Shesha Palihakkara
Encyclopedia
Shesha Palihakkara was an Sri Lanka
n dancer, actor, and producer. He achieved critical recognition with a starring role in Lester James Peries
' masterpiece Rekava
and as producer of Getawarayo
, Sarawita and Ranmuthu Duwa
.
district. He attended the St. Benedict's College in Kotahena and St. Joseph's College
in Colombo
. At the age of 14, Palihakkara witnessed the Sinhala dancer Chitrasena
perform in the Vidura ballet and was inspired to be a dancer.
Palihakkara left school without getting his Senior School Certificate in his late teens, and went to India
to train at Shanthi Nikethan. He stayed at the school for two years focusing on dance along with painting and sculpting. Palihakkara then enrolled at the Institute of Kala Kshethra in South India
majoring in dance.
After finishing his studies, he returned to Sri Lanka in 1948 and took part in a national pageant organized in celebration of the country's recent independence. Later with the help of Dr. P.R. Anthonis
and K.D.A. Perera, Palihakkara briefly started a dance school in Borella. He left for England in 1949 to join the Indian dancer Ramgopal's travelling ballet troupe, which performed in various venues in Europe.
On his return to Sri Lanka, Palihakkara was asked to choreograph movies like Ahankara Isthri and Puduma Leli. He got his first starring role in Matalang and travelled to Madras, India to film the movie in 1953. Palihakkara played a cruel king and his rogue bandit son; the film was a huge success and made Palihakkara a heart throb in Sri Lanka.
He next appeared in Rekava as an astrologer and stilt walker. The film wasn't a box office hit, but was critically praised and is considered a landmark in Sri Lankan cinema
. In 1954, Palihakkara worked in the makeup department of the United States film Bridge on the River Kwai which was filmed in Sri Lanka.
After the film was made, Palihakkara travelled to London
to rejoin his friend Ramgopal and his dancing troupe. Ten months later he became a member of the Asian Music Society. In 1959 he was stricken with asthma
and returned to Sri Lanka.
and Sir Arthur C. Clarke
, Palihakkara developed the first Sinhala colour film Ran Moothu Doowa in 1960 for his production group Serendib Productions. It was also the first Sinhala film to feature under water scenes of the ocean surrounding Sri Lanka. His second production Getawarayo was directed by Mike Wilson and Thissa Liyanasooriya and won several awards at the 1966 Sarasaviya Awards. His last production Sarawita was made the following year.
Palihakkara abandoned his film career after Sarawita and pursued business in the plantation industry. He returned to film in the 2000s with a role in Chandran Ratnam's Romeo and Juliet.
In 2007, Palihakkara was honored with a Ranathisara award at the Sarasaviya Festival
for his contributions to cinema.
Shesha died on July 12, 2009.
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...
n dancer, actor, and producer. He achieved critical recognition with a starring role in Lester James Peries
Lester James Peries
Sri Lankabhimanya Lester James Peries is an internationally acclaimed Sri Lankan film director, screenwriter, and film producer. An active filmmaker since 1949, Peries has been involved in over 28 films, including shorts and documentaries...
' masterpiece Rekava
Rekava
Rekava is a 1956 film based on village life and their mythical beliefs in Sri Lanka . It is the first Sinhalese film which was fully shot in Ceylon and was the first in the country to be shot outdoors. It was also the first film which was free from Indian influence...
and as producer of Getawarayo
Getawarayo
Getawarayo is a 1964 Sri Lankan drama film starring Gamini Fonseka.The movie won the Best Director and Best Film awards at the 1965 Sarasaviya Film Festival.- Plot :...
, Sarawita and Ranmuthu Duwa
Ranmuthu Duwa
Ranmuthu Duwa was the first colour full-length Sinhalese language film to be produced in Sri Lanka in 1962. It was produced by Shesha Palihakkara and directed by Mike Wilson, who also made his debut as a feature director...
.
