Kala Bhushana Bandusena Samarasinghe, popularly known as Bandu (බන්දු සමරසිංහ, born 22 November 1952), is an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, theater and television. One of the most popular comedians in Sinhala cinema, Bandu is best known for comedy roles in several blockbuster film franchises such as Re Daniel Dawal Migel, Cheriyo, Jolly Halo as well as Somy Boys. In addition to acting, he also worked as a director, scriptwriter, singer, lyricist and producer.
In April 2022, he was appointed as the Consul General in Milan, Italy replacing Neela Wickramasinghe who died while serving in the relevant position. However, it was revealed that the Sri Lankan diaspora in Milan did not approve of this appointment.
Personal life Bandu was on born on 22 November 1952 in a family of five children. His father Kegalle Podi Mahaththya (1917–1980) was a mechanic and his mother Lellagaha Goda Iskole Hamine (1925–2007) was a teacher. His preschool education came through St. Savior Convent and secondary education by St. Mary's College, Kegalle. He is a B-grade singer in Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation.
Bandu is married to Swarna Samarasinghe where the couple has two daughters; Rasoga and Hiranga, and one son, Kumara Kanchana, who is also an actor and singer. Kanchana and Rasoga also acted in Bandu's fourth cinema direction Peeter One. In mid 2018, Kanchana released his first music video Sura Dewliye.
Career
as an actor Starting as early as 1971 at the age of 17 or so, Bandu started his cinema career with Sadahatama Oba Mage. He acted in slapstick comedies along with Freddie Silva in the 1980s. He acted in more than 98 Sri Lankan films up to 2018. Almost 95 percent of the films were comedies and very few were dramas.
He started stage drama career with the play No Problem directed by Nilanthi Dhammika and produced by Niroshan Devapriya. Its maiden show was staged at Nithyanjal in Kandana on February 26, 2000.
Bandu Samarasinghe and Tennison Cooray were able to build a formidable comic duo combination and both of them act number of films together such as Ra Daniyel Dawal Mige, Cheriyo, Kolompoor, Somy Boys, James Bond and Thank You Berty. Bandu acted several iconic roles in Sinhala cinema such as "Daniel" in Ra Daniel Dawal Migel, "Marmite" in Cheerio Doctor and "Ikke Karolis" in political comedy Parliament Jokes. In 2019, he was awarded as the best actor in a comic role in Derana Film Awards.
In 2018, Tennison acted in the film Yama Raja Siri with Bandu for the first time in 10 years.
As a director Before his comedy partner, Tennyson Cooray moved to direction in 2013, Bandu started to showcase his talents in direction. His first direction film Rodaya released in 1995 and gained much attraction. In 1997, he made the film Pemmal Mala and then Left Right Sir in 2004. In 2010, he made his maiden television serial Dara Garaj which gained huge popularity.
In 2013, Bandu directed the comedy blockbuster Peter One where he introduced his son Kanchana and second daughter Rasoga into silver screen. The shooting work began on August 5, 2012 and the shooting was completed on November 1, 2012. Permission for the film was obtained from the Board of Directors on December 18. The media briefing was held on December 20, 2012. The film was screened on May 10, 2013.
Television His first teledrama acting came under his own direction, through Dara Garaj. And he acted few teledramas like Roy de Silva's Tarzan Ape Man, Giriraj Kaushalya's Nana Kamare, Sikuru Lanthe and Nishantha Weerasinghe's Dankuda Banda. His first "Bandu Live In Concert" was held on 10 July 2005 and after 11 years, he performed his next Bandu Live in Concert on 27 August 2016 at BMICH.
Bandu along with Tennison and Yureni Noshika acted as hosts for Hiru Mega Star season 2. He also hosts the chat program Talks With Bandu telecast by Hiru TV.
Filmography
