Pattiyage Sunil Soma Peiris (Pattiyage Sunil Soma Peiris, 13 April 1948 – 10 December 2021) () was a Sri Lankan screenwriter, actor, editor and filmmaker in Sri Lankan cinema. He was a prolific director who directed the most films in Sri Lankan cinema with forty five commercial films in various genres.
Personal life He was born on 13 April 1948 in Maharagama, Ceylon, as the second child of the family with eight siblings. His father Salaman Peiris, was a businessman and mother was a housewife. He completed education from Buwanekaba Maha Vidyalaya, Maharagama. His school contemporaries are Nuwan Gunawardana, Amarasiri Peiris and Kandupola Kumaratunga.
In 1971, he married his longtime partner, Malani Ayesha Perera. The couple has two sons: Rohana Prema Kumara, Sudesh Wasantha and one daughter, Vasanthika Piyanga Kumuduni. Vasanthika's son Keshan Prasanna is a popular musician. His son Sudesh Wasantha Pieris is also a filmmaker, actor and playback singer of Sinhala cinema. Sudesh's daughter Chamathka is a songstress and playback singer.
Since the 1980s, he suffered minor complications with diabetes. In 2016, his body sugar increased and kidneys failed because of the effects of the drugs that he had taken for diabetes. At that time, he had a kidney transplant. Since 2016, diabetes got worse, where the left leg was cut below the knee and removed. In January 2019, a part of the right leg was also removed.
Peiris died on 10 December 2021 at his residence at the age of 72.
Career During school times, he acted in many Vesak dramas conducted in his hometown. Then he joined the drama group of Albert Gurunnanse and acted in Kolam dramas. He entered Sinhala cinema with a minor uncredited role in Henry Chandrawansa's film Vanagatha Kella. Then he made group characters in the films lakseṭa Koḍiya and Vahal Dūpata. While acting in the 1973 film Thushara as a stuntman, he informed the director Yasapalitha Nanayakkara about his passion to become a filmmaker. Therefore, he was finally selected as the second assistant director of the film. After the film, Sunil Soma became the first assistant director of Yasapalitha Nanayakkara and together they completed 18 films.
In 1985, he made his debut cinema direction with Obata Diwura Kiyannam. Then within 25 years, he made forty-five films. Out of the forty five films made by him, eight were co-directed with his son Sudesh Wasantha. In 1986 he co-directed the film Dinuma with Ananda Wickramasinghe. The first seven films (Obaṭa Divurā Kiyannam, Jaya Apaṭai, Mamai Rajā, Raja Wæḍakārayō, Yukthiyaṭa Væḍa, Dinuma and Obaṭai Priyē Aādarē) directed by Sunil Soma were screened for more than 100 days in a row, a record in Sinhala cinema. Also, his film Mamai Raja was screened for more than 200 days, a record in Sinhala film history. In 1993, he directed the Tamil film Sharmilavin Ithaya Ragam. Meanwhile, thirty-eight of his films were produced by Sunil T. Fernando, another record in Sinhala cinema for most films by same director-producer collaboration. Also, Sunil Soma is the second Sri Lankan filmmaker to direct films under two names. In some films, he used the name P. S. S. Pieris. (The first filmmaker was K. Venkatasalam who directed films under the name K. Venkat.)
In 1986, he directed the film Obatai Priye Adare which was screened in 1987. Before the assassination of lead actor Vijaya Kumaratunga in February 1987, the film ran 75 days with less income. But after the assassination, the film ran for 130 days and became a blockbuster. On the final day of screening at Ritz Hall, the film crew donated 10 wheelchairs to commemorate Kumaratunga. In 1989, his film Mamai Raja became a blockbuster hit and passed 100 days. After reaching 100 days, producers Sonia Disa and Sunil T. opened two bank books for Kumaratunga's children, Vimukthi and Yashodara and Rs. 25,000 was deposited. Sunil Soma introduced many actors and actresses to the Sinhala film such as: Anoja Weerasinghe, Anusha Damayanthi, Ruwanthi Mangala, Damith Fonseka, Shashi Wijendra, Arjuna Kamalanath and Anarkali Akarsha.
