B. A. W. Jayamanne
Encyclopedia
B. Aloy W. Jayamanne was a Sri Lankan
playwright, director, producer and actor. He played a major role in the making of the first Sinhala film Kadawunu Poronduwa
in 1947; Jayamanne achieved a level of popularity as a director with movies starring Rukmani Devi
and Eddie Jayamanne
in the 1950s.
Aloy and his brother Eddie were born in Negombo
to W. Don Thomas, a teacher at Maris Stella College
. They formed the Minerva theater group in the 1930s and achieved some fame running plays that depicted contemporary middle class and village situations in contrast to the Tower Hall plays popular at the time which featured archaic tales of Sri Lankan kings. The Minerva dramas usually featured Rukmani Devi, Eddie and Jemini Kantha in the lead roles.
Around 1947, Aloy was approached by South Indian producer S. M. Nayagam to turn his popular play Kadawunu Poronduwa into a movie. Nayagam had noted its popularity and concluded that it would be a fairly viable investment. Although having misgivings initially, Aloy relented and the film was produced and released to commercial success in April 1947.
Aloy subsequently oversaw the adaption of a couple of his other plays before trying his hand at directing with Hadisi Vinischaya (with Mabel Blythe
taking over for Jemini Kantha) in 1949. Due to the infancy of the film industry, BAW managed to dominate box office with minimal competition over the following years. Sangawunu Pilithura was released in 1951 and Umathu Wishwasaya in 1952.
Aloy had one of his biggest hits with Kele Handa
in 1953; it made Sri Lankan film history as the first direct literary adaption and introduced actress Rita Ratnayake
. His subsequent films include Iranganie (1954), Mathabedaya (1955, introducing actress Ruby de Mel
), Daiva Vipakaya (1956), Wanaliya (1958), Hadisi Vivahaya (1959), Kawata Andare (1960), Jeewithe Pujawe (1961), Mangalika (1963) and Magul Poruwa (1967).
Aloy died on February 16, 1965 while making the film Magul Poruwa. It was completed by S. Ramanathan.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
playwright, director, producer and actor. He played a major role in the making of the first Sinhala film Kadawunu Poronduwa
Kadawunu Poronduwa
Kadawunu Poronduwa was the first film to be made in the Sinhala language; it is generally considered to have heralded the coming of Sinhala Cinema. The film was produced and filmed in India however, and was highly influenced by South Indian melodrama...
in 1947; Jayamanne achieved a level of popularity as a director with movies starring Rukmani Devi
Rukmani Devi
Rukmani Devi was a Sri Lankan singer and actress, who was often acclaimed as "The Nightingale of Sri Lanka". She made it to the silver screen via the stage and had acted in close to 100 films, at the time of her death...
and Eddie Jayamanne
Eddie Jayamanne
Wanniaarachchige Don David Victor Jayamanne was a popular Sri Lankan comedian and actor of early Sri Lankan cinema....
in the 1950s.
Aloy and his brother Eddie were born in Negombo
Negombo
Negombo is a town of about 121,933, approximately 37 km north of Colombo, in Sri Lanka. It is located at the mouth of the Negombo Lagoon, about 7 km from the Bandaranaike International Airport...
to W. Don Thomas, a teacher at Maris Stella College
Maris Stella College
Maris Stella College in Negombo is one of the best and oldest Catholic Colleges in Sri Lanka, founded by the Marist Brothers in 1922.- History :...
. They formed the Minerva theater group in the 1930s and achieved some fame running plays that depicted contemporary middle class and village situations in contrast to the Tower Hall plays popular at the time which featured archaic tales of Sri Lankan kings. The Minerva dramas usually featured Rukmani Devi, Eddie and Jemini Kantha in the lead roles.
Around 1947, Aloy was approached by South Indian producer S. M. Nayagam to turn his popular play Kadawunu Poronduwa into a movie. Nayagam had noted its popularity and concluded that it would be a fairly viable investment. Although having misgivings initially, Aloy relented and the film was produced and released to commercial success in April 1947.
Aloy subsequently oversaw the adaption of a couple of his other plays before trying his hand at directing with Hadisi Vinischaya (with Mabel Blythe
Mabel Blythe
Mabel Blythe was a popular Sri Lankan actress and singer who appeared in early Sinhala films opposite Eddie Jayamanne.Blythe was born on March 28, 1930. Actress Jemini Kantha introduced her to B. A. W. Jayamanne who cast Blythe in Hadisi Vinishchaya opposite Eddie Jayamanne...
taking over for Jemini Kantha) in 1949. Due to the infancy of the film industry, BAW managed to dominate box office with minimal competition over the following years. Sangawunu Pilithura was released in 1951 and Umathu Wishwasaya in 1952.
Aloy had one of his biggest hits with Kele Handa
Kele Handa
Kele Handa is a 1953 Sri Lankan romantic musical starring Rukmani Devi, Stanley Perera, Eddie Jayamanne, Rita Ratnayake and Mabel Blythe. It is based on a popular Sinhalese novel by W. A. Silva....
in 1953; it made Sri Lankan film history as the first direct literary adaption and introduced actress Rita Ratnayake
Rita Ratnayake
Rita Filomina Ratnayake was a Sri Lankan actress who was popular in the '50s, '60s and '70s. She came to repute in Kele Handa in the role of Daisy Attanayake....
. His subsequent films include Iranganie (1954), Mathabedaya (1955, introducing actress Ruby de Mel
Ruby de Mel
Ruby Jasmine de Mel was a popular Sri Lankan actress. She often played bullying motherly characters.de Mel was born in Moratuwa to an anglicized Sinhala family and attended Princess of Wales College, Moratuwa and Newstead Balika, Negombo...
), Daiva Vipakaya (1956), Wanaliya (1958), Hadisi Vivahaya (1959), Kawata Andare (1960), Jeewithe Pujawe (1961), Mangalika (1963) and Magul Poruwa (1967).
Aloy died on February 16, 1965 while making the film Magul Poruwa. It was completed by S. Ramanathan.