David Dharmakeerthi


Kalukapuge Don David, popularly known as David Dharmakeerthi was an actor Sri Lankan early Sri Lankan cinema.

Personal life

He was born on 1 September 1913 in Kotigamgoda village, Padukka. His father Odiris Appuhami was a farmer. He started school at village school and then from Wonakal College, Padukka and finally to the English English School in Homagama. After school, Dharmakeerthi first joined the Department of Agriculture at Alston Place, Colombo as an overseer.
Dharmakeerthi was married to Nandawathi Jayasuriya. The couple has 5 sons and 3 daughters. He died on 10 September 1987 at the age of 74.

Cinema career

In school times, he performed in a drama based on a novel "Rohini" written by Martin Wickremasinghe. There was a superintendent named Jasinghe in the Department of Agriculture where David worked. He saw Dharmakeerthi's acting skills in the dramas of the peasant army, who also produced the background music and art direction. Raja Tilakaratne, who was a Lake House Dinamina Journalist, is a relative of the superintendent Jasinghe. Jasinghe opened the cinema door to Dharmakeerthi. His first cinema acting came through 1953 film Sujatha directed by T. R. Sundaram. During his visit to the studio in India to film Sujatha, his father and friend T. Somasekaran both died.
He also worked as a film assistant director, dialogue writer and a story writer in 1958 film Salli Malli Salli. In this film he emerged as a character actor. In 1981, he acted in the film Aradhana as a merciful father. He won the Best Supporting Actor Award at the 1982 Sarasaviya Awards. for that acting. This was the only award he received in 35 years of film career. He acted with his son Sarath Dharmakeerthi in the 1984 film Parasathuro.
His final cinema appearance came through 1988 film Sagara Jalaya Madi Handuwa Oba Sanda directed by Sumitra Peries.

Political career

His favorite political character was Philip Gunawardena. Dharmakeerthi contested for the Horana seat from the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna in the 1960 general election. However, he was placed third in the seat and received only 1555 votes.

Filmography

YearFilmRoleRef.
1953SujathaMudali
1953Prema Tharagaya
1954Warada Kageda?
1955Seda SulangSir Edward Palipana
1958Salli Malli Salli
1958Vana Mohini
1959SirimaliGalgedera Mudalali
1960Pirimiyek Nisa
1960SandesayaEkanayake 'Disawa'
1961Suvineetha Lalani
1962Suhada Divi PidumaRanatunga
1963DeepashikaLucky's father
1963Sudu Sande Kalu WalaRalahamy
1963GamperaliyaKaisaruwaththe Muhandiram
1964Kala Kala De Pala Pala De
1964Sithaka Mahima
1964Sulalitha SobaniDanapala Mudalali
1964Suba Sarana Sepa SitheKarolis 'Appu'
1964Samaje Api Okkoma Samanai
1965Hathara Maha NidhanayaKeerthisena
1965Landaka Mahima
1966Athulweema Thahanam
1966Mahadana MuththaMahadana Muththa
1966KapatikamaMr. Fernando
1966Seegiri KashyapaKing Dhatusena
1966Senasili SuwayaLoku Unnahe
1967Hathara Kendare
1967Iwasana Dana
1968Singithi Surathal
1968Akka Nago
1968Bicycle Hora
1968Indunila
1968Dehadaka DukaUncle
1968Punchi BabaMala's uncle
1969Kawuda Hari?Mudalithuma
1969PrewesamwannaMr. Basnayake
1969Pancha
1971Kathuru MuwathDon David Pathirana
1972Hathara Wate
1972Lokuma HinawaRenuka's Pappa
1972Ihatha AthmayaPriyani's father
1973Suhada PathumaSiriwardena
1973Sinawai InawaiGuru Sabha
1973Sunethra
1975Kokilayo
1975Sadhana
1976Madol DuwaMudalali
1978Veera Puran AppuGunnepana Arachchi
1979Divi Thibena Thuru
1979Hari PudumaiMahathun
1980ParithyagayaRalahamy
1981BaddegamaMudalithana
1981Jeevanthi
1981Aradhana
1984Para SathuroGrand father
1987Kiwulegedara MohottalaElderly Nilame
1988Sagara Jala Madi HanduwaVillage Man
1994Ahas Maliga