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Mervyn Jayathunga

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Mervyn Jayathunga
මර්වින් ජයතුංග
Born
Pitiyage Mervyn Piyadasa Jayatunga

(1940-03-09)March 9, 1940
DiedNovember 1, 1993(1993-11-01) (aged 53)
NationalitySri Lankan
Occupation(s)Actor, Dramatist
Years active1961–1993
SpouseNalini Hemalatha Weeramanthree
Children2
RelativesRyan Jayathunga (grandson)

Pitiyage Mervyn Piyadasa Jayatunga (Sinhala: මර්වින් ජයතුංග; 9 March 1940 – 1 November 1993),[1] popularly known as Mervyn Jayathunga, was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema and stage drama. He was a highly versatile actor, who popularized villainous roles. Jayathunga acted in several critically acclaimed films, such as Raktha and Pasamithuro.

Personal life

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Jayathunga was born on 9 March 1940 in Moratuwa, Sri Lanka (near Colombo), as the eldest of nine siblings.[2] His father, James Jayathunga, was a furniture maker. His mother was Merlin Florida Fernando. He had four brothers—Sumanadasa, Karunadasa, Jinadasa, Nimaladasa—and four sisters—Malani Chandrawathi, Padma Kusumawathi, Ashoka Induwathi, and Bhadra Kanthi.

He started his education at Sri Chandrasekara Maha Vidyalaya, Horethuduwa. At grade 4, he went to Moratu Maha Vidyalaya, where he started studying drama under the guidance of the school principal. He was also a good athlete and a good sitarist.[2] After finishing school, he got a job at Kotuwa Cargo Corporation. Then he worked as a train driver at the Department of Railways. After some years, he started to work as a cartography designer in Department of Survey.[3] He was trained in cartography in Hyderabad, India. He learned martial arts from karate master D.A. Welgama.[2]

He was married to Nalini Hemalatha. She completed her education from Presbyterian Girls' School, Mount Lavinia. The couple had one daughter, Priyadashani Hemali, and one son, Shammie Prabath.

Jayathunga's grandson, Ryan Jayathunga, is also an actor.[3]

Acting career

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Initially, Jayathunga was part of an art circle of government service officers. In 1961, he acted in a minor role for the drama Sumudu Bharya. He then joined with drama maestro Henry Jayasena and played in his stage dramas such as Hunuwataye Kathawa, Diriya Mawa, and Apata Puthe Magak Nathe. Under Jayasena's guidance, he acted as a hunter in the television film Elephant Boy.

Jayathunga, who was in charge of Jayasena's stage design, was allowed to go to East Germany to study stage drama. After returning to Sri Lanka, he acted in Gamanak Saha Minihek, Ekadipathi, Sthree, Ran Salakuna, and Kadadasikoti. He was the third Wedi King of the drama Maname by Ediriweera Sarachchandra.[2]

Filmography

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Following his stage drama career, Jayathunga was introduced to the silver screen by Wehalle Piyathilaka.[2] His first film acting role was as a music master[clarification needed] in Vismaya by Charles Perera. A turning point in his career was the 1977 film Chandi Putha, which established him as a character artist. In 1992, he starred in 17 films, a record at the time in Sri Lankan cinema. On the day he died, he acted in the English television film Fellow Me.[2]

In total, Jayathunga acted in more than 200 films across many genres.[4]

