Vasantha Obeysekera

Sri Lankan film director (1937–2017)

Vasantha Obeysekera

Born| (1937-12-29)29 December 1937

Mathugama, Sri Lanka

Died| 8 April 2017(2017-04-08) (aged 79)
Nationality| Sri Lankan
Occupation| Film Director
Years active| 1967–2017
Notable work| Walmathwuwo, Palangetiyo, Dadayama, Kedapathaka chaayaa, Maaruthaya, Dorakadamaaraawa, Theertha yaathraa, Salelu warama, AsiniVarsha, Aaganthukayaa

Vasantha Obeysekera (1937 - 2017), was a Sri Lankan film director and screenwriter.[1][2]

## Early life and career

[edit]

Kala Keerthi Vasantha Obeysekera who was regarded as one of the foremost film makers in the 70s decade graduated from the University of Ceylon in 1962. He served on the Editorial Staff of the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited from 1964 to 1970. In addition to his editorial work, Obeysekera wrote several short stories during this period.[3][4]

Obeysekera entered the film industry with Sath Samudura in 1967 which he co-wrote and worked on as assistant director; it was Sri Lanka's entry at the Moscow International Film Festival. In 1971 he was awarded a certificate in Cinematography by the Comité de libération du cinéma français.[3][5]

## 1970s

[edit]

In the 1970s Obeysekera wrote and directed Ves Gaththo ("Masked Men") (1970), Valmathuwo ("Lost Ones") (1976), Diyamanthi ("Diamond") (1977) and Palangetiyo ("Grasshoppers") (1979). Palangetiyo won the Presidential Film Awards for Best Screenplay, Best Director and Best Film.[3]

## 1980s

[edit]

1983's Dadayama ("The Hunt") also won the Presidential awards for Best Screenplay, Best Director and Best Film. It was a commercial success as well. Obeysekera made Kedapathaka Chaya ("Reflections on the Mirror") in 1989 after a five-year break.[3]

## 1990s and 2000s

[edit]

In the late-'90s, Obeysekera made Maruthaya ("The Storm") (1995), Dorakada Marawa ("Death at the Doorstep") (1998) and Theertha Yathra ("Pilgrimage") (1999). These also secured several OCIC and Presidential Awards.[3][6]

Salelu Warama ("Web of Love"), Agni Warsha ("Rains of Fire"), Aganthukaya ("The Stranger"), and Sewwandhi were made in the 2000s.[3]

## Filmography

[edit]

He has directed 13 films across many dramatic genres.[7]

* No. denotes the Number of Sri Lankan film in the Sri Lankan cinema.[8]

Released Date | No. | Film

|
|

12 December 1970 | 234 | Wesgaththo
2 April 1976 | 339 | Walmathwuwo
28 May 1976 | 342 | Diyamanthi [9]
27 April 1979 | 417 | Palagatiyo
20 May 1983 | 558 | Dadayama [10]
24 March 1989 | 687 | Kedapathaka Chaya
9 June 1995 | 831 | Maruthaya
2 December 1998 | 904 | Dorakada Marawa
1 October 1999 | 922 | Theertha Yathra
17 October 2002 | 990 | Salelu Warama
7 April 2005 | 1048 | Asani Warsha
7 December 2006 | 1080 | Sewwandi
31 May 2007 | 1087 | Aganthukaya

## Death

[edit]

He died on 8 April 2017 in a private hospital in Colombo.[11]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "For Vasantha's death - වසන්ත ඔබේසේකරයන් ගේ අභාවය වෙනුවෙන් විශේෂයෙනි". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
2. ^ "Filmmaker fights for the rights of TV viewers". Sunday Times. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
3. ^ a b c d e f "'Sewwandhi': Another dramatic twist by Obeysekere". Wijeya Newspapers Ltd. 2006. Retrieved 2007-12-21.
4. ^ "Vasantha Obesekara - වසන්ත ඔබේසේකර පන්ති පදනමකින් සමාජය විවරණය කළ සිනමාකරුවා". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
5. ^ "For Vasantha's death - විජය - රවීන්ද්‍ර - ස්වර්ණා - සංගීතා හොඳම රඟපෑම් ගෙනාවේ වසන්ත හරහා". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
6. ^ "For Vasantha's death - පත්තර මහ ගෙදරින් සිනමාවට ගිය ආදිවාසියා". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
7. ^ "Filmography of Vasantha Obeysekara - වසන්ත ඔබේසේකර නිර්මාණය කළ චිත්‍රපට". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
8. ^ "Sri Lankan Cinema History". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 23 August 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
9. ^ "All about Diyamanthi". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
10. ^ "Dadayama: The hunt that was a hunt". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
11. ^ "Veteran film director Wasantha Obeysekara passes away". Ada Derana. 8 April 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2017.