Dahanayakage Nihal Ranjith Silva (Sinhala:නිහාල් සිල්වා) (10 January 1954 – 3 December 1989), popularly known as Nihal Silva, was a Sri Lankan comedian and actor. He rose to fame playing Sargeant Nallathambi in the play of the same name. The character was a stereotypical Tamil Hindu with a bald head, small moustache, police suit and Vibhuti, three lines of ash, on his forehead.

Nihal Silva
නිහාල් සිල්වා
Born
Dahanayakage Nihal Ranjith Silva

(1954-01-10)10 January 1954
Died3 December 1989(1989-12-03) (aged 35)

Personal life

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Silva was born on January 10, 1954, in Kirilapone[2] and grew up in Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka as the youngest of the family. His father was Dahanayakage Andrew De Silva, who worked in Railway Department. His mother was Wataketiya Rajapaksage Lucyhami. She worked as a hospital attendant. Silva has three elder sisters, Malini, Shriyawathi and Padmini and three elder brothers, Nimal, Siripala. Silva educated at Sri Waishaka Vidyalaya, Wellawatte and Sri Watawala Maha Vidyalaya, Hatton.[3]

Death

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Silva was shot to death by Sri Lanka Army soldiers as he ignored warnings and ran a checkpoint on December 3, 1989, in Dehiwela;[2] he possibly did not understand the situation due to inebriation.[citation needed]

Career

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Nihal first acted in the 1975 Vesak drama, Desha Drohiya directed by Asoka Senarath Mudali for the Kirulapone Pradeshiya Sabha Youth Union. Asoka Senarath Mudalige was given the opportunity to perform for the first time on a public stage. He played the father of two other friends Raja and Jinadasa in the drama Mehve Rate. He was in the police station when Premadasa Hettigoda produced a play Bahukolam Sohon Bere. He subsequently had roles in stage plays like Amal Biso, Ambalamaka Nade and Le Kandulu.[2]

His maiden cinema acting came through 1974 film Hadawath Naththo with an uncredited role in a dance troop. Nihal has been given the opportunity to act in a movie as a character in the 1980 film Jodu Walalu directed by S. Dayananda's with a role of Tamil garden watcher. Nihal played the role "Maddume" in the film Kadira, which has influenced to give the opportunity to play a character in the film Rosy by director Yasapalitha Nanayakkara. Then he acted in many commercially successful films such as Sathweni Dawasa, Ahimi Dadayama, Kawuluwa and Kiri Madu Wal.[3]

Nihal first worked as a drama producer in the play Sathuro directed by Jayasekara Aponsu. Then he produced the play Sabhawaniya Kaakko where Australian actor John Musso is also acted in the play. Nihal subsequently produced Rudira Wanija drama and then worked in Kawuruth Enne Nehe and Ayith Ithin Heta produced by Pathiraja L. S. Dayananda. Some of his notable stage drama acting came through Punthila and Ran Salakuna.[3] He first played Sajan Nallathambi in the play Neinage Suduwa by Daya Wayaman in 1985. The play Sajan Nallathambi was one of the first Sri Lankan plays to be a financial success. It was hugely popular, even playing in the Middle East to Sinhala audiences with successful 366 shows.[4] After its run, a slew of similar comedies like Ralla, Commando Diyasena, and Vadamaarachi appeared in Sri Lankan theaters inspired by its success.[4]

Filmography

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  • No. denotes the Number of Sri Lankan film in the Sri Lankan cinema.[5]
Year No. Film Role
1974 288 Hadawath Naththo
1978 395 Selinage Walawwa Evicted resident
1978 404 Kumara Kumariyo Drummer
1980 441 Jodu Walalu
1980 465 Sinhabahu
1981 475 Sathweni Dawasa
1981 504 Saranga
1982 512 Bicykale Batta
1982 524 Pradeepa
1982 529 Situ Diyaniya
1983 557 Thuththiri Mal
1983 568 Chandi Patau Sargent
1984 607 Birinda
1985 622 Doringe Sayanaya
1985 626 Rosy
1985 634 Kiri Maduwal
1986 637 Prarthana
1986 642 Gimhane Gee Nade Malhami
1987 654 Hitha Honda Chandiya Shop owner
1987 660 Kiwulegedara Mohottala Kotebe rala
1987 663 Kawuluwa
1988 680 Satana
1988 682 Ko Hathuro
1989 688 Okkoma Rajawaru
1989 692 Sinasenna Raththaran
1989 693 Waradata Daduwam
1990 700 Yukthiyata Wada Anton
1990 701 Dedunnen Samanaliyak
1990 704 Hodin Nathnam Narakin
1990 707 Pem Raja Dahana
1990 711 Chandi Raja
1990 713 Honda Honda Sellam Nihal Silva aka Yakka
1990 714 Hitha Honda Puthek
1991 719 Wada Barinam Wadak Na
1991 727 Raja Sellan
1991 729 Esala Sanda
1991 732 Ran Hadawatha
1991 734 Cheriyo Doctor Doctor Moco
1991 736 Dhanaya
1991 741 Ma Obe Hithwatha
1992 742 Ranabime Weeraya
1992 760 Oba Mata Wiswasai Charlie
1992 764 Muwan Palasse Kadira
1992 767 Rajek Wage Puthek
1992 749 Sakwithi Raja
1992 751 Ahimi Dadaman Sinna
1993 771 Sargent Nallathambi Sargent Nallathambi
1993 776 Sasara Sarisarana Thek Oba Mage Malhami
1993 790 Juriya Mamai
1994 808 Mawubime Weerayo
1995 820 Inspector Geetha Jonny
1998 891 Aya Obata Barai Sargent Silva
2007 1091 Hai Master

References

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  1. ^ a b Comedian Reminisced By Amalshan Gunerathne
  2. ^ a b c "NIhal Silva". Daily Mirror. 2005. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-05-31.
  3. ^ a b c "Nallathambi with tears, sighing, stage success: Nihal Silva". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  4. ^ a b "The Sinhala Theater of Sri Lanka: A Form of Discourse". TDR. 36. MIT Press: 126–137. 1992. doi:10.2307/1146202.
  5. ^ "Sri Lankan Cinema History". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
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