Mahendra Perera
මහේන්ද්‍ර පෙරේරා
Born (1956-08-17) 17 August 1956
Colombo, Sri Lanka
NationalitySri Lankan
EducationThurstan College, Colombo
Occupation(s)Actor, Presenter, Dramatist
Years active1982–present
SpouseThakshila Damayanthi
ChildrenGayanaka Perera
Chandula Perera
Pravin Ishanka[1]
Parents
  • Vincent Perera (father)
  • Soma Weerasekera (mother)
AwardsBest Actor
Best Supporting Actor

Mahendra Shrikantha Perera (born 17 August 1956: Sinhala: මහේන්ද්‍ර පෙරේරා), is an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television.[2] One of the most influential actors in Sinhala cinema, Mahendra performed from drama to comedy in many blockbuster films.[3]

Personal life

He was born on 17 August 1956 in Mount-Lavinia, Sri Lanka as the youngest of the family. His father Vincent Perera, was a store manager at the Browns, and his mother Soma Weerasekera, was a matron at several government hospitals. He has two older sisters, Priyanthi Damayanthi and Shivanthi Kalyani. He first studied at Highland College, Nugegoda. Later he went to Maharagama Vidyakara College and Thurstan College, Colombo.[4]

He is married to Thakshila Damayanthi, daughter of Mr.Nandadasa- a decorated financial advisor. The couple has three sons, Uvin, Navin and Ishanka – all Wesleyites. The eldest son, Uvin works in the tourism industry. Naven is currently residing in Australia while the Youngest, Ishanka works as an Interior Architect.[5]

Career

During his life at Thurstan, he met a friend called Kalani Perera, who later became a violinist. They both studied music under the music teacher Yogananda Wijesundera where Mahendra learned violin, water wave, tabla and xylophone. After school life, he joined a rock band in Mount Lavinia and played guitar. When his father did not succeed his intentions, Mahendra ran away from home and planted potatoes with a cousin in Haputale. During this period, he met the writer and lecturer, Upul Shantha Sannasgala. Meanwhile, the father came to Haputale brought Mahendra back to Colombo.[4]

After return home, he joined Dhamma Jagoda's theater classes and learned acting. However, after few monthns, he clashed with Dhamma saying it was boring only to learn acting in 'Sinhabahu' and 'Maname'. Then he went to a drama course conducted by Dr. Solomon Fonseka and learned the theatrical techniques introduced by the Russian playwright Konstain Stanislavsky. Meanwhile, his first stage play was Ahimi Jeevitha staged in Lionel Wendt.[6] Mahendra met with Arisen Ahubudu who first introduced him to Gamini Fonseka. His maiden cinematic experience came through 1978 film Sakwithi Suwaya directed by Gamini Fonseka and played the role ‘Berty Malli’.[7] Under Helena Lehthimaki, he followed a three-year course during which they did Punthila.[4]

Then Mahendra played powerful roles in Shakespeare's plays Julius Caesar and Gimhane Reyaka Sihinayak produced by Tony Ranasinghe. During the same time, he acted in the blockbuster film Sagarayak Meda. He also appeared in several stage plays including Ath, Ahimi Jeevitha and Sergeant Nallathambi. His maiden television acting came through Tharadevi. Since then, he acted in the serials such as Sudu Saha Kaḷu, Niyan Ukussō, Dhavala Rāthriya, Diya Kæṭa Pahaṇa, Hadavila Sakmana, Daṇḍē Lū Gini, Diyasēna, Vesmuhuṇu and Golu Thaththa.[4]

However his most notable appearances came through cinema, where he continued to be one of the most influential cinema actors in Sinhala cinema. He dominated many blockbusters such as Sihina Dēśayen, Asvæsuma, Bahubūthayō, Sudu Kaḷu, Arumōsam Væhi, Mille Soyā, Adḍress Nǣ, Kosthāpal Puñyasōma, 28 and Gindari.[8] He won a merit award for the role in the serial Diyaketa Pahana.[5] Apart from acting, Perera also worked as the art director in the film Julietge Bhumikawa and Pawuru Walalu.[5] He was also the assistant director of the film Koti Waligaya.[4]

