Wimal Kumara de Costa

Wimal Kumara de Costa (4 July 1948 – 20 November 2016 as විමල් කුමාර ද කොස්තා [Sinhala]) was a Sri Lankan actor most notable for his character roles in art films as well as notable comedy roles in cinema. He is cited as the pioneer of Sri Lanka mime industry.[1]

Wimal Kumara de Costa
විමල් කුමාර ද කොස්තා
Born
Wimal Kumara de Costa

(1948-07-04)4 July 1948
Kelaniya
Died20 November 2016(2016-11-20) (aged 68)
South General (Teaching) Hospital, Colombo
Alma materKelaniya Gurukula Vidyalaya
OccupationActor
Years active1969-2015
AwardsBest Actor of Theatre Drama Festival 1963

Personal life

Wimal Kumara De Costa was born on 4 July, 1948 in Kelaniya, and he completed his education from Gurukula College, Kelaniya.[1]

Career

Early days

Before entering popular art, he acted many regional stage shows like Andare, Yakage Kamhala, Sith Peraliya and Diyasena. Costa began his mainstream acting career while attending Gurukula College with a role in the play Godo Enakath directed by A.J Selvaduray. Subsequently, he performed in plays such as Dunna Dunna Gamuwe, Hitha Hondha Ammandi, Puttu, Kavuruth Yan Ne,[2] Kora Saha Andhaya and Nattukarayo by W. Jayasiri, Sugathapala de Silva and others.[3]

His first experience with film came with a role in Dharmasena Pathiraja's short Sathuro (1969). His first feature was also a Pathiraja film, Ves Gaththo, released the next year. The Pathiraja collaboration would continue through the rest of the 1970s and early 1980s, yielding some of Wimal's most famous roles such as the socialist in Bambaru Awith (1978), the abusive youth in Eya Dan Loku Lamayek (1977) and the disaffected youth of Ahas Gauwa (1974).[3]

Costa won the Award for the Best actor at 1963 Theatre Drama Festival for the acting in Dunna Dunna Gamuwe.[1]

Mime art

Costa is highlighted as the pioneer of Sri Lankan mime art. His most notable miming acts are Pemwathaa, Chaaya Roopa Shilpiya, Charlie Chaplin, Inimaga, Magiyek and Adare Wedana. These acts were made by dramatists like Gamini Haththotuwegama, Dharmasena Pathiraja, Sarath Kallepotha and Bandula Vithanage.[1]

Gaining Popularity

His critically acclaimed performances[1] in these films led to him becoming a much sought after actor for character roles by other art directors. Sunil Ariyaratne too used him as a whiskey seller in Sarungale (1979) among other roles. Gamini Fonseka featured him in most of his directorial work such as Sagarayek Meda (1981).[3]

In the 1980s, de Costa began to take lighter roles which he had occasionally done in the 1970s to a much smaller extent. This would be the period he began to get lead roles in such films as Silva and Jivithayen Jivithayak.[3]

From the 1990s on he has done mainly small comedic roles in B-movies.

Death

De Costa attended Colombo South General (Teaching) Hospital on 19 November 2016, where he died next day by intense respiratory difficulties.[4]

