Opposites
attract: destiny played the lead role
Sriya talks of life with popular actor, director and
producer Sathischandra Edirisinghe:

lakmal@sundayobserver.lk |
Sathischandra Edirisinghe, actor, director and producer of stage
dramas, films and teles; what a vital role is he playing at home? “He is
a good husband. What else to utter,” laughs Sriya, his wife.
Sitting on the sofa at their residence at Kelaniya, Kariyapperuma
Arachchige Sriya Kariyapperuma started recalling the past and the
present with her hubby Sathis who has gained fame in all three acting
arenas.

Pix: Chinthaka Kumarasinghe |
“We were friends. I acted in the stage dramas he directed at school.
There was a competition among girls to win him, as he was an active and
jovial boy who was always humming a tune even whilst walking. However he
turned to me. I still don’t know what that something special he saw in
me. Must be my destiny,” she smiles.
Sriya was born on November 7, 1941 to Baron Perera Kariyapperuma who
worked as a clerk and Sumanawathie Cooray at Gonawala, Kelaniya. Sriya
was the oldest of the ten siblings in her family. She had her education
at Dharmaloka Maha Vidyalaya, Kelaniya. Sriya was in the school
orchestra and learnt to play the Esraj under Mr.Mudunkotuwa. “I did the
first Division of Indian music examination. But, it all stopped after
Mr. Mudunkotuwa went to India,” she recalls. “I did sports at school,
and was in the school netball team. I was the House Captain too,” she
reminisces.
Sriya was brought up in a friendly environment with a happy
childhood. “My mother was a bit of a strict character. We were asked to
help out in the house chores though we had enough of helping hands to do
the work. But, later in life, I realised the value of it. After I got
married I got worked in dress making and cake making for about 20 years.
It drew me an income while giving me self contentment.
Hence, I’ve never missed not staying at home as my husband was a very
busy person with his job, acting career as well as the social service. I
believe every girl should be armed with the capabilities of tackling the
home front. That makes life easy. Whatever the career you are engaged
in, a woman should know her duties by the home and family,” she says.
Patikirige Sathischandra Edirisinghe was born on February 11 in 1941
to a Chief Supervisor of the Department of Cottage Industries,
P.Edirisinghe and Elizabeth Perera of Nungamuwa, Kelaniya. Sathis was
the sixth in the eight in his family. Running events, Volleyball and
drama were among his favourites at school. Sathis did his A/Ls in the
Arts stream at St.Mary’s College, Alpitiya and got results to enter to
the University. But, his craze over dramas changed his destiny.
Sathis’ first job was as a clerk at the CTB in 1965.
He rose up to be the Public Relations Officer and then to be the
Manager of Grade 5 at the same place during his 20 years of service.
During Mahaweli Minister the late Gamini Dissanayaka’s era, Sathis
joined the Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka, and rendered his invaluable
service. By introducing a cultural centre and a team in which many
underprivileged village youngsters of the Mahaweli area got the
opportunity to rise up in the society through their in-born talents.
Sathis’ first stage drama on the popular stage was Kalashoori
J.D.A.Perera’s `Vessanthara’ in 1961. It was a script from John de
Silva. Sathis acted in it with the late famous duo Edie Jayamanna and
Rukmani Devi. Henry Jayasena’s `Manaranjana Vedavarjana’ (1965) was also
one of the memorable plays Sathis was involved in. `Baka Thapas’ was his
first production as well as direction which was staged in 1963. So far
he has acted in 20 plays, and six of them were his production and
direction.
`Sadol Kandulu’ directed by Senator Reggie Perera (1966) took him to
the Silver Screen. Sathis who wanted to try his aesthetically talented
hands in every field, directed and produced his first film `Mathara
Aachchi’ in 1973. `Rajagedara Paraviyo’, `Shri Madara’, `Sathara
Diganthaya’, `Adhishtanaya’ and `Vadula’ were the few films Sathis
created for the Silver Screen which were with a novel creative and
exquisite aesthetic touch one different from the other.
`Sandakada Pahana’, the popular song in Sathis’ first film `Mathara
Aachchi’ sung by Sunil Edirisinghe (Sathis’ younger brother) was still a
hit. It was the first song composition of Wally Nanayakkara; the first
film music direction of Victor Ratnayaka and first film song of Sunil.
This was a record that has marked the Sinhala film history.
Sathis’ unique talents in acting coupled with his deep intensive
personality attracted the hearts and minds of the tele fans. Every
character he played in 30-40 teledramas has imprinted an exquisite
memory to the viewers.

(From Left) Udaya (eldest son), Dasanthi (daughter-in-law),
Sriya, Udara (youngest son), Nisansala (daughter-in-law),
Sathischandra, Shashini (daughter) and Ranil (son-in-law).
(Front) Grandchildren (the four out of the five) - Ravindu,
Thushani, Neha and Chetha. |
Out of the 11 teledramas he has produced, seven were directed by him.
Sathis has won many awards to his credit, and some of them were for his
roles in the teles `Eka Mavakage Daruvo’ and `Thaara Devi’ (both
directed by Lucien Bulathsinghala) in early 1980s, Gamini Fonseka’s film
`Koti Valigaya’ (1985) and film `Hima Kathara’ were among the award
winning lot.
Sathis was honoured with the `Kalashoori’ title by the late President
R. Premadasa in 1990, and bestowed with an honorary doctorate by the
Vidyalankara Pirivena, Peliyagoda in 2006.
Question: Sriya, we see Sathis as a strong steadfast
personality on the screen. How do you describe him as a husband?
Sriya: He is a nice man (smile). He gets angry, but only for a
few seconds. He has been a family man, but had little time to attend to
the studies of the children and other work at home. I even shouldered
most of the work in that sense, giving him more space for his work. I
always thought it was my duty by him. He would not miss a single
invitation he gets and prefers to attend to any function; be it a
religious, State celebration or a book launch.
He reads a lot and loves to deliver lectures, especially for the
youngsters at Buddhist Sunday Schools and schools. Sathis is a very
religious person who tries his best to lead a virtuous life. Also if he
is given a duty he would do it to the maximum capacity. He loves social
service, and has had a vast number of students among the youngsters whom
he has helped out to rise up in life. They still respect him whenever
they see him. I’ve always admired him for his qualities and his talents.
Question: About your children?
Sriya: We have three children. All are married now. Udaya
Shashipriya is our eldest. He studied at St.Thomas College, Guruthalawa.
Now he handles his own business, `U and I Ceylon (Pvt) Ltd’, dealers of
eye medical products. Sashini is our daughter, studied at St.Paul’s,
Kelaniya. She is a B.Com graduate and now living in Australia. The
youngest, Udara Asanga was a Royalist. He is in the textile and fashion
designing trade in Australia.
Question: Contended life?
Sriya: Yes. We rose up in life day by day. We have been living
happily, and our children are also doing well in their lives. We have
really nice daughters-in-law and a son-in-law, and we are proud grand
parents of five grandchildren. What else can we expect from life? |