Selected television serials

  • Abuddassa Kalaya[9]
  • Amuthu Minissu[10]
  • Ath Kanda Lihiniya
  • Bhavathra[11]
  • Charithayakata Paata Denna[12]
  • Dadakeli Arana[13]
  • Deyyo Sakki[14]
  • Dhawala Kanya [15]
  • Diya Matha Ruwa [16]
  • Duvili Maliga[17]
  • Ekama Raene Kurullo[18]
  • Gini Avi Saha Gini Keli[19]
  • Golu Thaththa (2016)[20]
  • Herda Sakshiya[21]
  • Hiru Thanivela[22]
  • Ingammaruwa
  • Itu Devi Vimana[23]
  • Jeewithaya Dakinna [24]
  • Kampitha Vil[25]
  • Maama Haa Ma[26]
  • Mage Kaviya Mata Denna [27]
  • Mahamera Paamula
  • Me Sonduru Piyapath[28]
  • Nethra Mangallaya[29]
  • Pata Veeduru[30]
  • Pinkanda Simona [31]
  • Ralla Veralata Adarei
  • Samartha[32]
  • Sanda Amawakai[33]
  • Sanda Nathi Reya[34]
  • Satharadenek Senpathiyo [35]
  • Sathyaya [36]
  • Sisila Ima[37]
  • Star Sri lanka Histhanak[38]
  • Sulanga Matha Mohothak (2013 - 2014)
  • Thalaya Soyana Geethaya[39]
  • Thattu Gewal[40]
  • Uththamavi[41]
  • Wanawadule Wasanthaya[42]
  • Weda Hamine
  • Yakada Pahanthira[43]

Filmography

YearFilmRoleRef.
1981 Sagarayak Mada First entrance prisoner
1982 Sakwithi Suwaya Bertie 'Malli'
1982 Ridee Nimnaya Newton
1986 Koti Waligaya
1991 Keli Madala Wijesiri
1993 Guru Gedara 'England Ambassador' actor
1993 Nelum Saha Samanmali 787
1995 Maruthaya
1996 Sihina Deshayen
1997 Sudu Akka
1997 Visidela Sumith [44]
1997 Gini Avi Saha Gini Keli Sammy
1998 Anthima Reya [45]
1998 Julietge Bhumikawa Supun. also as art director.
1999 Pawuru Walalu Anthony
1999 Surayahana Gini Gani
1999 Surangana Yahana
1999 Mandakini [46]
2000 Saroja Sirisena
2000 Sanda Yahanata [47]
2000 Anuragaye Ananthaya Terrance [48]
2001 Aswesuma Head hunter
2001 Purahanda Kaluwara Village officer [49]
2002 Bahubuthayo Lanty
2002 Mage Wam Atha Photographer
2002 Arumosam Wahi Bindu [50]
2003 Thani Thatuwen Piyabanna Mechanic
2003 Sonduru Dadabima Ranasinghe
2003 Bheeshanaye Athuru Kathawak
2003 Sudu Salu Bandu [51]
2004 Mille Soya Pradeep
2004 Randiya Dahara Kulatunga
2005 Sulanga Enu Pinisa Soldier
2005 Sudu Kalu Saha Alu Army Ajith
2005 Asani Warsha Patrick Bappa
2008 Puthuni Hambagiya Michael
2008 Machan Ruan
2008 Heart FM Media Manager
2008 Siri Raja Siri Gune, Sirimal's father [52]
2010 Bambara Walalla Mel
2010 Ira Handa Yata Nimal
2010 Thank You Berty Sanda's father
2010 How I Wonder What You Are [53]
2011 King Hunther Hector [54]
2011 Gamani Mahendra
2012 Super Six Madaya
2012 Matha Galariya
2012 Kusa Pabha Royal Servant
2013 Bomba Saha Rosa Gotta
2013 Abhinikmana Somadasa
2014 Kosthapal Punyasoma Kosthapal Punyasoma
2014 Ko Mark No Mark Prof. Amaraweera
2015 Pravegaya Mahen
2015 Spandana Mahendra Sami
2015 Gindari Lanty
2015 Address Na Chaplin
2016 Hora Police Seargent Suwandarathna / Tiger
2016 Motor Bicycle Manju
2017 Sulanga Gini Aran Human organ trafficker
2017 28 Abasiri
2017 Appata Siri Mahamudalige Ranaweera / Suraweera [55]
2017 Kaala Heen Kurutta Nilame
2018 Vaishnavee Simon
2018 Punchi Andare Anadare's Father
2018 Davena Vihagun Slaughter house owner
2018 Athuru Mithuru Hari Apuru
2019 Weli Pawuru Sisira Ekanayake [56]
2019 President Super Star Vijitha Mapalagama [57]
2022 Night Rider [58]
2022 Hithumathe Jeewithe Raja [59]
2022 Gindari 2 Lanty [60]
2023 Vedi Nowadina Lamai [61]
2023 Kathuru Mithuru Wilson 'barber' [62]
TBD Theja [63]
TBD Kondadeniye Hamuduruwo [64]
TBD Anora [65]
TBD Girivassipura Pilimathalawwe [66]
TBD Ragaya Viragaya
TBD 1970 Love Story
TBD Hora Uncle [67]
TBD Ayyai Nangyi [68]
TBD Adventures of Ricky Deen Ricky Deen
TBD Kidnap' Upali [69]
TBD Passport [70]
TBD Maria [71]
TBD Number 9 [72]

