Lucien Bulathsinhala

Kalabhushana Kala Suri Raigama Bulathsinghalage Lucian Perera (born 30 May 1942, ), popularly known as Lucian Bulathsinghala, is an actor and director in Sri Lankan cinema, theater, and television. Considered one of the iconic figures in Sinhala theater and television, Lucian Bulathsinghala has produced several critically acclaimed theater plays in a career spanning for more than five decades. His stage play Tharavo Igilethi is considered a hallmark in Sinhala theater history. Apart from acting, he is a versatile character who performed as director, poet, playwright and lyricist.

Personal life He was born on 30th May 1942 in coastal village Wedikanda in Ratmalana, Sri Lanka. His father Raigama Bulathsinghalage Martin Perera was a dedicated socialist. His mother Senarath Godage Jane Nona was a housewife. He has three brothers and two sisters. Then he attended to Dehiwala Central College for secondary education and passed the A/L examination in 1963. Later he graduated from University of Peradeniya. At that time, he passed the clerical examination and took over as the only clerk at the Ambewela Government Farm.

He was married to fellow actress Migel Hewage Anula Mendis. Lucian met her when he went to act in Ranjith Tilakaratne's play Konthare. Anula made her acting debut in 1967 with the stage play Ledak Nathi Ledek produced by R. R. Samarakoon. Then she appeared in several critically acclaimed stage plays such as Tharavo Igilethi, Rathu Hattakari, Madhura Jawanika, Kuveni, Mahasara in which some were made by Lucien himself. She died on 16 October 2020 at the age of 73. The couple has one daughter Indrachapa Bulathsinghala (born 1970) and one son Harsha Sanjeewa Bulathsinghala (born 1971).

While still in school in the 1960s, he was fortunate enough to play the lead role Saliya in a tragicomedy play Ashokamala directed by the then examination commissioner L. L. K Gunasekara which was performed at the Lumbini Theater. During the same time, he made his maiden stage production Mannadiya. In 1964, he wrote the play called Noniwena Gini which took it to the State Drama Festival. In 1966, he performed in the Bihiwana Bosathaneni produced by Bandula Jayawardena and received a merit award at State Drama Festival. In the meantime, his play Noniwena Gini was invited to perform at the 1966 State Drama Festival as a guest play. He then acted in Ediriweera Sarachchandra's play Elova Gihin Melowa Ava. He also worked as a flutist in the orchestra of the play Pematho Jayathi Soko. In 1981 he produced the popular stage play Tharavo Igilethi which made him one of the best dramatists in the country. The first performance of the play was on 24 July 1981 at Lumbini Theater. After 37 years of silence, he produced the stage play Ves Muhuna Galawanna in 2018.

In the meantime in 1971, he served as an announcer at Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) and later joined Jathika Rupavahini. After working in the Ministry of Transport for 11 years and then in the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, he got the opportunity to work in the Rupavahini Corporation from 25 November 1982. It was in the midst of many setbacks that he got to work in television. In the meantime, he was suspended and again got a job at a television corporation. But once again he was sent on compulsory leave in 1997.

In 1980, he made his first songwriting with the song "Sandun Sihina Mandapaye" which was sung by Nanda Malini. In 1989, he won both Swarna Sankha and Sarasaviya Awards for the song "Marana Thunak Athi Minisa" for the film Siri Medura. Meanwhile, in 1994, he won the Swarna Sankha Award for the song "Gopalu Was Danden" for the film Mee Haraka. Then in 1998, he won the Presidential Award for Best Lyricist for the song Noselai Divi Makulu Asa made for the film Gini Avi Saha Gini Keli.

He is also a stage playwright as well as a stage actor who has demonstrated his acting skills on stage with the plays: Wahalak Nati Geyak, Dunna Dunugamuwe and Harima Badu Hayakdirected by Sugathpala De Silva. In 1967 he made cinema debut with the film Sadol Kandulu directed by Reggie Perera. He later played a prominent role in Vasantha Obeysekera's film Ves Gattho. Then he played the role of 'Frederick', the a gem robber in the film Chuda ManikyayaHe also played a prominent role in Abha directed by Jackson Anthony. However recently his best performance came through the blockbuster film Ho Gaana Pokuna where he played the role of village principle. In 2018, he was honored at Presidential Awards. In 2019, The Janabhimani or Hela Maha Rawana Rajabhimani Awards Ceremony was held at the Jasmine Auditorium at the BMICH where Bulathsinghala won the Best Service Award.

Stage Plays Mannadiya - (1963) Noniwena Gini - (1966) Rathuhattakari - (1974) Tharavo Igilethi - (1981) Sanda Langa Maranaya - (2009) Vesmuhunu Galawanna - (2018)

As a lyricist

Ahasin Tharuwak Kada Wetenawa An Nage Sal Aththe Pankiriththa Dangakari Man Madduma Doni Deekiri Deekiri Dethola nokee dea Dham Patin La Sanda Kadeta Palayan Chun Chan Kanyawe Kolom Thota Natha Mahaluwee Made Lagina Tharawan Me Ganga Me Duru Katara Gewa Minini Pode La Adure Mutu Kuda Ihalana Osari Poten Adinnepa Pani Kurullane Nil Kobeiyane Pinibara Yame Pipunu Male Ruwa Emala Danido Raja Maduraka Ipadi Sitiyanam Sande Ahasa Wage Sobawade Mepura Soduru Minisa Siri Yahane Sudu Nanda Ai Tharu Mal Yayama Thattu Karanna Hemin Viduli Mini Pahan Yasa Isuru Pirunu Thena Mage Malai Ada

Author work Pipuna Male Ruwa - 1985 Khemadasa Nyaya Bhawithaya Saha Aragalaya - 2000 Sinhala Opera Dekak - 2004 Tharawo Igilethi - 2004 Mathaka Dawa Halu kala Noheka (The Autobiography)

Filmography

Year Film Role Ref. 1967 Sadol Kandulu 1970 Ves Gaththo 1973 Hathdinnath Tharu Card dealer 1979 Chuda Manikya Frederick Ranasinghe 1980 Dandu Monara Samarapala 1980 Hansa Vilak Lyricist 1981 Aradhana 1982 Chathu Madhura Lyricist 1982 Situ Diyaniya Cyril Randeniya, Lyricist 1983 Siw Ranga Sena Lyricist 1984 Kiri Kawadi Basil, Lyricist 1984 Mala Giravi Lyricist 1985 Puthuni Mata Samawenna Lyricist 1989 Siri Medura Lyricist 1992 Kulageya Lyricist 1996 Seema Pawuru Lyricist 1998 Gini Avi Saha Gini Keli Lyricist 1998 Julietge Bhumikawa Lyricist 2004 Randiya Dahara Lyricist 2008 Aba King Abhaya 2008 Ai Oba Thaniwela Lyricist 2008 Nil Diya Yahana Lyricist 2014 Siri Daladagamanaya 2015 Ho Gaana Pokuna School principal 2017 Heena Hoyana Samanallu 2023 Ksheera Sagaraya Kalabina

Selected Television Series Appachchi Daskon Hopalu Arana Kalu Kurulla Kinnara Damanaya Kula Kumariya Laa Sanda Pamula Muthu Palasa Natu Nethi Mal Pinsara Dosthara Punchi Walawwa Rathu Ahasa Sihina Sappuwa Siri Sirimal Sudu Kapuru Pethi Thunmanthenna Wishwanthari