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Screen is his passion
Saddavidda Rajapaksha Palangapathira Ambakumaraga Ranjan Leo Sylvester
Alfonso Ramanayake. Sounds like a chant doesn't it. Well it's not. It is a
name. A name well known or shall I say popularly known in our local cinema
field. Just take name number five and name number nine and put it
together. Here goes.
Put name number five
and name number nine
together and you have
The most popular actor of this time*
"Parliament Jokes"
"Oba Koheda Piye"
are some of the movies
in Saddavidda's resume.
This forty year old guy
when I catch him on phone
was shooting "Sathruwan Warsha" in Kandy
where he was on the roam.
His passion to be on screen
Rajapaksha says,
began with "Uncle Kumaratunge"
who inspired him from small days.
A student of Maria Stella-Negombo
he did sports and drama.
Later worked on as steward
and then seaman in America.
At twenty four years of age
Palangapathira started at the bottom of the ladder
in the field of acting
until he starred in the tele-"Bagya".
Of acting Ambakumaraga says,
"It's the best job in the world.
You get to travel around,
and even romance with the girls.
Plus you're paid for the whole package,
and given celebrity status.
Everyone loves, respects and knows you
you become rich and famous".
So what's the magic formula?
He says, it's being positive,
working hard, working out
and watching all the movies.
English, Sinhala and Tamil
Ranjan watches all three.
"It keeps you in touch with modern trends
In the cinema scene".
At the moment Leo's working on
A movie called "One Shot"
which is a critique of politics
and gives a hit at its head pots.
Marlon Brando, Al Pacino
C.Z.Jones, J'Lo
Are a few of Sylvester's
favourite actresses and actors.
Exercising, watching movies
Listening to music, his hobbies are.
Denims and T-shirts, when sprucing himself
Alfonso likes most to wear.
Of girls, Ramanyake says,
When he's near one his heart goes a zoom.
But watch out for his fiery temper,
when anything unjust happens it goes boom.
Lastly Ranjan Ramanayake
says he wouldn't be where he is
without the support of his fans
who come and watch his movies.
*Sarasavi Awards 2001
by Farah Macan Markar
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