Ilukpitiya Mudiyanselage Vijaya Nandasiri was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television.
23 Facts About Vijaya Nandasiri
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Vijaya Nandasiri had a varied career beginning in theater and extending into film as a dramatic actor; his most recent roles were steeped in comedy and include credits in Sinhala sitcoms like Nonawaruni Mahathwaruni, Ethuma, Yes Boss and Kathura.
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Vijaya Nandasiri's father was Ilukpitiya Mudiyanselage Simon Singho who worked in the food department.
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Vijaya Nandasiri had an ambition to join military because he was a sub-lieutenant in the school cadets.
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Vijaya Nandasiri holds the record to be the main actress in Sri Lanka's first ever tele-drama, Dimuthu Muthu.
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Vijaya Nandasiri was the one who invited Mihirani for the drama Subha Saha Yasa in 1974.
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Vijaya Nandasiri joined her at the Chitrasena Kalaya in Kollupitiya and learned dance from Vajira.
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Vijaya Nandasiri then acted in Premasiri Nawalage's 1965 stage play Paravunu Mal which was written for the School Development Fund.
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Vijaya Nandasiri made his theater debut in 1966 in the stage drama Vidura-Diva produced by Amaradasa Gunawardena for the State Drama Festival.
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Vijaya Nandasiri next obtained a role in Naribena, Jasaya saha Lenchina made by veteran drama producer Dayananda Gunawardena, who personally invited Nandasiri to become part of the cast.
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Vijaya Nandasiri subsequently played in many stage dramas including Bakmaha Akunu by Dayananda Gunawardena, Thahanchi and Baka Thapas by Sathischandra Edirisinghe, Kontharaya, Wahalak Nathi Geyak and Sarade Sina by Prema Ranjith Thilakarathna and Bedde Goranaduwa by Ananda S Wijesiri.
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Vijaya Nandasiri finally achieved fame in 1971 in the play Ran Kanda.
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Vijaya Nandasiri simultaneously worked in all three aspects of cinema evenly.
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Vijaya Nandasiri was working on the comedy drama Aluth horek one of Ajith Mendis at the Wayambe provincial council auditorium, Kurunegala, where he got sick next day and died.
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Vijaya Nandasiri was later a producer of the teledrama Humalaya.
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Vijaya Nandasiri won the Award for the Best Comedian for his role in Sikka.
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Vijaya Nandasiri became famous as a comedy actor with the character of Gunadasa Premachandra in the sitcom Nonawaruni Mahathwaruni and later through Yes Boss as Senarath Dunusinghe.
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Vijaya Nandasiri hosted children's quiz program Punchi Pahe Man which was telecasted on Sirasa TV.
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Vijaya Nandasiri first came to prominence from the movie Ran Kenda.
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In 1973, Vijaya Nandasiri made his maiden cinematic appearance in the film Matara Achchi directed by Sathischandra Edirisinghe.
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Vijaya Nandasiri won The Best Actor award for his role of the match maker in Sikuru Hathe and later in 2011 as the Best Comedian for King Hunther.
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Vijaya Nandasiri was suffering from diabetes over a long period of time.
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On 8 August 2016, Vijaya Nandasiri died while being taken to the Kalubowila Teaching Hospital after suffering from a cardiac arrest.