Tony Ranasinghe
Encyclopedia
Ranasinghe Hettiarachchi Anthony Silva (born 1937) is a Sri Lanka
n actor.
Ranasinghe began his career in theatre with a role in Ran Thodu in 1963 which won him the Governor General's Award for Best Stage Actor. This award was presented by minister T. B. Ilangaratne
.
Ranasinghe debuted in film with Lester James Peries
' Gamperaliya
(1964) and followed it with Ran Salu
. He worked with Peries' again on Delovak Athara
in a starring role.
Ranasinghe was awarded the Best Supporting Actor Sarasaviya Award
in 1966 for his role in Parasathu Mal. Subsequently he won Best Actor Awards for Hanthane Kathawa
(1969), Duhulu Malak
(1976) and Ahasin Polawata
(1979).
In 1980 he played the father of the protagonist in Ganga Addara
. 1993's Saptha Kanya
won him Best Actor Awards from Sarasaviya, Swarna Sanka, Presidential and OCIC.
Ranasinghe has dabbled in screenplay writing winning Sarasaviya Awards for Koti Waligaya, Keli Mandala, Awaragira (1995) and Pavuru Walalu.
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 actor.
Ranasinghe began his career in theatre with a role in Ran Thodu in 1963 which won him the Governor General's Award for Best Stage Actor. This award was presented by minister T. B. Ilangaratne
T. B. Ilangaratne
Tikiri Bandara Ilangaratne was a Sri Lankan politician, author, dramatist, and theater actor he was Member of Parliament for Kandy, Galaha, Hewaheta and Kolonnawa in Colombo district...
.
Ranasinghe debuted in film with 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...
' Gamperaliya
Gamperaliya (film)
Gamperaliya is a 1964 Sri Lankan drama film directed by Lester James Peries; it was adapted from the seminal novel Gamperaliya by Martin Wickramasinghe. The movie was groundbreaking in Sinhala cinema shot entirely outside of a studio using one lamp and hand held lights for lighting...
(1964) and followed it with Ran Salu
Ran Salu
Ran Salu is a 1967 Sri Lankan drama film directed by Lester James Peries. The film follows the parallel paths of Sujatha and Sarojini Perera ....
. He worked with Peries' again on Delovak Athara
Delovak Athara
Delovak Athara is a 1966 Sri Lankan drama film directed by Lester James Peries. The film stars Tony Ranasinghe as Nissanka, the son of a newly rich industrialist, who becomes embroiled in a murder cover-up....
in a starring role.
Ranasinghe was awarded the Best Supporting Actor Sarasaviya Award
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...
in 1966 for his role in Parasathu Mal. Subsequently he won Best Actor Awards for Hanthane Kathawa
Hanthane Kathawa
Hanthane Kathawa is a 1969 film based on a love story of university students of Sri Lanka. It was directed by famous Sri Lankan film director Sugathapala Senerath Yapa and screened on August 1, 1968. This film also remarks the cinema debut of famous actor Vijaya Kumaratunga.-External links:**...
(1969), Duhulu Malak
Duhulu Malak
Duhulu Malak is a 1976 Sinhalese language romance film directed by Vijaya Dharmasri that follows the lives of middle class people in Sri Lanka. The film stars Nita Fernando, Ravindra Randeniya and Tony Ranasinghe and is notable for containing the first depiction of adultery in a Sinhala film...
(1976) and Ahasin Polawata
Ahasin Polawata
Ahasin Polowata is a 1978 Sri Lankan drama film directed by Lester James Peries. The film stars Tony Ranasinghe as Sarath, an abusive husband who is haunted by his wife's death....
(1979).
In 1980 he played the father of the protagonist in Ganga Addara
Ganga Addara
Ganga Addara was a 1980 Sinhalese language film directed by Sumitra Peiris and produced by Sumathi Films. The film stars Vasanthi Chathurani and late Vijaya Kumaratunga in the lead roles. Adapted from a novel by Letitia Botejue, its script was written by veteran director Tissa Abeysekara...
. 1993's Saptha Kanya
Saptha Kanya
Saptha Kanya is a 1993 Sinhalese language film directed by late H.D. Premaratne. The film stars Kamal Addararachchi and Sangeetha Weeraratne in the leading roles. Playback singing was by Damayanthi Jayasooriya, Kamal Addararachchi, Rookantha Goonethilleke, Dhammika Valpola and Morris Wijesinghe....
won him Best Actor Awards from Sarasaviya, Swarna Sanka, Presidential and OCIC.
Ranasinghe has dabbled in screenplay writing winning Sarasaviya Awards for Koti Waligaya, Keli Mandala, Awaragira (1995) and Pavuru Walalu.