Dahanayakage Nihal Ranjith Silva (Sinhala:නිහාල් සිල්වා) (10 January 1954 – 3 December 1989), popularly known as Nihal Silva, was a Sri Lankan comedian and actor. He rose to fame playing Sargeant Nallathambi in the play of the same name. The character was a stereotypical Tamil Hindu with a bald head, small moustache, police suit and Vibhuti, three lines of ash, on his forehead.

Personal life Silva was born on January 10, 1954, in Kirilapone and grew up in Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka as the youngest of the family. His father was Dahanayakage Andrew De Silva, who worked in Railway Department. His mother was Wataketiya Rajapaksage Lucyhami. She worked as a hospital attendant. Silva has three elder sisters, Malini, Shriyawathi and Padmini and three elder brothers, Nimal, Siripala. Silva educated at Sri Waishaka Vidyalaya, Wellawatte and Sri Watawala Maha Vidyalaya, Hatton.

Death Silva was shot to death by Sri Lanka Army soldiers as he ignored warnings and ran a checkpoint on December 3, 1989, in Dehiwela; he possibly did not understand the situation due to inebriation.

Career Nihal first acted in the 1975 Vesak drama, Desha Drohiya directed by Asoka Senarath Mudali for the Kirulapone Pradeshiya Sabha Youth Union. Asoka Senarath Mudalige was given the opportunity to perform for the first time on a public stage. He played the father of two other friends Raja and Jinadasa in the drama Mehve Rate. He was in the police station when Premadasa Hettigoda produced a play Bahukolam Sohon Bere. He subsequently had roles in stage plays like Amal Biso, Ambalamaka Nade and Le Kandulu.

His maiden cinema acting came through 1974 film Hadawath Naththo with an uncredited role in a dance troop. Nihal has been given the opportunity to act in a movie as a character in the 1980 film Jodu Walalu directed by S. Dayananda's with a role of Tamil garden watcher. Nihal played the role "Maddume" in the film Kadira, which has influenced to give the opportunity to play a character in the film Rosy by director Yasapalitha Nanayakkara. Then he acted in many commercially successful films such as Sathweni Dawasa, Ahimi Dadayama, Kawuluwa and Kiri Madu Wal.

Nihal first worked as a drama producer in the play Sathuro directed by Jayasekara Aponsu. Then he produced the play Sabhawaniya Kaakko where Australian actor John Musso is also acted in the play. Nihal subsequently produced Rudira Wanija drama and then worked in Kawuruth Enne Nehe and Ayith Ithin Heta produced by Pathiraja L. S. Dayananda. Some of his notable stage drama acting came through Punthila and Ran Salakuna. He first played Sajan Nallathambi in the play Neinage Suduwa by Daya Wayaman in 1985. The play Sajan Nallathambi was one of the first Sri Lankan plays to be a financial success. It was hugely popular, even playing in the Middle East to Sinhala audiences with successful 366 shows. After its run, a slew of similar comedies like Ralla, Commando Diyasena, and Vadamaarachi appeared in Sri Lankan theaters inspired by its success.

Filmography No. denotes the Number of Sri Lankan film in the Sri Lankan cinema.

Year No. Film Role 1974 288 Hadawath Naththo 1978 395 Selinage Walawwa Evicted resident 1978 404 Kumara Kumariyo Drummer 1980 441 Jodu Walalu 1980 465 Sinhabahu 1981 475 Sathweni Dawasa 1981 504 Saranga 1982 512 Bicykale Batta 1982 524 Pradeepa 1982 529 Situ Diyaniya 1983 557 Thuththiri Mal 1983 568 Chandi Patau Sargent 1984 607 Birinda 1985 622 Doringe Sayanaya 1985 626 Rosy 1985 634 Kiri Maduwal 1986 637 Prarthana 1986 642 Gimhane Gee Nade Malhami 1987 654 Hitha Honda Chandiya Shop owner 1987 660 Kiwulegedara Mohottala Kotebe rala 1987 663 Kawuluwa 1988 680 Satana 1988 682 Ko Hathuro 1989 688 Okkoma Rajawaru 1989 692 Sinasenna Raththaran 1989 693 Waradata Daduwam 1990 700 Yukthiyata Wada Anton 1990 701 Dedunnen Samanaliyak 1990 704 Hodin Nathnam Narakin 1990 707 Pem Raja Dahana 1990 711 Chandi Raja 1990 713 Honda Honda Sellam Nihal Silva aka Yakka 1990 714 Hitha Honda Puthek 1991 719 Wada Barinam Wadak Na 1991 727 Raja Sellan 1991 729 Esala Sanda 1991 732 Ran Hadawatha 1991 734 Cheriyo Doctor Doctor Moco 1991 736 Dhanaya 1991 741 Ma Obe Hithwatha 1992 742 Ranabime Weeraya 1992 760 Oba Mata Wiswasai Charlie 1992 764 Muwan Palasse Kadira 1992 767 Rajek Wage Puthek 1992 749 Sakwithi Raja 1992 751 Ahimi Dadaman Sinna 1993 771 Sargent Nallathambi Sargent Nallathambi 1993 776 Sasara Sarisarana Thek Oba Mage Malhami 1993 790 Juriya Mamai 1994 808 Mawubime Weerayo 1995 820 Inspector Geetha Jonny 1998 891 Aya Obata Barai Sargent Silva 2007 1091 Hai Master

References

External links Nihal Silva's Biography in Sinhala Cinema Database