Year No. Film Role Ref.
1978 Vismaya Music master
1977 Chandi Putha Mervyn [6]
1977 Pembara Madhu
1978 Seetha Devi
1978 Selinahe Walawwa Simon
1978 Kumara Kumariyo Finale fighter
1978 Anupama Bullet [7]
1979 Akke Mata Awasara Richard Delgoda
1979 Jeewana Kandulu
1979 Amal Biso
1979 Chuda Manikya Seney
1980 Raktha Gorasinghe
1980 Miyurige Kathawa
1981 Mihidum Sihina
1981 Thawalama
1981 Sooriyakantha
1981 Sagarayak Meda Prison bully
1981 Ridee Thella
1981 Sudda
1981 Vajira Shelton
1981 Amme Mata Samawenna Lionel Jayasekar
1982 Thani Tharuwa
1982 Pethi Gomara Vannoka
1982 Sakwithi Suwaya Pasquel
1982 Anuradha
1983 Ran Mini Muthu
1983 Sumithuro Share demander
1983 Chutte Kalu Mahththaya
1983 Hasthi Viyaruwa
1983 Chandira Gidiriyan
1983 Senehasaka Kandulu
1983 Pasamithuro Gemunu
1983 Menik Maliga
1983 Rathu Makara Kalu Albert
1983 Bonikka Bandara Baladeva
1984 Maala Giravi Wickie
1984 Parasathuro Aruma
1984 Niwan Dakna Jaathi Dakwa
1984 Hitha Honda Kollek
1984 Bambara Patikki
1984 Hithawathiya Reggie
1984 Hadawathaka Wedana
1984 Birinda
1984 Jaya Sikurui
1985 Eya Waradida Oba Kiyanna
1985 Doo Daruwo
1985 Kirimaduwal
1985 Mawubima Naththam Maranaya
1985 Rajina
1985 Puthuni Mata Samawenna
1986 Jaya Apatai
1986 Soora Saradiyel Saradiel's father
1986 Dinuma Superintendent Senarath
1986 Prarthana
1986 Athuru Mithuru
1986 Dushyanthi Vijay
1986 Koti Waligaya
1987 Podi Vijay
1987 Yukthiyada Shakthiyada
1987 Kele Kella Maha Aththo
1987 Der Stein des Todes
1987 Nommara Ekai Boss
1987 Randamwal
1987 Ahinsa Dulip
1987 Yugayen Yugayata
1987 Hitha Honda Chandiya Podi Mahathaya
1987 Obatai Priye Adare Douglas
1988 Chandingeth Chandiya
1988 Durga
1988 Satana
1988 Ko Hathuro
1988 Newatha Api Ekwemu Willie
1988 Amme Oba Nisa
1988 Angulimala
1989 Manika, une vie plus tard Manika's father
1989 Obata Rahasak Kiyannam
1989 Randenigala Sinhaya Maha Eka
1989 Nommara 17 Mervyn Jayasekera
1989 Shakthiya Obai Amme Albert
1989 Sinasenna Raththaran
1989 Waradata Danduwama
1990 Yukthiyata Weda SP Percy Jayasinghe
1990 Veera Udara
1990 Hondin Naththam Narakin
1990 Chandi Raja
1990 Honda Honda Sellam Mr. Ranabahu
1990 Dedunnen Samanaliyak
1990 Pem Rajadahana
1990 Palama Yata Guard Mahathaya
1990 Christhu Charithaya 2nd Herod [8]
1991 Keli Madala Dudley Tennekoon
1991 Hithata Dukak Nathi Miniha
1991 Esala Sanda
1991 Love In Bangkok
1991 Ran Hadawatha
1991 Alibaba Saha Hory Hathaliha
1991 Mama Obe Hithawatha
1991 Raja Kello
1991 Raja Sellan
1992 Jaya Sri We Kumariye
1992 Bajar Eke Chandiya
1992 Viyaru Minisa
1992 Malsara Doni
1992 Chandi Rejina
1992 Suranimala
1992 Sinhayangeth Sinhaya Mr. Wijetunga
1992 Rajek Wage Puthek
1992 Ranabime Veeraya
1992 Sakwithi Raja
1992 Sakkara Suththara
1992 Sinha Raja
1992 Kiyala Wadak Na Sydney
1992 Okkoma Kanapita
1992 Me Ware Mage
1992 Rumathiyay Neethiyay
1992 Sathya
1992 Chaya Maha Eka
1993 Till Death Do Us Part
1993 Sargent Nallathambi Balasundara
1993 Sasara Sarisarna Thek Oba Mage
1993 Yasasa
1993 Ordinary Magic Slide Show Man
1993 Lassanai Balanna
1993 Juriya Mamai Police SP Sirinandana
1993 Mawila Penevi Roope Hade
1993 Come O Go Chicago Mervyn
1993 Sandarekha
1993 Lagin Giyoth Ehek Na
1993 Soora Veera Chandiyo Mervyn
1994 Nohandan Kumariye
1994 Jayagrahanaya
1994 Abhiyogaya
1994 Aathma
1994 Vijaya Geetha Sirimanne
1994 Shakthi
1994 Halo My Darling
1995 Inspector Geetha David Ranatunga
1995 Maruthaya Inspector Palitha
1995 Chandiyage Putha Nicholas
1995 Hitha Honda Soorayo
1995 Cheriyo Captain General Tagore
1995 Wasana Wewa
1995 Ira Handa Illa
1995 Pudumai Eth Aththai
1995 Deviyani Sathya Surakinna Simon Gajasinghe 'Gini Simon'
1995 Demodara Palama Patty mahathaya [9]
1995 Ege Wairaya Silvey
1995 Sudu Walassu
1995 Dalulana Gini
1996 Sihina Wimane Kumariya Herman
1996 Api Baya Naha Robert Dharmaraj
1996 Body Guard
1996 Obatai Me Aradhana
1996 Naralowa Holman Chief
1996 Raththaran Malli
1996 Hitha Hondanam Waradin Na
1996 Bawa Sasara
1997 Ramba Saha Madhu
1997 Apaye Thappara 84000k
1997 Goodbye Tokyo
1997 Yasoma
1997 Vijayagrahana
1998 Girl Friend
1999 Akunu Pahara
2001 Dinuma
2004 Premawanthayo
2006 Rana Hansi

Awards

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Presidential Awards

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Year Nominee / work Award Result
1983 Pasamithuro[2] Merit award Won

References

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  1. ^ "Mervyn Jayathunga". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Mervin Jayathunga - මර්වින් ජයතුංග films". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Wife speaks about Mervin Jayathunga". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  4. ^ "Mervyn Jayathunga filmography". IMDb. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  5. ^ "Sri Lankan Cinema History". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  6. ^ "All about Chandi Putha". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  7. ^ "All about the film "Anupama"". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  8. ^ "All about Kristhu Charithaya". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  9. ^ "'Demodara Palama' in memory of Gamini". Sunday Times. Retrieved 10 December 2019.