Christy Leonard Perera

Kala Keerthi Madurawela Arachchilage Christy Leonard Perera (born 27 July 1932 – died 23 December 2015 as ක්‍රිස්ටි ලෙනාඩ් පෙරේරා) [Sinhala]), popularly as Christy Leonard Perera, was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema as well as a musician and comedian.[1][2]

Christy Leonard Perera
ක්‍රිස්ටි ලෙනාඩ් පෙරේරා
Born
Madurawela Arachchilage Christy Leonard Perera

(1932-07-27)27 July 1932
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Died23 December 2015(2015-12-23) (aged 83)
Maligawatte, Colombo
NationalitySri Lankan
OccupationActor, Singer
Years active1949–1982
Spouse(s)Mary Loretta Rachal Perera (m. 1982)
AwardsKalabushana

Personal life

Perera was born on 27 July 1932 in Colombo.[3] He completed education from St. Lucia's College Colombo 13 .[4] His father worked as a port checker. He has two sisters. After the sudden death of father, his mother worked as a midwife at Suleiman Hospital. In the meantime, his older sister died suddenly. The other sister also died with that sadness.[5]

He was married to Mary Loretta Rachal Perera, a trained teacher.[6] Perera got married Rachel at St. Lucia Cathedral in Kotahena on 7 August 1982 at the age of 43. At that time, Perera was working at the Polythene Factory in Kotahena.[5]

He was a devoted Roman Catholic and regularly attached with St. Lucias Catherdral, Kotahena. He died on 23 December 2015 at the age of 83.[7] His remains were brought to his residence at Maligawatte housing scheme.[8] His final rites was held on 26 July 2015 at Borella Cemetery.[9][10]

Cinema career

In 1946 he participated amateur program at Radio Ceylon coordinated by Thevis Guruge. He imitated comedian Eddie Jayamanne and finally won the contest.[11] In 1948, Perera joined as a comedian in Radio Ceylon. Perera learned music under renowned composer B. S. Perera. Then he worked as a musician and playback singer. His first song was Kullen Pola Pola.[6] Some of her popular songs are, Mama Badapissa, Amma Kiyana Kiyatha Haki andAduru Walawe Punsada were recorded for HMV labels.[12][13] He sang the duet Hitha Yana Atha Yannata Heka with Gamini Fonseka and then sang the song Tikiri Lande Ali Nawathina Colomba Nagare with H. R. Jothipala.[14] His song Sakala Sirin Piri Siri Lankawe was an integral part of music shows back then.[15]

His classmate Prem Jayanth was the main actor in the film Sujatha.[11] With the guidance from Jayanth and fellow actor Dommie Jayawardena, Perera entered cinema.[16] He started cinema career in 1954 with the film Warada Kageda directed by T.R. Sundaram. The film was released at Gamini theatre, Colombo and became highly popular.[6] Then he acted in the film Adata Vediya Heta Hondai produced at Hendala Wijeya studio, Sri Lanka's first production house. He continuously established as a prominent comedian of early 1960s and played popular roles in the films Chandiya, Sukumali, Suneetha, Sundara Birinda, Allapu Gedara and Hondama Welawa.[17] His only television acting came through Athma Pooja directed by Ajith Perera. But the teledrama was not aired.[5]

His last film was Onna Mame Kella Panapi premiered on September 3, 1976.[11] He quit from acting after the death of his mother in 1979. The song Amma Kiya Kiyatha Haki Ekama Landakatai was written by Karunaratne Abeysekera for Perera's mother.[5] In 1994, he directed the film Aragalaya.

On 17 August 2002 Perera was honored with a festive ceremony.[5]

Filmography
YearFilmRoleRef.
1954Warada KagedaGobo
1954Radala PiliruwaThomas
1954Duppathage Duka
1956Suraya
1957SukumaliNikama
1957Salli Malli Salli
1958Suneetha
1958Sepali
1958SirimaliPenda
1960Sundara Birinda
1960Veera Vijaya
1963Adata Vediya Heta Hondai[18]
1963Udarata Manike
1964Dheewarayo
1964Sithaka Mahima
1965ChandiyaKavi Kola Karaya
1965Yata Giya Dawasa
1965Allapu GedaraMusician
1966Maha Ra Hamuwu Sthriya[19]
1967Okkoma Hari[20]
1967Sura Chauraya
1968Wanasara
1968Ataweni Pudumaya
1969Oba Nathinam
1969Kohomada Wade
1970Athma Puja
1970Penawa Neda
1971Kalana Mithuro
1973Hondama Welawa
1974Duppathage HithawathaAnanda's friend[21]
1976Onna Mame Kella Panapi

References
  1. "Christy Leonard Perera - ක්‍රිස්ටි ලෙනාඩ් පෙරේරා filmography". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  2. "Actors in Sinhala cinema - Cristy Lenard Perera". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  3. "කලාකරුවන් සැමට සුබ උපන්දිනක් වේවා!!! 27.07.2014". suratha. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  4. "Christy Leonard Perera Passes Away". Asian Mirror. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  5. "He's a god to me - Christy Leonard Perera's wife Mary Loretta Racer Perera". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  6. "The popular actor-cum-singer". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  7. "Veteran actor, singer Christy Leonard dies". Daily News. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  8. "Christy Leonard is leaving". Dinamina. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  9. "Christy Leonard no more". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  10. "Popular singer and comedian Christy Leonard Perera has passed away". fastnews. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  11. "Christy Leonard passes away". Divaina. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  12. "Veteran Singer Christie Leonard expires at 83". dailynewssrilanka. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  13. "Musician Christy Leonard Perera passes away". News First. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  14. "Christy Leonard Perera remembrance". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  15. "Christy Leonard is silent". BBC Sinhala. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  16. "Christie Leonard Perera career". The Sunday Leader. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  17. "Christy Leonard Perera films". IMDb. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  18. "All about the film "Adata Wadiya Heta Hondai"". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  19. "All about "Maha Ra Hamuwu Sthriya"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-10.
  20. "All about the film "Okkoma Hari"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  21. "All about Duppathage Hithawatha". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
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