IRREPLACEABLE VIJAYA NANDASIRI
Third death anniversary falls on Thursday
Aseries of events have been organized to mark veteran actor Vijaya Nandasiri’s third death anniversary which falls on August 8. A blood donation campaign will be held at his residence at Kalapura, Templers Road, Mount Lavinia on August 10 from 9 am onwards.his family members have made an open invitation to Vijaya’s fans to take part in the blood donation campaign.
Reams have been written about this unique actor who played the role of Prince Maname in more than 1,000 shows and later consolidated his place as the most sought after comedy star during the past two decades. He was reigning supreme at the peak of his career when death snatched him on August 8, 2016, plunging the entire country and especially the showbiz industry into shock, grief and pandemonium. Vijaya who was 69 at the time of his death, had just completed 50 years as an actor. Illuppitiya Mudiyanselage Vijaya Nandasiri, born on May 6, 1947 entered the field of acting via stage dramas, joining the Maname troupe of Dr. Ediriweera Sarachchandra, and for decades he has been playing Prince Maname on stage. As a stage actor he consolidated his place in dramas like Sinhabahu, Rathnawali, Rankanda, Suba Saha Yasa, Vishva Sundari, Tharawo Igilethi, Sirisangabo, Kuweni, Hunuwataye Kathawa and others including his own productions Kusa Pabawathi, Wrushaba Raja and Haratha Rejina. Having entered films with Matara Achchi, he played various roles on the big screen. He was the blind boy Mahinda in Nedeyo, Athula in Siri Pathula, Upali in Sasara, Ronald in Hingana Kolla, Kapila in Bangali Walalu and Ajith in Yasa Isuru. But people began to realize the multi-talents of Vijaya Nandasiri when he became Senarath in Yes Boss, Premachandra in Nonawarune Mahathwarune and Mangala Jaya in Sikuru Hathe. Movies like King Hunther, Sir Last Chance, Sikuru Hathe and Suhada Koka took him to the peak of popularity. His plays like Balloth Ekka Behe, Rukada Rajje, Malwadam Anawashyai, Deyyoth Danne Nehe, Kakul Hathare Ilandiriya made him the most sought after stage actor in the country in recent times. Despite all this fame and fortune the unique quality in him was that his feet were firmly placed on the ground. He always respected his directors, producers, co artistes and even the younger generation and especially the media. He always had great respect for the media