Bandu Munasinghe

Munasinghe Arachchilage Don Bandu (16 March 1936 – 5 February 2005 as බන්දු මුණසිංහ [Sinhala]), popularly as Bandu Munasinghe, was an actor, and stunt director of Sri Lankan cinema.[1][2] Particularly acted in cinema in villain roles, Munasinghe was the first stunt director of the Sri Lankan silver screen.[3]

Bandu Munasinghe
බන්දු මුණසිංහ
Born
Munasinghe Arachchilage Don Bandu

(1936-03-16)16 March 1936
Borella, Sri Lanka
Died5 February 2005(2005-02-05) (aged 68)
Embilipitiya
NationalitySri Lankan
Education
OccupationActor, Stunt Director
Years active1958–1987
Spouse(s)Jayanthi Munasinghe (m. 1967)

Personal life

He was born on 16 March 1936 in Borella. He first studied at Hewavitharana College, Rajagiriya and his secondary education at Nalanda College, Colombo. He excelled as a boxer. Because of this, he joined the army for a while after school and showed boxing skills.[3]

He was married to Jayanthi Munasinghe where the wedding was celebrated on 16 March 1967.[3]

Munasinghe, who had been a movie star for thirty-five years, suddenly fell ill in 1993. He went to Embilipitiya in Ratnapura where one of his leg was amputated. He died on 5 February 2005 at the age of 69.[4]

Career

In 1958, he was invited to perform stunts to a film by M.P. Gilman and M.P. Gemunu, both are stuntmen. They informed Munasinghe to be at Kiribathgoda Sirisena Wimalaweera's Nawajeevana studio about 10 am. In Nawajeevana studio, he performed his maiden cinematic appearance in the film Ma Ale Kala Tharuniya.[4] The second movie starring Munasinghe as a stuntman was Gilman's 1961 directorial hit Wedibima. Then he acted in the films, Daskon, Wena Swargayak Kumatada, Deepashika and Getawarayo. In 1965, he was selected for a villain role for the first time in his career in the film Saaravita. Later, he played as the stuntman in the films such as Dheewarayo, Satha Panaha, Sweep Ticket and Daru Duka.[3]

He continued to work as the henchman in several movies for major villain characters most notably in the films, Surayangeth Suraya, Edath Suraya Adath Suraya, Hathara Denama Surayo, Singapore Charlie, Suli Sulang and Hitha Honda Minihek. His major breakthrough in cinema came through as the stunt director in the 1964 film Sithaka Mahima directed by M. S. Ananda. However, his first character role came through the film Tharangaa directed by Sena Dayananda. In the 1975 film Rajagedara Paraviyo by Sathischandra Edirisinghe, Munasinghe along with fellow stuntman Alexander Fernando created good realistic fight scenes.[3][5]

He is also a skilled sword fight expert. He learned about sword fighting from Gamini Fonseka and H. D. Kulatunga. Among the characters played by Munasinghe were the scenes where the lead actress was tortured most notably in the film Awa Soya Adare. In 1970s, he played the character roles with Agra Sajeewani and Manel Wanaguru in the films Sugandhi (1979) and Tharangaa (1975) respectively.[3]

Filmography & Stunt Coordination
YearFilmActing roleOther rolesRef.
1959Ma Ale Kala TharuniyaAugieMinor stuntman
1961WedibimaPolice inspector
1962Daskon
1963Wena Swargayak Kumatada
1963DeepashikaTrain track abductor
1964Sithaka MahimaStunt coordinator
1964GetawarayoBoxer
1965Handapaana
1965Laa Dalu
1965SaaravitaSomey
1965Hithata Hitha
1965Satha PanahaAssailant near Sheela's home
1965Sweep Ticket
1966Sanda Naga Eddi
1967Sorungeth Soru
1967Daru DukaPolice Inspector
1967Sarana
1967Hitha Giya Thena
1969Hari MagaNorbert henchman
1969Surayangeth Suraya
1970Lakseta KodiyaParty guest
1970Dan MathakadaJerry
1970Aathma Pooja
1970Ohoma Hondada[6]
1970Suli Sulang
1971Dawena Pipasa
1971Samanala Kumariyo
1972Edath SurayaBandu
1972SujeewaStunt Coordinator
1972Singapore Charlie
1973Matara AchchiCyril's friend
1973Gopalu Handa
1973Handama Welawa
1973SunethraDebt CollectorStunt Coordinator
1973Hondai Narakai
1973Hondata HondaiBandu
1974Kasthuri SuwandaStunt Coordinator
1974SuseeHarryStunt Coordinator[7]
1975Hitha Honda MinihekStunt Coordinator
1975TharangaaJerryStunt Coordinator
1975Awa Soya AdareStunt Coordinator
1975KokilayoStunt Coordinator
1975Rajagedara ParaviyoBandu
1975Lassana DawasakBanduStunt Coordinator
1975Hadawathaka Wasanthaya
1975SangeethaStunt Coordinator
1975Nayanaa
1976Kawuda RajaHenchman
1976Harima Badu ThunakSidaran's friend
1976Vanarayo
1976Loka Horu
1976Hariyata HariStunt Coordinator
1976Onna Mame Kella Panapi
1976Ran Thilaka
1977Sakunthala
1977Sri MadaraFranklinStunt Coordinator
1977Chin Chin Nona
1977Siripala Saha Ran MenikaPiyadasa[8]
1977Tom PachayaAlexStunt Coordinator
1977Niwena Ginna
1978MadhuwanthiStunt Coordinator
1978Saara
1978TikiraBandu
1978Apsara
1978Kumara KumariyoBanduStunt Coordinator
1978AnupamaMurdered shop owner
1979Sawudan Jema
1979SugandhiBennet
1979Subhani
1980Seetha
1982Sandaa
1982Sudu Ayya
1982Miss MallikaStunt Coordinator
1983Hithath Hondai Wedath Hondai
1985Araliya MalChandana's man
1985Channai Kello Dennai
1985Karadiya Wallalla
1987Podi Vijay
1989Badulu Kochchiya
1989Obata Rahasak Kiyannam
1989Randenigala SinhayaLando
1990Yukthiyata WadaKuruppu
1992Rumathiyay Neethiyay
1992Sathya
1994150 MulleriyawaFuneral walker
1995Mama Baya Na Shyama
1995Hitha Honda Surayo

References
  1. "Bandu Munasinghe filmography". Digital Identity of Sinhala Cinema. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  2. "Bandu Munasinghe films". IMDb. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  3. "First Stunt Director of Sinhala Cinema". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  4. "Unforgettable". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  5. "Fatal jumps in Sinhala cinema". Lankadeepa. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  6. "All about the film "Ohoma Hondada"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  7. "All about the film Susee". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-10.
  8. "Siripala and Ranmenika highlighted the poetic mind of the misguided man". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
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