Jagath Benaragama

Benaragama Vidanalage Jagath Champika Benaragama (born June 2, 1972 as ජගත් බෙනරගම) [Sinhala]), popularly as Jagath Benaragama, is an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, television and theater.[1] He is best known for the role Ukkuwa in Paba teledrama[2] and main protagonist in critically acclaimed movie Prathiroo.[3][4]

Jagath Benaragama ජගත් බෙනරගම
Born	Benaragama Vidanalage Jagath Champika Benaragama July 2, 1972
Nationality	Sri Lankan
Occupation	Actor, Script writer, director
Political party	Democratic Party
Spouse(s)	Renuka Pushpakumari Vithana (m. 2010)
Relatives	Kokilani Benaragama (sister) Ravindra Yasas (brother-in-law) Kasun Chamara (cousin son)

Personal life

He is married to Renuka Pushpakumari Vithana, where the wedding ceremony was celebrated on 3 July 2010 at Paradise Inn Hotel, Delthawa, Piliyandala. His wife is from Hambantota district and worked in Ceylon Water Board.[2] The couple has one daughter.

Jagath's sister Kokilani Benaragama is married to popular actor Ravindra Yasas.[5] The couple has one son, Kasun Chamara is also a renowned actor and singer, who started career with musical program Hapan Padura.

Acting career

Benaragama started his career with a stage drama directed by Douglas Siriwardena. While acting, he also worked as an officer at Presidential office. However, after a severe vehicle accident, he resigned from the office, where at that time, he is invited to play in a television serial by V. Sivadasan.[6]

In 2014, Benaragama's character in television serial Pabasara, which was telecast in ITN has been theatrically killed as he is contesting from Sarath Fonseka's party on election.[7] He stated that, this has happened intentionally, because the channel is owned by government and his election party is opposed to that.[8]

Selected stage dramas

• Ransirige Sangramaya[2]
• Meepura Wasiyo
• Thala Mala Pipila[9]
• Guru Tharuva[10]
• Andarela
• Sihina Walata Paatadenna[11]
• Sellam Nirindu

Selected television serials

• Adaraya Ahasa Tharam
• Aparna[12]
• Bhavana - Amuttha[13]
• Brahma Muhurthiya as Rathnaya
• Damsaari[14]
• Dangakara Tharu[15]
• Deyyange Rate
• Diyawadana Maluwa[16][17]
• Gini Avi Saha Gini Keli[18]
• Hada Pudasuna [19]
• Hopalu Arana[20]
• Ihirunu Kiri[21]
• Kammiththa[22]
• Kele Handa [23]
• Maya Dunne [24]
• Nedeyo[25]
• Nil Nethu[26]
• Nisala Diya Sasala Viya[27]
• Oba Mageya[28]
• Paalam Paaruwa
• Paba as Ukkuwa
• Pabasara
• Parana Tawuma
• Pata Veeduru[29]
• Pathok Paalama[30]
• Purakalani[31]
• Ransirige Sangramaya as Ransiri
• Sanda Nodutu Sanda[32]
• Sansara Sakmana[33]
• Saranganaa[34]
• Sasara Ivuru [35]
• Sithaka Mahima[36]
• Sonduru Sitheththi as Liyana Mahaththaya
• Uthuwankande Sura Saradiyel[37]
• Vasanthaya Avilla [38]
• Vimukthi[39]
• Vinivindimi[40]

Beyond acting

He has written two scripts, A Heenayata Awasarai and Laa Sanda Paamula. He directed a teledrama titled Sanda Nodutu Sanda.[2]

Benaragama contested from Colombo district for the Western Provincial council elections.[41]

Filmography

• No. denotes the Number of Sri Lankan film in the Sri Lankan cinema.[42]

