Suraj Mapa

Mapa Mudiyanselage Suraj Laksiri (born 2 January 1980 as සුරාජ් මාපා) [Sinhala]) is an actor in Sri Lankan cinema and television as well as a producer, model, dancer and a choreographer.[3] Highly versatile actor particularly active on television, Mapa is best known for the roles in television serials Olu, Sepalika and Haara Kotiya.

Suraj Mapa
සුරාජ් මාපා
Born
Mapa Mudiyanselage Suraj Laksiri[1]

(1980-01-02) 2 January 1980[2]
Kandy, Sri Lanka
NationalitySri Lankan
EducationTrinity College, Kandy
OccupationActor, Dramatist, Choreographer
Years active2002–present
Parent(s)
  • Dayani Mapa (mother)
AwardsMost Popular Actor

Personal life

He was born on 2 January 1980 in Kandy as the youngest of the family with two elder sisters. His father was a businessman and mother was a housewife. He completed education from Trinity College, Kandy and did his Advance Level examination in 1999.[4]

Then, Mapa followed a course in Hotel Management earning a Diploma in Hotel Management and worked for one year in his father's hotel – ‘Hotel Zurich Park’. He also studied at IDM and gained a Diploma in Computer Studies. While working for ‘Suntel’ as a customer care executive, he was selected as a model by famous fashion designer Lou Ching Wong and hair dresser Nayana.[5]

His father died on 13 July 2016[6] and mother Dayani Mapa died 17 August 2018 by blood clot in brain.[7] His mother's sister, Suneetha Ratnayake was a popular dancer.[5]

Acting career

Mapa started his acting career in 2002 with the television serial Mage Sanda Oba, which gained him large popularity and also selected for Upcoming Actor award in year 2002.[8] He won the award for the Most Popular Actor in both Sumathi and Raigam Television awards in 2005 and 2006 respectively for the serial Pooja. He was also nominated as the Best Upcoming Actor in 2003.[9] In 2005, he won the award for the most popular Sri Lankan actor in the UAE. However his turning point in career came through the serial Olu in 2010.[5]

Mapa started his film career with a supportive role in 2004 comedy film, Clean Out directed by Roy de Silva.[10] He also acted in Belgium film Semi Tower.[5] He acted in the film Sikuru Hathe directed by Giriraj Kaushalya. The film became a blockbuster hit and became the highest-grossing film in 2007. The film won many awards at SIGNIS award and Sarasaviya awards.[11]

Notable Television serials

Dancing career

Mapa started dancing at school age and excels in Latin American dance. He studied dancing under Neomi Rajaratnam and performed at many events both locally and internationally such as "Footwork Dance Sport 2002".[8] In 2013 he learnt Kandyan dance traditions under Guru Kulasiri Budawatta and became a Ves Kandyan dancer in 2014.[4][31]

His maiden dance show titled Elements with Surya was held at Bishop's college auditorium on 14–15 May 2010 at 7 p.m.[8] On 27 February 2016, Mapa organized a dance show with over fifty dancers. The show was held at the Dharmaraja College Audotirium from 10.00 am and 6.30 pm.[4]

In 2013, he contested for the reality program Derana City of Dance, The Ultimate Level telecast by TV Derana[32] and in 2018 Hiru Mega Stars telecast by Hiru TV.[33]

Filmography
YearFilmRoleRef.
2004Clean OutPathale Sudha 'Sam'[34]
2007Sikuru HatheVidyartha[35]
2008Akasa Kusum[36]
2010UththaraShanilka[37]
2011SuseemaRanga[38]
2015Singa Machan CharlieRomeo[39]
2018Yama Raja SiriIn item song[40]
2019Ginnen Upan Seethala[41]

Awards and accolades

Sumathi Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2007People's voteMost Popular ActorWon
2011DegammediyawaMerit AwardWon

References
  1. "Suraj Mapa biography". wordpress. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  2. "Happy Birthday – January 2". suratha. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  3. "Suraj Mapa filmography". IMDb. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  4. "Suraj Mapa presents 'Elements with Surya'". Sunday Times. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  5. "Memorable performance". Lakadesha. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  6. "Actor Suraj Mapa's father passes away". Hiru FM. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  7. "Actor Suraj Mapa's mother passes away". lankahitgossip. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  8. "In step with Suraj". Daily News. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  9. "Suraj and Harshini : 'Coke Ambassadors'". Sunday Times. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  10. "Suraj Mapa - සුරාජ් මාපා films". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  11. "'Sikuru Hathe' back on screen". Sunday Times. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  12. "Aathma Senehasa teledrama". Alankulama Holding (Pvt) Ltd. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  13. "'අමුතු රසිකයා' ආලින්දයට පැමිණේ". Divaina. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  14. "Stars in scuffle at Baloli location". Sunday Times. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  15. "'Chotte' on Rupavahini". Daily News. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  16. "A play on worthlessness of wealth". Sunday Times. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  17. "Haara Kotiya, Its No Waste Of Time!". The Sunday Leader. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
  18. "'Handewa' pictures a tragedy in a colony". Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  19. "'Indrachapa':A family drama". Sunday Times. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  20. "'Isuru Bawana' miniplay on Rupavahini". Sunday Times. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  21. "'Jeewa Chakra' brings world-renowned literature on miniscreen". Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  22. "'Mage Sanda Oba': a tender love story". Sunday Times. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  23. "'Mini Kirana' on Rupavahini from Wednesday". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  24. "'Pinikunatuwa':A drama with hundred episodes". Sunday Times. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  25. "Tele treat". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  26. "'Sepalika' on Swarnavahini". Sunday Times. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  27. "Mohan Niyaz has a dream in Colour". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  28. "'Suddilage Kathawa' back on miniscreen". Sunday Times. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  29. "Thanamalvila Kollek' - Award-winning warmth and fatherly memory". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  30. "'Veeduru Mal': Depicts a topsy-turvy tale". Sunday Times. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  31. "Suraj dances his way to maturity". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  32. "City Of Dance - The Ultimate Level". Derana TV. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  33. "Suraj Mapa - සුරාජ් මාපා bio". Hiru TV. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  34. "එදා මෙදා තිරගත වූ සිංහල චිත්‍රපට". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  35. "Sikuru Hathe: A magnificent comedy". Daily News. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
  36. TV Times (19 October 2008). "Akasa Kusum (Flowers of the Sky) Blooms in Pusan". The Sunday Times, Sri Lanka.
  37. "Sandun brings 'Uththara'". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  38. "Susima on the big screen". Daily News. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  39. "Singa Machan Charlie movie". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  40. "Yama Raja Siri films.lk article". Films.lk (in Sinhala). Archived from the original on 2018-04-05. Retrieved 2018-04-05.
  41. "Gratitude for that sacrifice - Director Anuruddha". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
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