Vasantha Obeysekera

Vasantha Obeysekera (1937 – 2017), was a great Sri Lankan film director and screenwriter.[1][2]

Vasantha Obeysekera
Born(1937-12-29)December 29, 1937
Mathugama, Sri Lanka
DiedApril 8, 2017(2017-04-08) (aged 79)
NationalitySri Lankan
OccupationFilm Director
Years active1967-2017
Notable work
Walmathwuwo, Palangetiyo, Dadayama, Kedapathaka chaayaa, Maaruthaya, Dorakadamaaraawa, Theertha yaathraa, Salelu warama, Aaganthukayaa

Early life and career

Kala Keerthi Vasantha Obeysekera who was regarded as one of the foremost film makers in the 70s decade graduated from the University of Ceylon in 1962. He served on the Editorial Staff of the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited from 1964 to 1970. In addition to his editorial work, Obeysekera wrote several short stories during this period.[3][4]

Obeysekera entered the film industry with Sath Samudura in 1967 which he co-wrote and worked on as assistant director; it was Sri Lanka's entry at the Moscow International Film Festival. In 1971 he was awarded a certificate in Cinematography by the Comité de libération du cinéma français.[3][5]

1970s

In the 1970s Obeysekera wrote and directed Ves Gaththo ("Masked Men") (1970), Valmathuwo ("Lost Ones") (1976), Diyamanthi ("Diamond") (1977) and Palangetiyo ("Grasshoppers") (1979). Palangetiyo won the Presidential Film Awards for Best Screenplay, Best Director and Best Film.[3]

1980s

1983's Dadayama ("The Hunt") also won the Presidential awards for Best Screenplay, Best Director and Best Film. It was a commercial success as well. Obeysekera made Kedapathaka Chaya ("Reflections on the Mirror") in 1989 after a five-year break.[3]

1990s and 2000s

In the late-'90s, Obeysekera made Maruthaya ("The Storm") (1995), Dorakada Marawa ("Death at the Doorstep") (1998) and Theertha Yathra ("Pilgrimage") (1999). These also secured several OCIC and Presidential Awards.[3][6]

Salelu Warama ("Web of Love"), Agni Warsha ("Rains of Fire"), Aganthukaya ("The Stranger"), and Sewwandhi were made in the 2000s.[3]

Filmography

He has directed 13 films across many dramatic genres.[7]

  • No. denotes the Number of Sri Lankan film in the Sri Lankan cinema.[8]
Released DateNo.Film
12 December 1970234Wesgaththo
2 April 1976339Walmathwuwo
28 May 1976342Diyamanthi [9]
27 April 1979417Palagatiyo
20 May 1983558Dadayama [10]
24 March 1989687Kedapathaka Chaya
9 June 1995831Maruthaya
2 December 1998904Dorakada Marawa
1 October 1999922Theertha Yathra
17 October 2002990Salelu Warama
7 April 20051048Asani Warsha
7 December 20061080Sewwandi
31 May 20071087Aganthukaya

Death

He died on 8 April 2017 in a private hospital in Colombo.[11]

References
  1. "For Vasantha's death - වසන්ත ඔබේසේකරයන් ගේ අභාවය වෙනුවෙන් විශේෂයෙනි". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  2. "Filmmaker fights for the rights of TV viewers". Sunday Times. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  3. "'Sewwandhi': Another dramatic twist by Obeysekere". Wijeya Newspapers Ltd. 2006. Retrieved 2007-12-21.
  4. "Vasantha Obesekara - වසන්ත ඔබේසේකර පන්ති පදනමකින් සමාජය විවරණය කළ සිනමාකරුවා". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  5. "For Vasantha's death - විජය - රවීන්ද්‍ර - ස්වර්ණා - සංගීතා හොඳම රඟපෑම් ගෙනාවේ වසන්ත හරහා". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  6. "For Vasantha's death - පත්තර මහ ගෙදරින් සිනමාවට ගිය ආදිවාසියා". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  7. "Filmography of Vasantha Obeysekara - වසන්ත ඔබේසේකර නිර්මාණය කළ චිත්‍රපට". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  8. "Sri Lankan Cinema History". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  9. "All about Diyamanthi". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  10. "Dadayama: The hunt that was a hunt". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  11. "Veteran film director Wasantha Obeysekara passes away". Ada Derana. 8 April 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
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