BUDDHI THE RESOURCEFUL ACTOR

Versatile artiste Buddhi Wickrama is an actor who cannot be defined in words. He belongs to the rare breed of intelligent and decent actors produced by GDL Perera’s Kala Pela. Buddhi who always got into the skin of the character he was offered made an impact with even the smallest role, in his outstanding acting career spanning five decades. “Theatre is my first love and of course the last. The discipline that theatre has instilled in us certainly made us excel in films and tele dramas,” he told Impulse. Buddhisena Dayaratne Wickrama who was born in Heenatigala, Galle firstly shot into the limelight playing a role in GDL Perera’s Magul Mathaya in the early sixties, but prior to that he had acted in school plays at Mahinda College, Galle. “I first acted in Prof. Vinnie Vitharana’s play while at school. Later I joined the Survey Department where Dhamma Jagoda, Shelton Silva and Mervyn Jayatunga also worked. That paved the way for me to join the Kala Pela in the sixties. My first stage play was ‘Magul Mathaya’. Later I acted in Andare, Thotupala, Mehew Lokayak, Kontharaya, Manaranjana Weda Warjana, Duwili, Sri Wickrama and others.”

Your first film was ‘Sama’?

Yes, that was also directed by GDL Perera. I later acted in other films including four foreign productions like ‘Village by the Sea’,‘Good Marriages’,‘The Greatest Gift’ and‘Water’.Among my other Sinhala films were Romeo Juliet Kathawak, Welikathara, Tharanga, Anthima Reya, Chakrayuda, Sadol Kandulu, Dahasak Sithuwili, Hara Lakshe, Tharanaya, Rajya Sevaya Pinisai and others.

Entering the tele world?

Well, the environment for such a transition had been made through my acting experience on stage and films. Lucian Bulathsinhala’s‘Eka Mawakage Daruwo’ was my first tele drama. Thereafter I acted in about 40 creations including Kumarihami, Tharadevi, Doo Daruwo, Amba Yahaluwo, Gamperaliya, Suseema, Hiruta Muwawen, Punchi Hapannu, Kalu Makara, Sandagalathenna, Kadathurawa, Sihina Nimnaya, Sihinayak Addara and BawaTharana in which I acted recently.

You insist that stage is your first love?

And the last too.There are several reasons to say so. One is that we come into contact directly with the audiences and the discipline that’s inculcated in us.We can’t act irresponsibly on stage.We have to be mindful about our co-stars, especially when delivering the last word of our dialogues because the co-star takes the cue from that point. Unlike tele dramas, people have to make an extra effort to watch stage plays.

These fields today compared to the good old days?

I must say it is pathetic. In the good old days we had scripts for tele dramas but today it is a rare commodity.Today the focus is on cutting costs and making the maximum scenes a day which reduces the quality drastically. Artistes are paid on a daily basis and they have to work from 6 am to late night. Demanding a fee based on our roles has become a futile attempt now.

Mega tele dramas?

This is not a good trend, though it has become the profession of many artistes.The quality factor is very upsetting and families can’t watch them together.A new breed of actors and actresses are produced through such dramas. My only advice to newcomers is understand your task and do justice to it. Respect seniors and learn through their experiences. Our school was the stage.The new generation artistes should remember that nothing comes instantly. Even if it does, it has no life span.

Your awards…?

None. But I treat the feedback of the people as prestigious awards. Acting in foreign productions are also equal to awards.

Your family?

My wife is Iranganie, my daughter is Kushlani and my grandson is Naveen.