K. A. W. Perera
Kala Suri Koddul Arachchige Wilson Perera (born 26 April 1926 – died 20 August 2006 as කොන්දුල් ආරච්චිගේ විල්සන් පෙරේරා) [Sinhala]), popularly known as K.A.W. Perera, was an award-winning director in Sri Lankan cinema.[1][2][3] Considered as one of the best filmmakers in Sri Lankan cinema,[4] Perera was also a screenwriter, dialogue writer, lyricist and producer who contributed to Sri Lankan drama career for more than five decades.[5]
K.A.W. Perera කේ. ඒ. ඩබ්. පෙරේරා | |
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Born | Koddul Arachchige Wilson Perera April 26, 1926 |
Died | August 20, 2006 80) Colombo | (aged
Nationality | Sri Lankan |
Education | Ananda College |
Occupation | Director, Producer, Screenplay writer |
Years active | 1955–2004 |
Spouse(s) | Agnes Perera |
Children | Jayantha Das Perera |
Parent(s) |
|
He died on 20 August 2006 at the age of 80.[6]
Personal life
K.A.W. Perera was born on 26 April 1926 in Colombo. His mother was Kavinihamy Ratnayake. He first attended to Olcott College and passed English senior exam.[7] He completed education from Ananda College, Colombo.[8] Her mother was very strict on education, hence Perera studied well at the school and passed Junior School Certificate.[9]
He was married to longtime partner Agnes and the couple has one son, Jayantha Das Perera.[8]
Career
Early career
Perera met Agnes, his future wife during studies at a private institute to prepare University Entrance Examination. At that time, with arising financial problems, he continuously went Employment Exchange to find a job. After some days, he was hired as a clerk at the Education Department.[8] While at the department, he wrote scripts for Radio Ceylon such as Jeewitha Sahathikaya and Rahas Parikshakaya produced by late Thevis Guruge and became popular.[7] Praised by his Director of the Department, Perera was soon appointed as the Assistant English Teacher at a school in Biyanwala in 1949. In 1955, after few years of duty, he quit from the job and moved to Radio Ceylon as a full time writer and copywriter.[9] He also produced radio programmes such as Handa Mama, Radio Sangarawa and Sinhala Geetha Dhara.[7]
Cinema career
During his work at Radio Ceylon, Perera met renowned filmmaker Lester James Peries. Lester selected KAW as the dialogues writer for Sri Lanka’s first pure Sinhala film, Rekava.[8] KAW also worked with Lester for the next film Sandesaya as dialogues writer. In 1960, he co-directed his debut film Pirimiyek Nisa along with T. Somasekaran. The film was produced by E. A. P. Edirisinghe.[9] In 1963, he co-produced the film Suhada Sohoyuro with Edirisinghe. In 1966 he directed the film Sanasuma Kothanada and won the Sarasaviya award for the best film.[7]
Since his debut, KAW made blockbuster milestones in Sinhala cinema history which includes Kapatikama, Bicycle Hora, Penawa Neda, Kathuru Muwath, Janaka Saha Manju, Lokuma Hinawa, Ihatha Athmaya, Aparadaya saha Danduwama, Lasanda and Undaya.[8] Perera involved to introduce many talented faces to Sinhala cinema, whom became some major stars in coming ages. He introduced Geetha Kumarasinghe to silver screen through his film Wasana. Then he introduced Vijaya Nandasiri to cinema with Nedeyo.[9] He introduced maestro Premasiri Khemadasa to cinema with Sanasuma Kothanada as well as lyricist Dharmasiri Gamage. With his final film Sumedha, renowned musician Rookantha Gunathilake has introduced into Sinhala cinema as musical director.[7]
In 1956, he was honored at Taskkent’ International Film festival for the film Lasanda. In 1976, Perera won the award for the best director at OCIC film festival in Rome for Lasanda.[7]
Legacy
On 19 November 2013, a felicitation ceremony and three-day film festival was held at BMICH to celebrate Perera's contribution to Sinhala cinema.[7]
Filmography
Year | Film | Roles | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
1956 | Rekava | Dialogue Writer | |
1959 | Sri 296 | Dialogue Writer | |
1960 | Sandesaya | Dialogue Writer | |
1960 | Pirimiyek Nisa | Director, Dialogue Writer, Screenwriter | |
1962 | Ranmuthu Duwa | Dialogue Writer | |
1963 | Suhada Sohoyuro | Director, Dialogue Writer, Lyricist | [10] |
1966 | Senasuma Kothanada | Director, Screenwriter | |
1966 | Kapatikama | Director, Screenwriter | |
1964 | Heta Pramada Wadi | Dialogue Writer | |
1964 | Getawarayo | Screenwriter | |
1965 | Yata Giya Dawasa | Dialogue Writer | |
1965 | Saaravita | Screenwriter | |
1966 | Sigiri Kashyapa | Dialogue Writer | |
1966 | Oba Dutu Da | Screenwriter | |
1967 | Okkoma Hari | Screenwriter | |
1968 | Bicycle Hora | Director, Screenwriter | |
1970 | Penawa Neda | Screenwriter | |
1971 | Kathuru Muwath | Director, Screenwriter | |
1971 | Seeye Nottuwa | Director, Screenwriter | |
1972 | Lokuma Hinawa | Director, Screenwriter | |
1972 | Ihatha Athmaya | Director | |
1973 | Aparadaya Saha Danduwama | Director | |
1974 | Duleeka | Director | |
1974 | Lasanda | Director, Screenwriter | |
1976 | Wasana | Director, Screenwriter | |
1976 | Nadayo | Director, Screenwriter | |
1978 | Janaka Saha Manju | Director, Screenwriter, Producer | |
1978 | Sasara | Director, Screenwriter | |
1979 | Hingana Kolla | Director, Screenwriter | |
1980 | Adara Rathne | Director | |
1981 | Bangali Walalu | Director, Screenwriter | |
1982 | Wathura Karaththaya | Director, Screenwriter, Lyricist | |
1982 | Rail Paara | Director | |
1988 | Durga | Director, Screenwriter, Producer | |
1994 | Dhawala Pushpaya | Director, Lyricist | |
1996 | Madhuri | Director, Screenwriter | |
2000 | Undaya | Director, Screenwriter, Producer | |
2004 | Sumedha | Director, Screenwriter | [11] |
References
- "Filmmakers of Sri Lankan cinema - K A W Perera". National Film Corporation Of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
- "K A W Perera". IMDb. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
- "K.A.W. Perera films". British Film Institute. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
- "KAW Perera, The master craftsman". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
- "K.A.W. Perera filmography". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
- "K. A. W. No more". Sunday Times. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
- "KAW pioneered many cinematic innovations". Sunday Times. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
- "K. A. W. Perera and the dimensions of popularity". Daily News. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
- "Intriguing K.A.W. Perera And the roads he took us through". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
- "'Suhada Sohoyuro' on Swarnavahini". Sunday Times. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
- "KAW's Sumedha: a landmark film". Sunday Times. Retrieved 31 December 2019.