Early life
Palihakkara was born in the village of Ruppagoda, in Kadawatte of the GampahaGampaha
Gampaha is an urban city in Sri Lanka and is the capital of the Gampaha District in Western Province, north of Colombo. Gampaha District is separated from Colombo mainly by the Kelani River.-Namesake:...
district. He attended the St. Benedict's College in Kotahena and St. Joseph's College
St. Joseph's College, Colombo
St. Joseph's College is a Catholic educational institution in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It was established in 1896 by French missionaries, with Rev Christopher Ernst Bonjean playing a leading role. The college has over 4000 students with a staff of over 200...
in Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
. At the age of 14, Palihakkara witnessed the Sinhala dancer Chitrasena
Chitrasena
Chitrasena was a pioneering dancer from Sri Lanka, internationally known for his work in establishing a modern Sri Lankan tradition of dance and popularizing traditional Sri Lankan dance forms worldwide.-Early life:Amaratunga Arachige Maurice Dias alias Chitrasena was born on January 26, 1921 at...
perform in the Vidura ballet and was inspired to be a dancer.
Palihakkara left school without getting his Senior School Certificate in his late teens, and went to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
to train at Shanthi Nikethan. He stayed at the school for two years focusing on dance along with painting and sculpting. Palihakkara then enrolled at the Institute of Kala Kshethra in South India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
majoring in dance.
After finishing his studies, he returned to Sri Lanka in 1948 and took part in a national pageant organized in celebration of the country's recent independence. Later with the help of Dr. P.R. Anthonis
P.R. Anthonis
Polwattearachchige Romiel Anthonis M.D. was a Sri Lankan surgeon.-Education:Dr Anthonis was educated at St. Peter's College Bambalapitiya and Ceylon Medical College....
and K.D.A. Perera, Palihakkara briefly started a dance school in Borella. He left for England in 1949 to join the Indian dancer Ramgopal's travelling ballet troupe, which performed in various venues in Europe.
Work in film
He next appeared in Rekava as an astrologer and stilt walker. The film wasn't a box office hit, but was critically praised and is considered a landmark in Sri Lankan cinema
Cinema of Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan cinema encompasses the films made in Sri Lanka. It is a fledgling industry that has struggled to find a footing since its inauguration in 1947 with Kadawunu Poronduwa produced by S.M.Nayagam of Chitra Kala Movietone.Sri Lankan films are usually made in the Sinhalese language, the...
. In 1954, Palihakkara worked in the makeup department of the United States film Bridge on the River Kwai which was filmed in Sri Lanka.
After the film was made, Palihakkara travelled to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to rejoin his friend Ramgopal and his dancing troupe. Ten months later he became a member of the Asian Music Society. In 1959 he was stricken with asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
and returned to Sri Lanka.
Innovation and retirement
With the help of director Mike WilsonMike Wilson
Mike Wilson may refer to:* Mike Wilson , Canadian poker player* Mike Wilson , American football offensive lineman...
and Sir Arthur C. Clarke
Arthur C. Clarke
Sir Arthur Charles Clarke, CBE, FRAS was a British science fiction author, inventor, and futurist, famous for his short stories and novels, among them 2001: A Space Odyssey, and as a host and commentator in the British television series Mysterious World. For many years, Robert A. Heinlein,...
, Palihakkara developed the first Sinhala colour film Ran Moothu Doowa in 1960 for his production group Serendib Productions. It was also the first Sinhala film to feature under water scenes of the ocean surrounding Sri Lanka. His second production Getawarayo was directed by Mike Wilson and Thissa Liyanasooriya and won several awards at the 1966 Sarasaviya Awards. His last production Sarawita was made the following year.
Palihakkara abandoned his film career after Sarawita and pursued business in the plantation industry. He returned to film in the 2000s with a role in Chandran Ratnam's Romeo and Juliet.
In 2007, Palihakkara was honored with a Ranathisara award at the Sarasaviya Festival
Sarasaviya Awards
Sarasaviya Awards are the most prestigious awards presented to distinguished individuals involved with the Sinhala cinema, each year by the Sarasaviya weekly newspaper in collaboration with the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited , Sri Lanka in recognition of the contributions made by them to...
for his contributions to cinema.
Shesha died on July 12, 2009.