Year	No.	Film	Role	Ref.
1998	890	Gini Avi Saha Gini Keli	Attacked poster coverer
1999	928	Nagaran	Ajith
2000	938	Rajya Sevaya Pinisai	Dragged away shooter
2003	980	Sudu Sewaneli		[43]
2004	1028	Bambara Sanakeli		[44]
2005	1054	Samanala Thatu	Drug dealer	[45]
2008	1110	Sandalu Thalen Eha		[46]
2010	1141	Sthuthi Nawatha Enna	Keerthirathna	[47]
2010	1144	Ira Handa Yata	LTTE Soldier	[48]
2011	1160	Gamani	Jagath	[49]
2012	1180	Prathiroo	Wickrama	[50]
2012	-	Silent Letter (short film)		[51]
2017	-	Cobbler's Dream (short film)		[52]
TBD		CineMa
TBD		Rajanoo		[2]
TBD		Elakandiye Marcus		[53]
TBD		Angara		[54]

References

1. "Actors in Sri Lankan cinema - Jagath Benaragama". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
2. "Gagath met after the wedding". Kala Lowa. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
3. "Benaragama as Wickrama". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
4. "Jagath Benaragama - ජගත් බෙනරගම". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
5. "Unknown relatives of Sri Lankan artists". lifie. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
6. "Chat With Jagath Benaragama". Gossip Lanka News. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
7. "My character in "Pabasara" in ITN has been killed – Jagath Benaragama". VivaLanka.com. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
8. "Govt. 'killed' my role - Benaragama". Srilankamirror. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
9. "Thala Mala Pipila". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
10. "Guru Tharuwa at Elphinstone". The Nation. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
11. "'Sihina Walata Paata Denna' – Theatre in politics". The Nation. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
12. "'Aparna' is full of deception". Sunday Times. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
13. "16 short stories on mini screen". Sunday Times. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
14. "Damsari depicts distance between rich and poor". Sunday Times. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
15. "Dangakara Tharu may blossom soon". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
16. "Diyawadana Maluwa Tele-Drama". Tissa Nagodavithana Films (pvt) ltd. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
17. "'Diyawadana Maluwa' : A story about water heritage". Sunday Times. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
18. "The Reality of underworld". Sunday Times. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
19. "'Hada Pudasuna': Portrays sacrifices in love". Sunday Times. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
20. "Hopalu Arana - hoodwinking a generation". Sunday Times. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
21. "'Ihirunu Kiri' with a super cast". Sunday Times. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
22. "'Kammiththa' from Daya's comic story". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
23. "Kele Handa comes to television". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
24. "'Maya Dunne': New tele tackles the drug issue". Sunday Times. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
25. "Nedeyo 1996". nalanmendis. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
26. "Tale of two families". The Nation. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
27. "'Nisala Diya Sasala Viya': A love story". Sunday Times. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
28. "'Oba Mageya' : a tale of crime and punishment". Sunday Times. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
29. "'Pata Veeduru': Drama off the beaten track". Sunday Times. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
30. "'Patok Palama':Old theme on a new time belt". Sunday Times. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
31. "'Purakalani': Current reality portrayed". The Island. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
32. "'Sanda Nodutu Sanda' : A political plot". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
33. "රඟපාන්න කලින් සති දෙකක පොලිස් පුහුණුවක්". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
34. "සාරංගනා පුංචි තිරයට". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
35. "'Sasara Ivuru': Story of an innocent". Sunday Times. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
36. "'Sithaka Mahima': Salutes war heroes". Sunday Times. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
37. "Saradiel re-lived". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
38. "Nalan brings out another hit". Sunday Times. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
39. "Film on folk tales on T.V". The Nation. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
40. "Top short stories on mini screen". Sunday times. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
41. "Jagath Benaragama on election". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
42. "Sri Lankan Cinema History". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
43. "Ariyaratne returns to his old love". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
44. "Bambara Senakeli (FREE) බඹර සැනකෙලි". TubeID.Co. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
45. "Butterfly Wings captures the soft cadences of childhood dreams". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
46. "'Sandalu Thalen Eha': A Male only". Sunday Times. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
47. "Sthuthi Nawatha Enna". Daily News. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
48. "Jury Award for 'Ira Handa Yata' at Los Angeles Festival". Ada Derana. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
49. "Gamani (2011)". IMDB. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
50. "Doctor turned cinema director makes debut". Sunday Times. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
51. "Insightful shots". Daily News. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
52. "Cobbler's Dream". New York Indian Film Festival. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
53. "Tale of Elakandiye Marcus". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
54. "New filmmaker with 'Angara'". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 17 July 2020.

External links