Awards and accolades

He has won several awards at the local cinema, stage drama festivals and television festivals.[6]

Sarasaviya Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2006Randiya DaharaBest Supporting ActorWon

Presidential Film Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2006Asani WarshaBest Supporting ActorWon [73]

References

  1. ↑ "විවේකය ලැබුණු වෙලාවට එළවළු වවනවා". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  2. ↑ "Sri Lankan film artists - Mahendra Perera". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  3. ↑ "Mahendra Perera". www.nfc.gov.lk.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Superstar among actors: Mahendra Perera". Silumina. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 "Mahendra Perera : An accepted exception". Sunday Times. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  6. 1 2 "Cinema and theatre on the decline". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  7. ↑ "Palitha Silva - පාලිත සිල්වා films". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  8. ↑ "Mahendra Perera from Sri Lanka". Asia Pacific Screen Awards. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  9. ↑ "Searching for a lost son". Sunday Times. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  10. ↑ "'Amuthu Minissu' to appear soon". Sunday Times. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  11. ↑ "'Bavathra' deals with science fiction". Sunday Times. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  12. ↑ "Charithayakata Paata Denna shooting". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  13. ↑ "දඩකෙළි අරණ ඇරඹේ". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  14. ↑ "Pradeep Dharmadasa teleplay Deyyo Sakki". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  15. ↑ "'Dhawala Kanya' : A mystery story". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  16. ↑ "'Diya Matha Ruwa' now on the go". Sunday Times. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  17. ↑ "'Duvili Maliga' :Story of youth". Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  18. ↑ "Gayan-Chathurika initiates "Ekama Raene Kurullo"". Sarasaviya. Archived from the original on 24 August 2018. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  19. ↑ "මේ ඇත්තම පාතාලයයි". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  20. ↑ "ගොළු තාත්තාට මහේන්ද්‍ර ගොළු භාෂාවත් ඉගෙන ගත්තා". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  21. ↑ "හෘද සාක්ෂිය ටෙලි නාට්‍යයකින් විමසමු". Sarasaviya. Archived from the original on 15 October 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  22. ↑ "'Hiru Thanivela': Portrays struggle of young love". Sunday Times. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  23. ↑ "'Itu Devi Vimana': marriage of opposites". Sunday Times. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  24. ↑ "'Jeewithaya Dakinna' : One Episode miniplays on Rupavahini". Sunday Times. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  25. ↑ "'Kampitha Vill' shows the life and times of people in 'Panama'". Sunday Times. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  26. ↑ "Maama Haa Ma shooting completed". Sarasaviya. Archived from the original on 31 May 2018. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  27. ↑ "'Mage Kaviya Mata Denna' : Mano's filmic dream". Sunday Times. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  28. ↑ "Me Sonduru Piyapath on Rupavahini". Sarasaviya. Archived from the original on 31 October 2017. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  29. ↑ "'Nethra Mangallaya': another formula tale". Sunday Times. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  30. ↑ "'Pata Veeduru': Drama off the beaten track". Sunday Times. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
