Bandu Munasinghe

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Bandu Munasinghe
බන්දු මුණසිංහ
Bandu Munasinghe.jpg
Born
Munasinghe Arachchilage Don Bandu

(1936-03-16)16 March 1936
Borella, Sri Lanka
Died5 February 2005(2005-02-05) (aged 68)
Embilipitiya, Sri Lanka
NationalitySri Lankan
Education
OccupationActor, Stunt Director
Years active1958–1987
Spouse(s)Jayanthi Munasinghe (m. 1967)

Munasinghe Arachchilage Don Bandu (16 March 1936 – 5 February 2005 as බන්දු මුණසිංහ [Sinhala]), popularly as Bandu Munasinghe, was an actor, and stunt director of Sri Lankan cinema.[1][2] Particularly acted in cinema in villain roles, Munasinghe was the first stunt director of the Sri Lankan silver screen.[3]

Personal life[]

He was born on 16 March 1936 in Borella. He first studied at Hewavitharana College, Rajagiriya and his secondary education at Nalanda College, Colombo. He excelled as a boxer. Because of this, he joined the army for a while after school and showed boxing skills.[3]

He was married to Jayanthi Munasinghe where the wedding was celebrated on 16 March 1967.[3]

Munasinghe, who had been a movie star for thirty-five years, suddenly fell ill in 1993. He went to Embilipitiya in Ratnapura where one of his leg was amputated. He died on 5 February 2005 at the age of 69.[4]

Career[]

In 1958, he was invited to perform stunts to a film by M.P. Gilman and M.P. Gemunu, both are stuntmen. They informed Munasinghe to be at Kiribathgoda Sirisena Wimalaweera's Nawajeevana studio about 10 am. In Nawajeevana studio, he performed his maiden cinematic appearance in the film Ma Ale Kala Tharuniya.[4] The second movie starring Munasinghe as a stuntman was Gilman's 1961 directorial hit Wedibima. Then he acted in the films, Daskon, Wena Swargayak Kumatada, Deepashika and Getawarayo. In 1965, he was selected for a villain role for the first time in his career in the film Saaravita. Later, he played as the stuntman in the films such as Dheewarayo, Satha Panaha, Sweep Ticket and Daru Duka.[3]

He continued to work as the henchman in several movies for major villain characters most notably in the films, Surayangeth Suraya, Edath Suraya Adath Suraya, Hathara Denama Surayo, Singapore Charlie, Suli Sulang and Hitha Honda Minihek. His major breakthrough in cinema came through as the stunt director in the 1964 film Sithaka Mahima directed by M. S. Ananda. However, his first character role came through the film Tharangaa directed by Sena Dayananda. In the 1975 film Rajagedara Paraviyo by Sathischandra Edirisinghe, Munasinghe along with fellow stuntman Alexander Fernando created good realistic fight scenes.[3][5]

He is also a skilled sword fight expert. He learned about sword fighting from Gamini Fonseka and H. D. Kulatunga. Among the characters played by Munasinghe were the scenes where the lead actress was tortured most notably in the film Awa Soya Adare. In 1970s, he played the character roles with Agra Sajeewani and Manel Wanaguru in the films Sugandhi (1979) and Tharangaa (1975) respectively.[3]

Filmography & Stunt Coordination[]

Year Film Acting role Other roles Ref.
1959 Ma Ale Kala Tharuniya Augie Minor stuntman
1961 Wedibima Police inspector
1962 Daskon
1963 Wena Swargayak Kumatada
1963 Deepashika Train track abductor
1964 Sithaka Mahima Stunt coordinator
1964 Getawarayo Boxer
1965 Handapaana
1965 Laa Dalu
1965 Saaravita Somey
1965 Hithata Hitha
1965 Satha Panaha Assailant near Sheela's home
1965 Sweep Ticket
1966 Sanda Naga Eddi
1967 Sorungeth Soru
1967 Daru Duka Police Inspector
1967 Sarana
1967 Hitha Giya Thena
1969 Hari Maga Norbert henchman
1969 Surayangeth Suraya
1970 Lakseta Kodiya Party guest
1970 Dan Mathakada Jerry
1970 Aathma Pooja
1970 Ohoma Hondada [6]
1970 Suli Sulang
1971 Dawena Pipasa
1971 Hathara Denama Surayo
1971 Samanala Kumariyo
1972 Edath Suraya Bandu
1972 Sujeewa Stunt Coordinator
1972 Singapore Charlie
1973 Matara Achchi Cyril's friend
1973 Gopalu Handa
1973 Handama Welawa
1973 Sunethra Debt Collector Stunt Coordinator
1973 Hondai Narakai
1973 Hondata Hondai Bandu
1974 Kasthuri Suwanda Stunt Coordinator
1974 Susee Harry Stunt Coordinator [7]
1975 Hitha Honda Minihek Stunt Coordinator
1975 Tharangaa Jerry Stunt Coordinator
1975 Awa Soya Adare Stunt Coordinator
1975 Kokilayo Stunt Coordinator
1975 Rajagedara Paraviyo Bandu
1975 Lassana Dawasak Bandu Stunt Coordinator
1975 Hadawathaka Wasanthaya
1975 Sangeetha Stunt Coordinator
1975 Nayanaa
1976 Kawuda Raja Henchman
1976 Harima Badu Thunak Sidaran's friend
1976 Vanarayo
1976 Loka Horu
1976 Hariyata Hari Stunt Coordinator
1976 Onna Mame Kella Panapi
1976 Ran Thilaka
1977 Sakunthala
1977 Sri Madara Franklin Stunt Coordinator
1977 Chin Chin Nona [8]
1977 Siripala Saha Ran Menika Piyadasa [9]
1977 Tom Pachaya Alex Stunt Coordinator
1977 Niwena Ginna
1978 Madhuwanthi Stunt Coordinator
1978 Saara
1978 Tikira Bandu
1978 Apsara
1978 Kumara Kumariyo Bandu Stunt Coordinator
1978 Anupama Murdered shop owner
1979 Sawudan Jema
1979 Sugandhi Bennet
1979 Subhani
1980 Seetha
1982 Sandaa
1982 Sudu Ayya
1982 Miss Mallika Stunt Coordinator
1983 Hithath Hondai Wedath Hondai
1985 Araliya Mal Chandana's man
1985 Channai Kello Dennai
1985 Karadiya Wallalla
1987 Podi Vijay
1989 Badulu Kochchiya
1989 Obata Rahasak Kiyannam
1989 Randenigala Sinhaya Lando
1990 Yukthiyata Wada Kuruppu
1992 Rumathiyay Neethiyay
1992 Sathya
1994 150 Mulleriyawa Funeral walker
1995 Mama Baya Na Shyama
1995 Hitha Honda Surayo

References[]

  1. ^ "Bandu Munasinghe filmography". Digital Identity of Sinhala Cinema. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  2. ^ "Bandu Munasinghe films". IMDb. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "First Stunt Director of Sinhala Cinema". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Unforgettable". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  5. ^ "Fatal jumps in Sinhala cinema". Lankadeepa. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  6. ^ "All about the film "Ohoma Hondada"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  7. ^ "All about the film Susee". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-10.
  8. ^ "Chin Chin Nona, who came before Tom Pachaya". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-03-05.
  9. ^ "Siripala and Ranmenika highlighted the poetic mind of the misguided man". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-23.

External links[]

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