Buddhisena Dayaratne Wickrama (19 January 1939 – 5 January 2023), popularly known as Buddhi Wickrama, was a Sri Lankan actor in cinema, theatre, and television. He is most notable for the roles played in the television dramas Tharadevi, Suseema, Boomarangaya, and Amba Yahaluvo.
Biography Wickrama was born in Heenatigala, Galle, British Ceylon on 19 January 1939, as the second child of the family. His father worked in the Department of Posts, and he had one elder brother and two younger sisters. He completed his primary education from Heenatigala Sariputhra College and his secondary education from Mahinda College.
While in school, he performed in the stage play Avurudda produced by Vinnie Vitharana. After that, he worked in the Department of Surveys in 1959 as a designer, where he met fellow actors Dhamma Jagoda, Santin Gunawardena, Shelton de Silva, and Mervyn Jayathunga. During this period, Buddhi joined the "Kala Pela" drama troupe founded by G. D. L. Perera. In 1962, he made his first theatre appearance in Perera's play Magul Mathe. Other stage plays he performed in include Andare, Parasthawa, Kāmarē Porē, Janēlaya, Thotupala, Mehew Lokayak, Kontharē, Manaranjana Weda Warjana, Hotabari Yuddē, Apāyē Avurudu, and Sri Wickrama. After leaving the Survey Department, Buddhi joined the Ceramics Corporation. His last stage performance was R. R. Samarakoon's Doovili.
In 1964, he made his first cinema appearance in the film Saama, directed by Perera. In 1967, he acted in the film Sadol Kandulu. He also appeared in foreign films and serials such as The Village by the Sea, Good Marriages, The Greatest Gift, and Water. He portrayed a friend of Gorin Mudalali in the film Welikathara, and as a robber in the film Haralakshaya.
In 1975, Wickrama married Irangani Wannakukorala and the couple had one daughter. They met while both were working at the Ceramics Corporation.
His first television appearance came through the 1987 serial Eka Mawakage Daruwo directed by Lucien Bulathsinhala. He then appeared in more than 40 television serials over two decades, including Kumarihami, Palingu Menike, Thara Devi, Doo Daruwo, Amba Yahaluvo, Gam Peraliya, Suseema, and Bawa Tharana as his final television appearance in 2012. Among them is the role he played as Punsiri's father in the teledrama Du Daruwo and the role 'Kendalanda' in the popular teen serial Amba Yahaluvo, which received critical acclaim.
In 2014, he underwent bypass heart surgery and retired from acting. Wickrama later began using a wheelchair. He later becamse bedridden after suffering a dislocated hip. In 2017, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Wickrama died on 5 January 2023, at the age of 83. He was undergoing treatment at the General Hospital in Homagama at the time of his death.
Selected television serials
Thara Devi Amba Yahaluvo Bawa Tharana Doo Daruwo Charitha Thunak Gamanaanthaya Gam Peraliya Hiruta Muwawen Kadathurawa Kalu Makara Kumarihami Palingu Menike Pitagankarayo Punchi Hapannu Sandagalathanna Sihina Nimnaya Sihinayak Addara Sonduru Sithaththi Suseema
Filmography Year Film Role Ref. 1965 Saama 1967 Sadol Kandulu 1968 Dahasak Sithuvili Lalith's co-worker 1969 Romeo Juliet Kathawak 1971 Welikathara Goring's associate 1971 Haara Lakshaya 1st beating victim 1974 The Greatest Gift 1975 Tharanga Buddhi 1988 Amme Oba Nisa 1990 Vana Bambara 1994 Des Héros Ordinaires 1996 Amanthaya 1997 Tharanaya 1997 Les mystères de Sadjurah 1998 Dehena 1998 Anthima Reya 2000 Chakrayudha 2000 Rajya Sevaya Pinisai Car robbery victim 2000 Un dono semplice 2003 Sudu Kaluwara Registrar 2005 Water Baba 2015 Lantin Singho
References
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