Nihal Silva


Dahanayakage Nihal Ranjith Silva , popularly as Nihal Silva, was a Sri Lankan comedian and actor. He rose to fame playing Sajan 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.

Personal life

Silva was born on January 10, 1954 in Kirilapone 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.

Death

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

Career

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.
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.
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. 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. After its run, a slew of similar comedies like Ralla, Commando Diyasena, and Vadamaarachi appeared in Sri Lankan theaters inspired by its success.

Filmography

YearNo.FilmRole
1974288Hadawath Naththo
1978395Selinage WalawwaEvicted resident
1978404Kumara KumariyoDrummer
1980441Jodu Walalu
1980465Sinhabahu
1981475Sathweni Dawasa
1981504Saranga
1982512BicykaleBatta
1982524Pradeepa
1982529Situ Diyaniya
1983557Thuththiri Mal
1983568Chandi PatauSargent
1984607Birinda
1985622Doringe Sayanaya
1985626Rosy
1985634Kiri Maduwal
1986637Prarthana
1986642Gimhane Gee NadeMalhami
1987654Hitha Honda ChandiyaShop owner
1987660Kiwulegedara MohottalaKotebe rala
1987663Kawuluwa
1988680Satana
1988682Ko Hathuro
1989688Okkoma Rajawaru
1989692Sinasenna Raththaran
1989693Waradata Daduwam
1990700Yukthiyata WadaAnton
1990701Dedunnen Samanaliyak
1990704Hodin Nathnam Narakin
1990707Pem Raja Dahana
1990711Chandi Raja
1990713Honda Honda SellamNihal Silva aka Yakka
1990714Hitha Honda Puthek
1991719Wada Barinam Wadak Na
1991727Raja Sellan
1991729Esala Sanda
1991732Ran Hadawatha
1991734Cheriyo DoctorDoctor Moco
1991736Dhanaya
1991741Ma Obe Hithwatha
1992742Ranabime Weeraya
1992760Oba Mata WiswasaiCharlie
1992764Muwan Palasse Kadira
1992767Rajek Wage Puthek
1992749Sakwithi Raja
1992751Ahimi DadamanSinna
1993771Sargent NallathambiSargent Nallathambi
1993776Sasara Sarisarana Thek Oba MageMalhami
1993790Juriya Mamai
1994808Mawubime Weerayo
1995820Inspector GeethaJonny
1998891Aya Obata BaraiSargent Silva
20071091Hai Master