actor [6]
Madhu Sihina Suraj
Hodin Nathnam Narakin Lokke
Dese Mal Pipila Sumedha
1991 Uthura Dakuna Sanath
Love In Bangkok Jagath
Dhanaya Athula
[7]
Cheriyo Doctor Chaminda Randenigala
1992 Sisila Gini Gani Harris Makalanda as Producer
Sinhayangeth Sinhaya Mahesh
Sakkara Sooththara
Rumathiyai Neethiyai as Producer/Screen Writer
Raja Daruwo Sanath and his father (dual role)
Malsara Doni Janaka Perera
Kiyala Wedek Nae
1993 Sasara Serisaranathek Oba Mage as Producer
Nelum Ha Samanmalee
Madara Parasathu Sirithunga
Chaya
Bambasara Bisawu
1994 Sujatha new
Mee Haraka
Hello My Darlin
Aathmaa
1995 Vairayen Vairaya
Inspector Geetha
Cheriyo Captain Rahal
1996 Veediye Veeraya
Sebae Mithura
Bawa Sasara
1997 Duwata Mawaka Misa
1998 Vimukthi
Eya Obata Barai
Dorakada Marawa Priyantha
2000 Sanda Yahanata Jagath Hathurusinghe [8]
Rajya Sevaya Pinisai Minister Janaka Situbandara
Pem Kekula Jerome [9]
Chakraayudha
2001 Oba Koheda Priye George Madanayake [10]
2002 Somy Boys Sanath
Agnidahaya Ambanwala Rala
2003 Wekande Walauwa Gunapala
Sudu Kaluwara Seemon Fernando 'Mudalali'
Sakman Maluwa Tissa Sarasaviya Awards - Best Actor
Le Kiri Kandulu Asela
2004 Kangalal Kaidhu Sei Pratap Tamil film
Selamuthu Pinna Sanath Sir [11]
Randiya Dahara Colonel Chanuka Hettiarachchi
Mille Soya Sagara
Diya Yata Gindara Sampath Harischandra [12]
2005 Sulanga Senarathne
Asani Warsha Minister Sirimanne
Sudu Kalu Saha Alu Assa Peter
2006 Nilambare Nimal
Anjalika Clifford Imbulgoda
Ammawarune Doctor
Naga Kanya Saman
2007 Asai Man Piyabanna Sapumal Senadheera
Aganthukaya Chief Minister Simon Galagedara
2008 Rosa Kale Mr. Sooriyabandara
Pitasakwala Kumarayai Pancho Hathai
Nil Diya Yahana Minister
Adaraye Namayen
Superstar Ranjith Bandara
Siri Raja Siri Principal
2009 Kanyavi Janaka
Ekamath Eka Rateka As Director/Screen Play Writer
Dancing Star
Alimankada Major Kiriella
Ali Surathal Rathnayaka
2010 Uththara Minister Niwanthudawa
Suwanda Denuna Jeewithe cameo role
Mago Digo Dai Minister Sathyapala
Kawulu Dora [13]
Hadawatha Mal Yayai
2011 Sinhawalokanaya Gam Muladani
King Hunther Nayakathuma
Gamani Military Officer
Angara Dangara Principal Pathirana
2012 Sihinaya Dige Enna Father
2013 Doni Bandu
Ira Laga Wadi Saliya
Super Six Preme, Sanath's brother
2014 Samige Kathawa
Parapura Minister Marasinghe
Kalpanthe Sihinayak Mapa
2015 Sinhaya Minister
Sinahawa Atharin Wimal As Script Writer and Director
Pravegaya Police Officer Guest Appearance
2017 Pani Makuluwo Ranaweera
2019 Sangile Punchi Malli
Thiththa Aththa [14]
Rush Prof. Madugalle [15]
President Super Star Judge Daham Daranagama [16]
2021 Wassane Sihinaya [17]
Uthuru Sulanga [18]
2023 Guththila [19]
Nattami Army
Rider
2024 Ridee Seenu [20]
Kambili cameo
TBA Yodhayange Adawiya † Filming[21]
TBA Monara Vilak † Post production[22]
TBA Suvisi Vivarana † [23]

References

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  1. ^ "Sanath Gunathilake's epiphanies". The Island. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  2. ^ a b c "Sanath Gunathilaka who did not die to bring 'Aravinda' to life". Silumina. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  3. ^ "'Maldeniye Simeon' back after 20 years". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  4. ^ "All about Viragaya". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  5. ^ "All about Kedapathaka Chaya". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  6. ^ "All about the film "Palama Yata"". Sarasaviya. May 2019. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  7. ^ "All about "Mahesh"". sarasaviya. 25 April 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  8. ^ "A film off the beaten track". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  9. ^ "'Pem Kekula' goes back to a hilarious past". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  10. ^ "'Oba Koheda Priye': Story of deceit and intrigue". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  11. ^ "New faces in 'Salamuthu Pinna'". Sunday Times. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  12. ^ "CEL's first production: 'Diya Yata Gindara'". Sunday Times. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  13. ^ "'Kavulu Dora' opens for public". Sunday Times. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  14. ^ "The story of Walisinghe". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  15. ^ "Arrival of a filmmaker who owns the future". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  16. ^ "The presidential stage where four people are competing". Sarasaviya. 7 August 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  17. ^ "The Separating Time Cycle 'Wassane Sihinaya'". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  18. ^ "The story of a young man in the south caught in the north wind". Sarasaviya. 8 July 2020. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  19. ^ "Tale of Guththila becomes a cinema". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
  20. ^ "The silver bells are finished". සරසවිය. 6 April 2022. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  21. ^ "යෝධයන්ගේ අඩවිය වැඩ ඇරැඹේ". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  22. ^ "Malini with Sanath after 14 years". Sarasaviya. 21 August 2019. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  23. ^ "සිත් මල විකසිත සිතුවිලි නර්තනය සූවිසි විවරණ". Sarasaviya. February 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
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