  31. ↑ "'Pinkanda Simona':Humour at its best". Sunday Times. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  32. ↑ "'Samartha' new tele on Sirasa TV". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  33. ↑ "'Sanda Amawakai': Prasanna's latest tele venture for 2001". Sunday Times. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  34. ↑ "Sanda Nati Reya shooting starts at Kandy". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  35. ↑ "Return of the Reviver". Sunday Times. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  36. ↑ "'Sathyaya': Out to thrill". Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  37. ↑ "'Sisila Ima': tale of two doctors". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  38. ↑ "Empty spaces in Star Reality Shows". Sunday Times. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  39. ↑ "Mapitigama makes a musical move". Sunday Times. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  40. ↑ "Hilarious story of flat dwellers". Sunday Times. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  41. ↑ "'Uththamavi': Travails of a village damsel". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  42. ↑ "Sudath's stories on screen again". Sunday Times. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  43. ↑ "Yakad Pahanthira, a weekend treat". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  44. ↑ "බිඳුණා දැහැන් බිඳුණා වීසි දැල". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  45. ↑ "International exposure for 'Anthima Reya'". Sunday Times. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  46. ↑ "Mandakini - මන්දාකිනි". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  47. ↑ "A film off the beaten track". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  48. ↑ "'Anuragaye Ananthaya' : A struggle between a woman and society". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
  49. ↑ "Lanka-Japan film wins recognition". Sunday Times. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  50. ↑ "Kids share limelight 'Arumosam Wehi'". Sunday Times. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  51. ↑ "Luxman's 'Sudu Salu' now on screen". Sunday Times. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  52. ↑ "Siri Raja Siri to join the children's movie scene". Daily News. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  53. ↑ "Birth of a Cinema". Sunday Times. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  54. ↑ "Mahendra in King Hunther". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  55. ↑ "රණවීර හා සුරවීරගේ පටලැවිල්ල අප්පට සිරි". Sarasaviya. Archived from the original on 24 September 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  56. ↑ "Tale of Melisha and Sisira at Elders Home - plot of Wali Pawuru". Sarasaviya. Archived from the original on 5 April 2018. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  57. ↑ "The presidential stage where four people are competing". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  58. ↑ "Nonviolent girl caught in a mob". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  59. ↑ "The supreme brotherly love of society". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  60. ↑ "A devil dance at Pettah". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  61. ↑ "'Bulletproof Children' competes in China". Sunday Times. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  62. ↑ "Friendship that cannot be cut with any scissors". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  63. ↑ "තේජා පූර්ව ප්‍රචාරය අරඹයි". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  64. ↑ "Siritunga gives life to Kondadeniye Hamuduruwo". Daily News. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  65. ↑ "Anora on editing". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
  66. ↑ "Senakadagala Tragedy into cinema screen - plot of Giriwasipura". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
  67. ↑ "Mission to save Sally - plot of Hora Uncle". Sarasaviya. Archived from the original on 26 March 2018. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  68. ↑ "Tale of Sayuri - plot of Ayyai Nangyi". Sarasaviya. Archived from the original on 15 September 2018. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
  69. ↑ "Plot of Kidnap". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  70. ↑ "Passport' flies to India and Europe". Daily News. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  71. ↑ "A film without an actress by Aruna Jayawardena". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  72. ↑ "Two creations by Charith Abeysinghe for small screen and silver screen ..." Sarasaviya. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  73. ↑ "President honours Lankan Cinema". Sunday Times. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
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