In 1997, he entered active politics where he became a Member of the Maharagama Urban Council.
Filmography As a director Year Film Roles Ref. 1985 Obata Diwura Kiyannam Director, Screenwriter, Actor: Record store clerk 1986 Jaya Apatai Director, Screenwriter 1986 Dinuma Director, Actor: Station Inspector 1987 Raja Wadakarayo Director, Screenwriter 1987 Obatai Priye Adare Director, Screenwriter 1989 Mamai Raja Director, Screenwriter, Actor: Reprimanding Inspector 1989 Obata Rahasak Kiyannam Director, Screenwriter 1989 Sinasenna Raththaran Director, Screenwriter 1990 Yukthiyata Weda Director 1990 Chandi Raja Director, Screenwriter 1991 Raja Sellam Director, Screenwriter 1991 Ran Hadawatha Director, Screenwriter 1992 Sakwithi Raja Director, Screenwriter 1992 Chandi Rajina Director 1992 Sinhayangeth Sinhaya Director, Screenwriter, Actor: Inspector Lionel Saparamadu 1993 Sharmilavin Ithaya Ragam Director 1993 Lassanai Balanna Director 1995 Wasana Wewa Director, Screenwriter, Dialogues 1995 Ira Handa Illa Director 1995 Chandiyage Putha Director, Screenwriter 1995 Chandani Director, Screenwriter 1996 Raththaran Malli Director 1997 Puthuni Mata Wasana Director, Screenwriter 1998 Aeya Obata Barai Director 1998 Sathutai Kirula Ape Director 1998 Sexy Girl Director, Screenwriter 1998 Mohothin Mohotha Director 2000 Kauda Bole Alice Director, Screenwriter 2001 Hai Baby Hai Director, Screenwriter 2001 Pissu Puso Director, Screenwriter 2002 Sansara Prarthana Director, Screenwriter 2002 Pissu Double Director 2003 Pissu Trible Director, Screenwriter 2003 Jim Pappa Director, Screenwriter 2003 Hitha Honda Pisso Director 2003 Aege Daivaya Director, Screenwriter 2004 Ohoma Harida Director, Screenwriter 2004 Katawath Kiyanna Epa Director, Screenwriter 2005 James Bond Director, Screenwriter 2005 Mata Thama Mathakai Director, Screenwriter, Producer 2007 Weda Beri Tarzan Director, Screenwriter, Technical Advisor 2007 Jundai Gundai Director, Screenwriter 2008 Wada Bari Tarzan Mathisabayata Director, Screenwriter, Dialogues 2009 Ali Surathal Director, Screenwriter 2010 Jaya Pita Jaya Director, Screenwriter, Producer
Other roles Year Film Roles Ref. 1968 Vahal Dupatha uncredited role 1970 Lakseta Kodiya uncredited role 1973 Thushara Second Assistant Director 1976 Pradeepe Ma Wewa Assistant Director 1978 Tikira Assistant Director 1979 Geheniyak Assistant Director 1979 Monarathenna Assistant Director, Assistant Film Editor, Actor: Hatha 1980 Tak Tik Tuk Assistant Director, Assistant Film Editor 1980 Muwan Palessa 2 Assistant Director, Actor: Sagaya 1981 Amme Mata Samawenna Assistant Director 1981 Geethika Assistant Director 1982 Newatha Hamuwemu Assistant Director, Assistant Film Editor, Actor: Canteen Mana 1983 Ran Mini Muthu 1983 Sister Mary Assistant Director, Assistant Film Editor 1984 Jaya Sikurui Assistant Director 1985 Aeya Waradida Oba Kiyanna Assistant Director 1985 Mihidum Salu 1997 Savithirige Rathirya Screenwriter 1998 Julietge Bhumikawa Somasekera 1999 Unusum Rathriya Screenwriter 1999 Anduru Sewanali Screenwriter 2001 Daru Upatha Screenwriter 2002 Miss Lanka Co-producer 2002 Mamath Geheniyak Screenwriter 2003 Pin Pon Screenwriter
References
External links