Filmography
  • No. denotes the Number of Sri Lankan film in the Sri Lankan cinema.[5] De Costa has acted in more than 100 films ranging from drama, action, and comedy roles.[6]
YearNo.FilmRole
1969 200 Samaje Sathuro uncredited role
1970 234 Wes Gaththo
1972 264 Sihina Lowak
1973 275 Hathdinnath Tharu Mr. Perera 'Director'
1973 280 Dahakin Ekek Chandre's friend
1974 282 Ahas Gauwa Gune
1974 295 Sagarika
1974 299 Sanakeliya [7]
1975 316 Mage Nangi Shyama
1975 325 Sikuru Liya Podi Hamu's friend [8]
1976 342 Diyamanthi Dharma
1976 355 Nilla Soya [9]
1977 364 Hariyanakota Ohoma Thamai
1977 369 Eya Dan Loku Lamayek Siripala
1977 378 Maruwa Samaga Wase Justin
1977 379 Siripala saha Ranmenika Justin [10]
1977 361 Sudu Paraviyo Bimiya
1977 363 Sri Madara
1977 373 Saja
1978 393 Asha Dasin
1978 396 Saara
1978 400 Bambaru Awith Weerasena
1978 401 Salee Justin
1978 409 Anupama Sima
1979 413 Sarungale Simon [11]
1979 415 Amal Biso
1979 422 Wasanthaye Dawasak Sisira
1979 426 Chuda Manikkaya Mr. Vicky
1980 438 Mal Kekulu [12]
1980 442 Kanchana
1980 443 Silva Silva
1980 444 Ektam Ge Martin [13]
1980 450 Raktha Umari
1980 459 Sankapali
1980 463 Para Dige
1980 466 Api Dedena
1980 468 Mayurige Kathawa
1981 470 Kolam Karayo Joseph Silva
1981 473 Ranga Bonnie
1981 475 Sathweni Dawasa Bandara
1981 476 Sayuru Thera Michael
1981 481 Situ Kumariyo
1981 488 Sagarayak Meda Drug-using prisoner
1981 491 Badura Mal
1981 497 Sathara Diganthiya
1981 493 Geethika Piyadasa
1981 503 Chanchala Rekha Podi Mahaththaya
1982 505 Sanda Nimal
1982 509 Ra Manamali Podi Mahaththaya
1982 510 Sakwithi Suwaya Kaputa
1982 512 Bicycle Samson 'Sam'
1982 513 Adishtanaya
1982 514 Jeewithayen Jeewithayak
1982 527 Sithara
1982 532 Major Sir
1983 545 Chandira Anduwa
1983 549 Sewranga Sena
1983 555 Athin Athata Wimaldasa 'Wimale' [14]
1983 559 Subodha
1983 560 Hasthi Wiyaruwa
1983 567 Samanala Sihina
1984 577 Walle Thanu Maliga Albert Mahaththaya
1984 576 Shirani
1984 589 Bambara Patikki
1984 593 Sasara Chethana
1984 594 Wadula Peithappuwa
1984 603 Sahodariyakage Kathwa
1984 605 Ara Soyza Costa
1985 621 Aya Waradida Oba Kiyanna
1985 627 Sudu Mama
1985 630 Karadiya Walalla
1985 634 Kiri Maduwal
1986 635 Yali Hamuwennai Prasanna's friend
1986 640 Peralikarayo Jiney
1986 647 Puja
1987 670 Ahinsa Jackie
1988 681 Nawatha Api Ekwemu Mama
1989 694 Randenigala Sinhaya Ramo
1991 718 Paaradise
1991 724 Hithata Dukak Nathi Minisa
1991 738 Suwadena Suwadak
1992 745 Salli Thibunata Madi
1992 756 Umayangana Jamis
1992 764 Muwan Palasse Kadira
1993 779 Chaya Maya
1994 797 Jayagrahanaya
1994 802 Abiyogaya
1994 803 Sanda Madala Ranaa Ayya
1994 808 Mawubime Weerayo
1994 811 150 Mulleriyawa Mantri patient
1994 813 Athma
1995 825 Rodaya
1995 829 Wairayen Wairaya
1995 830 Demodara Palama Harry [15]
1995 834 Age Wairaya
1995 838 Hitha Honda Surayo
1995 839 Cheriyo Captain Kang-Kung
1995 843 Sudu Walassu
1996 844 Sathi
1996 848 Obatai Me Aradhana
1996 853 Hitha Hodanam Waradin Na
1996 854 Mana Mohini John Wayne
1996 857 Hitha Honda Gahaniyek
1996 863 Cheriyo Darling Vegemite [16]
1997 881 Apaye Thappara 84000k
1997 883 Pem Mal Mala Security officer
1997 913 Rathu Aluyama Minister Wansanatha [17]
1999 914 Akunu Pahara
1999 919 Kolompoor Costapal
2001 956 Hai Hui Babi Achchi Costa
2001 958 Balakamaya
2002 975 Sansara Prarthana
2002 989 Onna Babo Lengwa alias Ritaa
2004 1028 Bambara Sanakeli
2005 1061 Alu Yata Gini
2007 1115 Ai Oba Thaniwela
2013 1193 Kauda Machan Alice
2014 1205 Supiri Andare Ladaruwa
2015 1236 Lantin Singho Sebastian
2017 1285 Swaroopa[18] Posthumous release
2017 1286 Sellam Nethnam Lellam[19] Posthumous release
2017 1292 Dr. Nawariyan[20] Sumanasiri. Posthumous release
2019 Sangile Posthumous release
TBD Adda Lanuwa Damma Kodiya[21] Posthumous release

References
  1. "Pioneer of Mime Art of Sri Lanka". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  2. "A Stage Drama On Political Crossovers". The Sunday Leader. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  3. Kumara, Nuwan Nayanajith (2005). Sri Lankeya Cinema Vanshaya (Sri Lankan Film Chronicle). Sarasavi Publishers. ISBN 955-573-367-8.
  4. "Wimal Kumara de Costa passed away". Gossip Lanka Sinhala News. 20 November 2016.
  5. "Sri Lankan Cinema History". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  6. "Wimal Kumara de Costa filmography". Rate Your Music. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  7. "All about Senakeliya". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  8. "He left me: Sikuruliya". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  9. "All about Nilla Soya". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  10. "Siripala and Ranmenika highlighted the poetic mind of the misguided man". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  11. "All about Sarungale". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  12. "All about the film "Mal Kekulu"". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
  13. "We will alone in Ektam Ge". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  14. "Full of stars and rings: Athin Athata". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  15. "'Demodara Palama' in memory of Gamini". Sunday Times. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  16. "Cheriyo Darling - චෙරියෝ ඩාලින්". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  17. "'Rathu Aluyama': last creation of Yasapalitha". Sunday Times. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  18. "පතිරාජගේ ස්වරූප හෙට එයි". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  19. "Take about a Following parcel". Gossipk. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  20. "Doctor Nawariyan film plot". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  21. "Adda Lanuwa Damma Kodiya in post productions". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 24 June 2017.
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