Wilson Gunaratne

Wilson Gunaratne (born March 9, 1949, as විල්සන් ගුණරත්න [Sinhala]) is an actor and comedian in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television. He is most notable for the role Kodithuwakku in television comedy sitcom Nonavaruni Mahathvaruni and stage drama Charitha Atak. It is the only stage play in Sri Lanka in which one actor portrays eight different characters with eight different voices.[1]

Wilson Gunaratne
විල්සන් ගුණරත්න
Born (1949-03-09) 9 March 1949
Kadawatha, Sri Lanka
NationalitySri Lankan
EducationKalutara Vidyalaya
Occupation(s)Actor, comedian, director
Years active1983 – present

Acting career

At that time when he was working in an executive position in the field of hotel management, Gunaratne met Tony Ranasinghe through his elder brother. Under his guidance, Gunaratne made a minor role in a scene shot in the hotel premises for a film. Then Tony nominated Gunaratne for the role of the 'Duke' in Shakespeare's translation stage play Veniciye Welenda directed by playwright Bandula Vithanage. The play made the turning point of his acting career. Later he performed in two of Vithanage's plays: Sakala Jana, Muhuṇu Dekak. Meanwhile, he did a scientific study of comedy at IFT, an affiliate of the University of Noida, New Delhi.[2]

He was introduced to teledrama under the guidance of former parliamentary translator and actor Alfred Perera. Alfred has worked in China and the Philippines Radio. He invited Gunaratne to the orchestra for the popular television serial Vinoda Samaya program aired by the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation. He was the drummer of that program.[3] His maiden cinema acting came through film Samuganimi Ma Samiyani directed by his elder brother. Then he got a chance to play in his brother's second directed film Sasaraka Pethuma.[3]

Gunaratne was highly popularized with the television sitcom Nonavaruni Mahathvaruni through the character Kodithuwakku.[4] In the meantime, he acted in the serial Sathpura Wasiyo with the role "Pappa" which made his hallmark in drama career.[3] Apart from that, he produced a political comedy stage drama titled Charitha Hathak, which was later updated into Charitha Atak.[5] Since its opening, Charitha Hathak has completed 37 shows within eight months. His seven characters include, Kodituwakku from "Nonava-runi Mahatvaruni", Pappa, Prof. Pragnaratne, Transport Teacher Mr. Bastian, Prof. Marenzie (Italian).

In 1998, he made first directorial debut with the television political satire Kodivinaya telecast by ITN.[6]

Selected stage dramas
  • Charitha Hathak[7]
  • Charitha Atak[8]

Selected television serials
  • Bhavana - Amuttha[9]
  • Charitha Dekak[10]
  • Hathara Wate[11]
  • Kinihiraka Pipi Mal [12]
  • Kodivinaya
  • Kiyadenna Adare Tharam
  • Kula Kumariya [13]
  • Kulavilokanaya[14]
  • Nonavaruni Mahathvaruni
  • Kathura
  • Sadisi Tharanaya [15]
  • Vinivindimi[16]
  • Willy King Show
  • Yes Madam

Filmography
  • No. denotes the Number of Sri Lankan film in the Sri Lankan cinema.[17]
YearNo.FilmRolesRef.
1983552Samuganimi Ma Samiyani
1985611Adara Kathawa
1986646Koti Waligaya
1987656SathyagrahanayaLockout orator[18]
1990698Thanha Asha
1991722Keli MadalaOffice Ranjani greeter
1998890Gini Avi Saha Gini KeliPaththini Charles[19]
1999922Theertha Yathra[20]
2000944Pem KekulaJayathunga[21][22]
20031003Thani Thatuwen PiyabannaGarage owner[23]
2012
-
A Common ManPrakash Kumar[24]
20121183Jeevithe LassanaiJayasundara, Wishwa's father[25]
20131193Kauda Machan Alice[26]
20131196Samanala SandhawaniyaDanny, Vadisha's Manager[27]
20131197Double Trouble[28]
20131184Sri Siddhartha GautamaSage Asitha[29]
20151230None Mage Sudu NoneHector[30]
20171276Ali KathawaMaha Amathi[31]
20181304Bimba Devi Alias YashodharaSage Asitha[32]
20191322ThaalaSecretary Senaratne[33]
2019President Super StarJ.R. Jayawardena dummy[34]
2020SuparnaProfessor[35]
TBDEka Gei Sokari[36]

References
  1. "Fun times With Wilson Gunaratne's Charitha Atak". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  2. "I became a comedian to heal people's minds". Silumina. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  3. "I'm an artist who heals people's minds". Dinamina. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  4. "One of a kind". Daily News. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  5. "New version Charitha Atak". Sunday Times. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  6. "'Kodivinaya': curse overtakes country". Sunday Times. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  7. "'Charithe Hathak':Two hours with Kodituwakku". Sunday Times. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  8. "'Charitha Atak' A Stress free evening". Sunday Times. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  9. "16 short stories on mini screen". Sunday Times. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  10. "Bermin Lyle's hilarious drama". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  11. "'Hatara Wate' deals with routine events". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  12. "Screen show for Women's Day". Sunday Times. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  13. "'Jane Eyre' on miniscreen". Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  14. "Treble teledrama treat from Swarnavahini". Sunday Times. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  15. "Devinda starts new journey with 'Sadisi Tharanaya'". Sunday Times. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  16. "Top short stories on mini screen". Sunday times. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  17. "Sri Lankan Cinema History". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  18. "All about Sathyagrahanaya". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  19. "Sinhala screened films". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  20. "'Theertha yatra' goes in search of family roots". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  21. "Roy's 'Pem Kekula' will blossom soon". Sunday Times. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  22. "'Pem Kekula' goes back to a hilarious past". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  23. "FLYING WITH ONE WING". WordPress.com. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  24. "Lankans' film wins three awards". The Island. 2013-07-08. Retrieved 2013-07-09.
  25. "Jeevithe Lassanai". www.nfc.gov.lk. Retrieved 2016-07-01.
  26. "Kawda Machan Alice". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  27. "Samanala Sandhawaniya (2013) Plot Summary". IMDB. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  28. "Double Trouble". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  29. "Sri Siddhartha Gautama cast take a bow". Daily News. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  30. "None Mage Sudu None". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  31. Ali Kathawa (2017), retrieved 2017-05-07
  32. "'Yashodhara' in theatres from April 26". Sunday Times. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  33. "Thaala - තාල". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  34. "The presidential stage where four people are competing". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  35. "The girl from Bhima - plot of Suparna". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
  36. "Real life Draupadis in the picture". Daily News. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
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