Acting at leisure for pleasure

Sujeewa Dharmawickrama is an up-and-coming youthful actor who makes contributions to tele dramas and films at leisure times for pleasure. Unlike many of today’s actors, acting is not Dharmawickrama’s career. He serves as the Manager Marketing at the Kandurata Umbrella (Pvt) Ltd.

Talented up-and-coming actor, holds MBA (UK), Dip. in Marketing, Dip. in Quality Management with regard to his career. He is a product of Siddhartha Central College, Wellampitiya and has been passionately engaged in acting during school days at Sinhabahu, Maname and Jullius Caesar were among many stage dramas he participated on during school. Apart from acting, talkative young boy at school was also able to win the All Island Speech Contest.

Not confining his talents only to his Alma Mater, he directed a stage play at village. Not letting his ability of dancing die a natural death, he identified and sharpened his talents attending classes of several dancing styles such as Western, Indian and Ballroom under several gurus.

He is an all rounder who excelled in Karate and leads his music band ‘Dematagoda Ridma’.

He is seen on the screen in ‘Kinduru Kodewwa’ which is being telecast everyday on Swarnawahini at 8.30 p.m. ‘Kinduru Kodewwa’ is not his maiden contribution though he was shocked during the first scene of the drama being shot.

“I was not very much used to tele cameras when the first scene of the drama started to be shot. I was much excited. The first scene was to take a cup of tea which is offered to me. When I had to take the cup of tea. I took the tray itself. It seemed to be a grotesque, so the director had to take another shot.” His foray into teledramas was marked by the single episode ‘Wasanthayata Kandulak’ made for the World’s Aids Day six month ago.

He says that he has received quite a lot of invitations to act in teledramas, but had to turn them down due to his busy schedule as a Marketing Manager. Though it affects his acting career, he seems to be calm about it.

“I am employed full time. I do not accept whatever invitations come to me. I should think before I accept a role to act, whether it suits me or whether I would be able to represent the director’s imaginary likes. I also do not like to be a professional actor and appear on screen frequently. I do not know whether my decision would change in future. However, I have to give it a second thought before I quit my employment and decide whether to be a fulltime actor.”

He seems to be very particular about his appearance and the roles he receives to play whether they suit his personality. “Recently a tele drama director contacted me and offered a role in his new tele drama. When I inquired about the role that I have to act, he said that it’s a village type of a clumsy boy’s character. I refused it because of western type appearance of mine. Many directors have identified me as a person that suits to play western type of characters.”

He has also written many tele drama scripts. His scripts are unique which explicitly depicts, patriotism, renaissance, education and religious. “I have read many books on renaissance. The incidents mentioned are unique and less used as plots for films and dramas. I also have read about meditation. I meditate every morning. Meditation helps to keep me mentally and physically healthy. I enjoy benefits of meditation. I have no problem in time management and have acquired a good level of self-control by meditation. I haven’t experienced stress at work. I also believe that a good mind always yields good products.” Despite being a busy Marketing Manager, Dharmawickrama has already agreed to act in two teledramas of Gamya Ratnawara and Saman Fernando’s yet that to start shooting.

His main ambition with regard to Arts Field is to act in a main role in a film. Showing great talent as a novice to achieve his goal is not very far.