B. S. Perera

Balasuriyage Steven Perera (born 31 March 1924 – died 24 June 1982 as බී. එස්. පෙරේරා) [Sinhala]), popularly as B. S. Perera, was an award-winning actor in Sri Lankan cinema and theater as well as a director and singer.[1] One of the earliest pillars and popular comedy artists ever in Sri Lankan film history, Perera had a career spanned about three decades.[2] He holds the record for the highest number of films acted by a Sri Lankan well over 180 films.[3]

B. S. Perera
බී. එස්. පෙරේරා
Born
Balasuriyage Steven Perera

(1924-03-31)31 March 1924
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Died24 July 1982(1982-07-24) (aged 58)
Chilaw, Puttalam
NationalitySri Lankan
EducationSri Sangaraja Central College, Colombo 10
OccupationActor, Comedian, Director, Singer
Years active1960–1982
Spouse(s)B.A.D. Gnanawathi
Children7
Parent(s)
  • Balasuriyage Adwin Perera (father)

Personal life

Perera was born on 31 March 1924 in Colombo. His father was Balasuriyage Adwin Perera. He was a talented artist in the Tower Hall era. He received his primary education at Maligakanda Government School, Colombo (currently known as Mahinda Maha Vidyalaya, Maligakanda) and later studied at Sangaraja Vidyalaya, Maradana (currently known as Sri Sangaraja Central College, Colombo 10). In 1939, Perera joined the Army and joined the Colombo Municipal Council at the end of World War II.[4]

Before entering cinema, Perera worked as a Tram car driver. Due to an accident he lost part of the vision. Although he underwent eye surgery, he suffered a tear in his eye causing a strabismus condition.[5] After the accident, he served as a trolley bus inspector.[4]

Perera was married to B.A.D. Gnanawathi. The couple had five daughters - elder Sriyani, younger Sriyani, Brinda, Rajathi, Princy - and two sons - Sunil Wesley and Ravindra. Sunil Wesley was a professional commercial artist and singer.[6] Second son Ravindra has acted in few films such as Yakadaya and Duppathage Hithawatha and then retired from the Chilaw Railway Department.[4]

Perera died on 24 June 1982 in Chilaw after a brief illness at the age of 58.[3]

Career

From the little age, he had performed in Tower Hall stage dramas. He acted as "Mohottala" in the stage play Sri Wickrama, which was his only Tower Hall acting. During his work as a tram car driver, he produced the stage play Nikan Awa to donate to the Urban Council Funeral Association. Then he produced the plays Samadaththara, Lankapura and Saliya Ashokamala. Strabismus condition made the fortune of becoming a film actor. One of his friends, C.M. Rupasinghe introduced Perera to popular film producer S. Sivanandan. At that time, Sivanandan was the assistant director in film Dheewarayo.[4]

He acted in an English film before enter to Sinhala cinema. His first Sinhala film was Roddy Kella directed by Sirisena Wimalaweera. However, due to the sudden death of Wimalaweera, the film shooting stopped. His first screened film appearance came through 1964 blockbuster film Dheewarayo in a minor role as a singer.[5] The most memorable character played by Perera was as a patient in the film Senasuma Kothanada. His comic roles were extremely popular, some of them include, Chandiya, Thushara, Hari Pudumai, Hondata Hondai, Mahadena Muththa and Ara Soyza. He also acted in the Sri Lankan Tamil film Mamiyar Veedu.[4]

In 1955, he worked as the music director in the film Perakadoru Bena directed by A.B. Raja. In 1974, he directed and produced the film Rodi Gama. In 1974, he was awarded with Deepashika Award for acting most number of Sinhala films. He emerged from the comic strip and acted as a character actor in few films such as Subhani, Bandura Mal, Rana Derana and Ridee Thella.[4]

After his death in 1982, twenty eight films were screened as posthumous releases.

