Jeewan Kumaranatunga


Jeewan Kumaranatunga is a Sri Lankan film actor who later became a politician, a former member of the parliament and a former cabinet minister. He is a close relative of former President Chandrika Kumaratunga and the nephew of actor and politician Vijaya Kumaratunga.

Family

He was born on 7 November 1958 in Seeduwa. His father Sydney Kumaranatunga was also a film actor. Sydney's brother, Vijaya was a renowned actor and politician. Jeewan completed his education from Carey College, Colombo.
Jeewan is married to his longtime partner Sherin and they have two daughters - Malsha and Maleesha and one son, Harshamana.
Kumaranatunga's daughter, Malsha, successfully contested the Colombo district seat on the Western Provincial Council in 2014.

Career

One of Sri Lanka's best commercially successful film artists, Kumaranatunga started his cinema career alongside his uncle, Vijaya. His maiden cinema acting came through Thani Tharuwa, even though it was released in 1982. His first screened film was Ganga Addara, where he acted in a minor role as Liyana Mahaththaya. He acted in more than 90 films across many genres over the last two decades.
In the first few years, Jeewan particularly acted in villain roles, which includes films such as Obata Diwura Kiyannam, Prarthana, Jaya Sikurui and Rumathiyay Neethiyay. His first romantic heroic role came through 1984 film Hitha Honda Kollek directed by Roy de Silva. After that he continued to receive many heroic protagonist roles. During this period, he usually acted with Anoja Weerasinghe, which made them a cinema couple for many years. Some of the most popular Jeewan-Anoja couple films include Mamai Raja, Obata Rahasak Kiyannam, Newatha Api Ekwemu, Randenigala Sinhaya, Yukthiyata Wada, Veera Udara and Esala Sanda. In 1990, he won the Sarasaviya award for the Most Popular Actor.
He acted in few television serials, such as Rana Kahawanu, Sudu Paraviyo, Hingana Kolla and Amarapuraya. He also produced many films such as Randenigala Sinhaya, Muwan Palesse Kadira, Wali Sulanga and 'Ma Obe Hithawatha.

Filmography

YearNo.FilmRole
1980455Ganga AddaraLiyana Mahaththaya
1981495Hondama Naluwa
1981504Saranga
1982512BicycleVoice Dubber, Ajith
1982514Thani TharuwaRanil
1982539Nawatha HamuwemuJagath
1983572Rathu MakaraJayantha
1984588Hitha Honda Kollek
1984610Jaya Sikurayi
1985619Puthuni Mata Samawenna
1985622Doringe Sayanaya
1985624Obata Diwura Kiyannam
1985628Du Daruwo
1985631Sura Duthiyo
1986637Prarthana
1986638Asipatha MamaiAkalanka
1986640PeralikarayoSunny
1986645Jaya ApitaiDisable prisoner
1986652Sinha PatawJeevan
1987654Hitha Honda ChandiyaJinadasa,
1987670AhinsaRaj Ranathilaka
1988671Rasa Rahasak
1988674Gedera Budun AmmaInspector Romesh
1988678Nawa Gilunath Ban ChunSuresh Gunathilake
1988681Nawatha Api EkwemuSanjaya/Vishwa
1989685Mamai RajaRuwan Ranatunga
1989688Okkoma Rajawaru
1989689Obata Rahasak Kiyannam
1989691Nommara 17Inspector Mahesh
1989692Sinasenna RatharanShakthi
1989693Waradata Danduwama
1989694Randenigala SinhayaRaju,
1990698Thanha AshaSuresh
1990700Yukthiyata WadaKrishan Wasantha
1990702Weera Udara
1990705Saharave Sihinaya
1990707Pem Raja DahanaCorporal Malan
1990710Madu SihinaRaja aka Raju
1990711Chandi RajaMichael
1990713Honda Honda SellanInspector Srinath
1990714Hitha Honda PuthekSena
1991721Sihina Ahase Wasanthaya
1991722Keli MadalaJayendra
1991727Raja Sellan
1991729Asala SandaJanaka Mahanama / Asoka
1991732Ran HadawathaAnthony
1991739Bambara KalapeCaptain Raju
1991741Ma Obe HithawathaDharme
1992742Ranabimey Weeraya
1992746Raja DaruwoJeevan Kaluperuma
1992749Sakwithi Raja
1992757Me Ware Mage
1992759Rumathiyay NithiyayJagath
1992760Oba Mata VishwasayiJagath
1992762SuranimalaSuranimala
1992764Muwan Palessey Kadira
1992767Rajek Wage Puthek
1992766Sayanaye Sihinaya
1993775Wali SulangaAshen Ranasinghe,
1993780Come or Go ChicagoWickremasinghe Mudaiyanselage Vijayendra 'Vijay' Karunanayake
1993783Jeevan MalliJeevan
1993785ThrishuleJeevan
1993788Lassanai BalannaAjith
1993792Suraweera ChandiyoRaja
1994817Shakthi
1995837Edath Chandiya Adath ChandiyaPodde ayya
1995841ChandiniPradeep Jayasekara
1996861Sihina Wimane Raja KumariInspector Prasad Vijaynayake
1996847Ratharan MalliKasun
1996849Naralowa HolmanDon Jackson 'Jackie' Salgadu
1996856Thunweni Aha
1997871Puthuni Mata WasanaSampath
1997884Raththaran Minihek
1997889Good Buy Tokyo
1999923Koti SanaSana
1999926SathyadeviWilbert 'Aiyya'
2001951Oba Magema WewaKanishka
2002975Sansara Prarthana
2002976Seethala Gini KanduSunny
20031022Hitha Honda PissoDharme
20041045Randiya DaharaLieutenant Colonel Viraj Thenuwara
20061064Dedunu Wessa
20061065Supiri BalawathaHilton
20071085Wada Bari TarzanProfessor Devaka
20071091Hai MasterSaman
20091118Ali SurathalRavi
20111157MahindagamanayaKing Devanampiyatissa
20141203Siri DaladagamanayaKing Guhasiva
20141209Parapura
20151233Maharaja AjasathKing Bimbisara
20161254PuthandiyaDharme
TBDHamletPost production
TBDJeewa