Kala Keerthi Madurawela Arachchilage Christy Leonard Perera (born 27 July 1932 – died 23 December 2015 as ක්රිස්ටි ලෙනාඩ් පෙරේරා) [Sinhala]), popularly known as Christy Leonard Perera, was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema as well as a musician and comedian.
Personal life Perera was born on 27 July 1932 in Colombo. He completed education from St. Lucia's College Colombo 13 . His father worked as a port checker. He has two sisters. After the sudden death of his father, his mother worked as a midwife at Suleiman Hospital. In the meantime, his older sister died suddenly. The other sister also died with that sadness.
He was married to Mary Loretta Rachal Perera, a trained teacher. Perera married Rachel at St. Lucia Cathedral in Kotahena on 7 August 1982 at the age of 43. At that time, Perera was working at the Polythene Factory in Kotahena.
He was a devoted Roman Catholic and regularly attached with St. Lucias Catherdral, Kotahena. He died on 23 December 2015 at the age of 83. His remains were brought to his residence at Maligawatte housing scheme. His final rites were held on 26 December 2015 at Borella Cemetery.
Cinema career In 1946 he participated in an amateur program at Radio Ceylon coordinated by Thevis Guruge. He imitated comedian Eddie Jayamanne and won the contest. In 1948, Perera joined as a comedian in Radio Ceylon. He learned music under renowned composer B. S. Perera. Then he worked as a musician and playback singer. His first song was Kullen Pola Pola. Some of his popular songs are Mama Badapissa, Amma Kiyana Kiyatha Haki andAduru Walawe Punsada, recorded for His Master's Voice. He sang the duet Hitha Yana Atha Yannata Heka with Gamini Fonseka and then sang the song Tikiri Lande Ali Nawathina Colomba Nagare with H. R. Jothipala. His song Sakala Sirin Piri Siri Lankawe was an integral part of music shows back then.
His classmate Prem Jayanth was the main actor in the film Sujatha. With the guidance from Jayanth and fellow actor Dommie Jayawardena, Perera entered cinema. He started cinema career in 1954 with the film Warada Kageda directed by T.R. Sundaram. The film was released at Gamini theatre, Colombo and became highly popular. Then he acted in the film Adata Vediya Heta Hondai produced at Hendala Wijeya studio, Sri Lanka's first production house. He continuously established as a prominent comedian of early 1960s and played popular roles in the films Chandiya, Sukumali, Suneetha, Sundara Birinda, Allapu Gedara and Hondama Welawa. His only television acting came through Athma Pooja directed by Ajith Perera. But the teledrama was not aired.
His last film was Onna Mame Kella Panapi, which premiered on September 3, 1976. He quit from acting after the death of his mother in 1979. The song Amma Kiya Kiyatha Haki Ekama Landakatai was written by Karunaratne Abeysekera for Perera's mother. In 1994, he directed the film Aragalaya.
On 17 August 2002 Perera was honored with a festive ceremony.
Filmography
Year Film Role Ref. 1954 Warada Kageda Gobo 1954 Radala Piliruwa Thomas 1954 Duppathage Duka 1956 Suraya 1957 Sukumali Nikama 1957 Salli Malli Salli 1958 Suneetha 1958 Sepali 1958 Sirimali Penda 1960 Sundara Birinda 1960 Veera Vijaya 1963 Adata Vediya Heta Hondai 1963 Udarata Manike 1964 Dheewarayo 1964 Sithaka Mahima 1965 Chandiya Kavi Kola Karaya 1965 Yata Giya Dawasa 1965 Allapu Gedara Musician 1966 Maha Ra Hamuwu Sthriya 1967 Okkoma Hari 1967 Sura Chauraya 1968 Wanasara 1968 Ataweni Pudumaya 1969 Oba Nathinam 1969 Kohomada Wade 1970 Athma Puja 1970 Penawa Neda 1971 Kalana Mithuro 1973 Hondama Welawa 1974 Duppathage Hithawatha Ananda's friend 1976 Onna Mame Kella Panapi
References
External links Yesteryear artistes to be felicitated කලාශිල්පී ක්රිස්ටි ලෙනාඩ්ගේ අවසන් කටයුතු වරෙක සිංහළ සිනමාවේ විකට රජා ගායක ක්රිස්ටි ලෙනාඩ් ජිවිත සිනමාවෙන් සමුගනී