Filmography

As actor
YearFilmRoleRef.
1964Dheewarayo
1965ChandiyaRifai Nana
1965Sathutai Kandului
1965Sudo SuduCow owner
1965Yata Giya Dawasa
1965SaaravitaMuslim Mudalali
1965Allapu GedaraSepalika's father
1965Satha PanahaMahaththaya 'Sir'[7]
1965Landaka Mahima
1966Segawena Sewanella
1966Mahadena MuththaPuwak Badilla
1966Senasuma KothanadaPatient
1966Maha Ra Hamuwu Sthriya[8]
1966Athulweema Thahanam
1966KapatikamaFilm director
1966Oba Dutu Da
1966Sanda Naga Eddi
1966Senasili SuwayaNyanawardana
1966Layata Laya
1967Sorungeth Soru
1967Pipena Kumudu
1967Sarana
1967Vasanthi
1967Okkoma Hari[9]
1967Hitha Giya Thena
1967Sura Chauraya
1967Rena Giraw[10]
1968Pini Bindu
1968London Hamu
1968Bicycle Hora
1968Amathikama
1968Ruhunu Kumari
1968Dehadaka DukaSaldadue
1968Ataweni Pudumaya
1969Oba Nathinam
1969Kohomada Wade
1969PickpocketMr. Sinclair
1969PreweshamwannaKokiyo 'Bandaa Aiyya'
1969Pancha
1970Athma Pooja
1970Thevatha
1970Penawa Neda
1970Ohoma Hondada[11]
1971Kathuru MuwathChasing constable
1971Seeye Nottuwa
1972Sujeewa
1972Singapore Charlie
1972Ada MehemaiSira's cousin
1972Lokuma HinawaPatient
1972Ihatha AthmayaMaster
1973Suhada Pethuma[12]
1973Aparadhaya Ha Danduwama
1973ThusharaWilson[13]
1973Gopalu Handa
1973Sinawai Inawai
1973SunethraJob Seeker
1973Dahakin EkekProfessor
1973Hondata HondaiMedal carrier
1974Duleeka
1974Dinum Kanuwa
1974Surekha
1974Onna Babo Billo EnawaGonsali
1974SuseeWedding singer[14]
1974Sagarika
1974Duppathage HithawathaRemy[15]
1974Wasthuwa
1974Jeewana Ganga
1974Rodi GamaPurohitha Mahesh
1975Hitha Honda MinihekSunny
1975Obai MamaiCook Simon
1975Kaliyuga Kale
1975Raththaran AmmaPotas
1975Sukiri KellaSunimal
1975Cyril Malli
1975Amaraneeya Adare
1975Kokilayo
1975Suraya SurayamaiLandlord[16]
1975Jeewana Geethaya
1975Lassana DawasakKurulosuwa
1975Sadhana
1976Pradeepe Ma Wewa
1976Nayana
1976Kawuda RajaPaddikkama[17]
1976WasanaDobie 'Sima'
1976Vanarayo
1976Asha
1976Onna Mame Kella Panapi
1976Deviyange TheenduwaSergeant
1976Adarei Man Adarei
1976Ran Thilaka
1977Sakunthala
1977Maruwa Samaga Wase
1977Sudu ParaviyoAngo wooer
1977Sri Madara
1977Hariyanakota Ohoma Thamai
1977Chin Chin Nona
1977Yali Ipade
1977Sajaa
1977Chandi Putha[18]
1977Aege Adara Kathawa
1977Wanagatha Kella
1978Sithaka Suwanda
1978Chandi Shyama
1978 Mage Ran Putha
1978MadhuwanthiThompson
1978Siripathula
1978Saara
1978KundalakeshiSathruka's man
1978TikiraMahathaya
1978Janaka Saha Manju
1978Sally
1978Apsara
1978Deepanjali
1978Veera Puran Appu
1978Sandawata Rantharu
1979Samanmali
1979Jeewana Kandulu
1979Amal Biso
1979Raja KolloPala's employee
1979Ran Kurullo
1979AnushaSiripala
1979Akke Mata AwasaraServant
1979SugandhiVadivel
1979Sawudan Jema
1979Subhani
1979Hingana Kolla
1979Nuwan RenuHindu procession leader
1979Hari PudumaiBokudiras
1980Silva
1980Anuhasa
1980Seetha
1980Adara RathnePrincipal
1980Doctor Susantha
1980Raja Dawasak
1980Mage Amma
1980SabeethaMartin
1980Api Dedena
1981Sathkulu PawwaPerera 'C. C.'
1981SuddaMas Thambi
1981Kolamkarayo
1981Senasuma
1981Amme Mata SamawennaHead Kanakara
1981Ridee ThellaKattadiya
1981Bandura Mal
1981Geethika
1981Dayabara NiluPappa
1981Hondama Naluwa
1981Jeewanthi
1982BicycleyNicholas
1982Sudu AyyaSurabiel
1982Pethi GomaraJokino's brother-in-law
1982Eka Diga Kathawak
1982Rahasak Nathi Rahasak
1982Sitharaa
1982Thakkita Tharikita
1982Chathu MadhuraPiyadasa
1982Kadawunu Poronduwa remakeMudalali
1983Ran Mini Muthu
1983SumithuroMaster
1983Karate Joe
1983Loku Thaththa
1983Mal Madhu
1983Rathu MakaraSirisena
1983Hithath Hondai Wedath Hondai
1983ChutteyJamis
1983Chandi Siriya
1984Kekille RajjuruwoPolbe Muna
1984Ara SoyzaKiridena 'Uncle'
1984Kiri KawadiJussey
1984Mala Giravi
1984Welle Thanu Maliga
1984Bambara Patikki
1984Kokila
1984HithawathiyaGuard
1984Namal Renu
1984Rana Derana
1984Sahodariyakage Kathawa
1984Ranmalige Wasanawa
1984Muthu Manike
1984Birinda
1985Puthuni Mata Samawenna
1985Adarayaka MahimaKamal
1985Chalitha Rangali
1986Mal WarusaPremapala
1986Gimhane Gee NaadeVillager

References
  1. "Actors of Sinhala cinema - B S Perera". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  2. "B.S. Perera - බි. එස්. පෙරේරා filmography". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  3. "Inimitable B. S. Perera". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  4. "Trolley Bus to the cinema". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  5. "Dead people are still laughing at us". lifie. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  6. "බී. එස්. පුත් සුනිල් ගී සිසිල ගෙනෙයි". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  7. "All about the film "Satha Panaha"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2020-01-04.
  8. "All about "Maha Ra Hamuwu Sthriya"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-10.
  9. "All about the film "Okkoma Hari"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  10. "All about "Rena Giraw"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  11. "All about the film "Ohoma Hondada"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  12. "All about Suhada Pathuma". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  13. "All about the film "Thushara"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  14. "All about the film Susee". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-10.
  15. "All about Duppathage Hithawatha". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  16. "All about the film "Suraya Surayamai"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  17. "All about the film "Kawuda Raja"". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
  18. "All about Chandi Putha". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
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