Herbie Seneviratne

Richard Herbert Seneviratne (born 5 July 1925 – died 2 March 1998 as ), popularly known as Herby Seneviratne, was an actor and filmmaker in Sri Lankan cinema.

Personal life Herbert was born on 5 July 1925 in Lihinigiri Palace, Kurunegala, Sri Lanka. His mother was from Subasinghe family of Sandalankawa. He was educated at St. Anne's College, Kurunegala and later from Maris Stella College, Negombo. His elder brother Shanthi Kumar is also a renowned filmmaker and actor in early Sinhala cinema. Shanthi died on 22 February 1967 at the age of 50.

In 1954, Herbie married his cousin June and had five children.

Career In the early 1940s, Herbie went to India and resided in Calcutta. During this period, he studied Buddhism and philosophy Neluwe Sri Gunananda Thero at Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi temple. He joined the "Institute of Drama" in Calcutta and studied stage drama. He also had a 1 and 1/2 years of study at the Shantiniketan of the Rabindranath Tagore.

While he was starring in the film, he received a telegram from his brother Shanthi Kumar asking him to come to the Victoria Hotel in Madras and meet soon. Shanthi Kumar informed Herbie about his upcoming film Asokamala where he has reserved a sub-main role for Herbie. The two arrived in Sri Lanka and left for India on 9 October 1946, via Talai Mannar with a crew about forty others. Then Shanthi Kumar made the first Sinhala talkie film with the help of M. Somsundaram, who was the head of Jupiter Pictures as well as Central Studios in Madras. Along with Rukmani, Herbie acted in many films in the lead role including Veradunu Kurumanama, Peralena Iranama, Hadisi Vinischaya, Segawunu Pilithura and Iranganie. He also played the lead role in the film Sansare and Radala Piliruwa with Rita Ratnayake. The song 'Dutu Da Idala Luhu Banda' sung with Kanthi in the film Suraya became very popular. The film Surasena was created in six languages and simultaneously filmed with all six languages. The original Tamil version, Malai Kallan(1954) featured M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) as the hero.Dilip Kumar played the lead role in Hindi adaptation Asad(1955). Every film that Herbie starred in was a Cinemas Production. He also acted in the film Veera Vijaya which is the last Sinhala film produced in India. In this film, Herbie became the first cinema boyfriend of Jeevarani Kurukulasuriya.

In 1961, he made his maiden cinema direction with the film Daruwa Kageda. Then he acted and directed the films Suhada Divi Piduma (1962), Sudu Sande Kalu Wala (1963), and Samaje Api Okkoma Samanai (1964). In his late years, Seneviratne played character roles in 1974 film Lasanda, 1976 film Wasana and in his final film Bambara Kalapaya (1991). After retiring from acting, Herbie worked as a manager at a cinema hall in Kurunegala. Later, he received the Lifetime Rana Thisara Award at the Sarasaviya Film Festival.

Filmography Year Film Roles Ref. 1947 Asokamala Sena 'Kumara' 1948 Kapati Arakshakaya Vipulasena 1948 Veradunu Kurumanama Chandrapala 1950 Hadisi Vinischaya Ananda 1953 Eda Rae Playback Singer, lyricist, Dialogue Writer, Actor: Banda 1954 Iranganie Jayaweera 1957 Jeewitha Satana 1957 Suraya Doctor 1957 Surasena Surasena 1958 Vana Mohini 1960 Veera Vijaya Vijaya 1961 Daruwa Kageda? Director, Banda 1962 Sansaare 1963 Sudu Sande Kalu Wala Director, Police Inspector 1964 Samaje Api Okkoma Samanai Director, Nilame 1974 Lasanda Doctor 1975 Sadhana 1976 Wasana Mr. Rajadasa 1978 Sri Pathula 1991 Bambara Kalapaya