The curtain comes down on an all-round performance
To start one’s career as an actor in serious plays – from stylised drama to dialogue plays – move over to cinema, then to comedies and end up in teledramas making viewers roar with laughter is real talent. He had that talent. True, many had misgivings about his moving over to hilarious characters but he proved that he was not just the slapstick-type but was able to make his audience appreciate clean humour.
Making a mark on stage and TV: Vijaya Nandasiri as Prince Maname (above) and in Nonavaruni Mahatvaruni (right)
To be picked by Professor Sarachchandra to play the key role of prince in ‘Maname’ (after Henry Jayasena had a stint, if I remember right) in itself was proof of his dramatic talent. It was the time ‘Maname’ was being talked about all over and Dr. Sarachchandra had to make sure that the high standards were maintained. The new prince, Vijaya Nandasiri did not let him down. He played the role for over 20 years.
The golden era of Sinhala drama was just beginning. Some of the leading dramatists started following the Sarachchandra trend and started experimenting with numerous forms of stylised drama. There were others who wanted to create a new route for dialogue plays.
Nandasiri’s performance in ‘Maname’ made other dramatists take note of him. Several prominent drama producers as well as newcomers invited him to play major roles. Among them were Dayananda Gunawardena, Premaranjith Tillekeratne, Chandrasena Dasanayake, Sarachchandra Edirisinghe, Simon Navagattegama and Hemasiri Liyanage.He regularly appeared on stage till the last day before his death.
His entry into cinema in the mid-1970s was in K.A.W. Perera’s ‘Nedeyo’ playing the role of a blind man. He later played different roles in films from hero to villain to comedian. His last film was ‘Suhada Koka’ where he played an ‘MP to be’ providing plenty of entertainment to the viewers.
Moving on to television, he kept viewers glued to the TV whenever he appeared in light-hearted serials starting with ‘Nonavaruni Mahatvaruni’ to ‘Yes Boss’, ‘Yes Madam’ and more.
In between he displayed his talent as a singer too. He was indeed a multi-faceted artiste.
Success never changed him. He was always the amiable Vijaya Nandasiri with a smile on his face whether he was on stage, big screen, small screen, at home or out on the road. His loss will be felt by everyone with a taste for pure entertainment.