Year Film Role Notes 1971Sadahatama Oba Mage Assistant manager Minor Role 1974Kasturi Suwanda Minor Role 1976Nilla Soya 1977Chandi Putha 1977Yakadaya Dancer 1978Chandi Shyama 1978Asha Dasin 1980Mal Kekulu 1981Chanchala Rekha Kapila Debut an Actor 1982Halo Shyama 1982Mihidum Sihina 1984Bambara Patikki 1986Peralikarayo Chuty Malli Also as a playback singer 1986Yali Hamuwennai 1987Nommara Ekai Datha Khan First Bandu-Tenny Dou 1987Yukthiyada Shakthiyada 1988Angulimala Basura 1990Thanha Asha Perera 1990Dedunnen Samanaliyak 1990Hitha Honda Puthek Bandu 1990Madhu Sihina Appu 1990Weera Udara 1991Bambara Kalape 1991Paradise Guest appearance 1991Cheriyo Doctor Marmite 1991Ali Baba Saha Horu 40 1992Ranabime Weeraya 1992 Okkoma Kanapita Kanapita 1992Sinhayangeth Sinhaya 1992Sakkara Sooththara 1992Raja Daruwo 1993Soorayan Athara Weeraya 1993Chaya Johnny 19941950 Mulleriyawa 1994Love 94 Bakar 1994Athma Foreman's supporter 1994Sujatha 1994Hallo My Darling 1995Rodaya Sudha First direction and producing 1995Mama Baya Ne Shyama M.S. Anandan 1995Inspector Geetha 1995Vairayen Vairaya 1995Cheriyo Captain Huntin / Fruit salad Dual role 1996Weediye Weeraya 1996Cheriyo Darling Marmite 1997Pemmal Mala Murichchi Silva Second direction and producing. Also playback singing. 1998Re Daniel Dawal Migel 1 Daniel 1999Kolompoor A.S.P. Bandu 1999Koti Sana 2000Kauda Bole Alice Janaka 'Alizina 'Alice' Almeida' 2001Hai Hui Babi Achchi Bandu 'Miss Dimple Mylawa' 2001Re Daniel Dawal Migel 2 Daniel 2001Pissu Puso Dougie / Prema 'Prem' Kumara MahanamaDual role 2001Oba Koheda PriyePrincy 2002Parliament Jokes E.K. Karolis 2002Cheriyo Holman 2002Pissu Double Tintin 2002Jolly HalloBrandoSarasaviya Award – Creative Performance 2002Somy Boys Bush/Bandusena Mudalali Dual role 2002Seethala Gini Kandu Addiya 2003Ra Daniel Dawal Migel 3 "007" Daniel 2003Pissu TribleJunda 2003Sepata Dukata SunnySunny 2003Sundarai Adare Towel Boy 2003Numba Nadan Apita Pissu Baby Sam Talky / Mr. Almeida 2004Rajjumala Sekara 2004Left Right Sir Third direction 2005James Bond Bond aka Banda 2006Ali Patio Oyai Mamai Theft 2006Rana Hansi 2006Supiri Balawatha Eddie 2007Hai Master Bandara 2007Jundai Gundai Junda 2008Ai Oba Thaniwela 2010Ape Yalu Punchi Boothaya Isurusiri-the Astrologist 2011Thank You Berty Norty 2013Peeter One Peeter Fifth direction 2013Seetha Man Awa Rama 2015My Name is Bandu Bandu Nominated for "Derana Film Awards Best Comedy Role" 2018Yama Raja Siri John 2024Buffalo Travels
Director and actor Year Film Note1995Rodaya Producer 1997 Pemmal Mala Producer 2004 Left Right Sir Producer 2010Dara GarajDirector, producer 2013Peter One Co-producer
Songs Title Film Other(s) Sinhayo Wagei Api Peralikarayo H.R. Jothipala Visky Kade Pusa Peralikarayo – Rubber Walalu Uda Yakada Godak Nommara Ekai Chandra Devadhithya Mis Konda Kirilli Nommara Ekai – Warella Warella Nommara Ekai Somasiri Fernando, Chandra Devadhithya Kada Bendala Yukthiyada Sahakthiyada Freddy Silva Goni Billa Ko Hitha Honda Puthek Freddy Silva, Ananda Perera Raja Ubane Gona Okkoma Kanapita Freddy Silva Aluth Irak Aluth Sandak Madhu Sihina Angeline Gunathilake, Mervyn Perera Kasi Athe Kasi Nathe Raja Wansen Ekek Ranjan Ramanayake, Freddy Silva Ehe Yanawa Kawruth Ehe Yanawa Bambara Kalape Freddy Silva Lan Wela Lan Wela Ali Baba Saha Horu 40 Angeline Gunathilake Nawa Hiru Sandu Payala Rodaya Milton Mallawarachchi, Nihal Nelson Me Rate Weddu Inspector Geetha Freddy Silva, Christien Gunawardena Cheerio Kiyala Me Api Yanne Cheerio Captain Gratien Ananda, Freddy Silva Wadath Agei Hithath Hondai Cheerio Captain Gratien Ananda Ale Karannam Romiyo Mage Cheerio Darling Latha Walpola Sanda Amathuma Widiyata Me Raye Pem Mal Mala Latha Walpola Ne Ma Eda Pem Mal Mala Latha Walpola Chuti Mage Podi Patto Kauda Bole Alis – Roobara Siribara Hai Hui Babi Achchi Maya Damayanthi, Mervyn Malewana, Koreen Almeida Doti Doti Bodime Doti Hai Hui Babi Achchi Sunil Perera, Gemunu Wijesuriya Kawdai Kawdai Re Daniel Dawal Migel 2 Sangeeth Wickramasinghe, Champa Kalhari, Kushani Sandarekha Goori Boori Waada Bheeda Oba Koheda Priye Freddy Silva, Angeline Gunathilake, Latha Walpola Gamaralai Moda Relai Supiri Balawatha H.R. Jothipala, Ananda Perera Sulange Hemin Ennako Peeter One – Tomiya Karawala Peeter One – Pawee Enu Mena My Name Is Bandu Tin Belekka – –Lassana Mal Mal – Uresha Ravihari
Awards Creative Performance – Sarasaviya Awards – 2001 SLIM Nelson Peoples Award – 2006 Kala Bhushana – 32rd Kala Bhushana Awards – 2016 Signis Sri Lanka Saluation – 2015 Derana Film Awards – Best Comedy Role – 2019
References
External links IMDb බුදු සන්තෝ ඒවා නිකං ඇඟ වෙව්ලන වැඩ – 'මයි නේම් ඉස් බන්දු' සමඟ රට වටා විහිළු බෙදන බන්දු සමරසිංහ යළි රඟපායිද නැද්ද? බන්දු ඔබ පැවසුවේ ඇත්ත ය බන්දු... බන්දු සමඟ කලකට පසු බන්දු-ටෙනී අපි දෙන්නා අමනාප කරන්න සමහරු පෙළඹුණේ විකට ශිල්පීන්ගේ පුදුම විහිළු තමන් අනුකරණය කිරීම නවතන ලෙස බන්දු කළ ඉල්ලීම සලකා බැලේ නිෂ්පාදකවරු එක්ක කතා වුණාලු බන්දු, ටෙනි දාලා චිත්රපට දුවවන්න බෑ කියලා – බන්දු සමරසිංහ දන්න කියන නළු නිළියන්ගේ වෙනස්ම ආකාරයේ රඟපෑම් බන්දු – ටෙනී විරසකයි කීම බොරුවක් හැමෝම බනිනවා කඩේ යනවා කියලා: අපි රඟපාපු එකට අපිටම හිනායන වෙලාවල් තිබ්බා