Silver screen’s heartthrob Tissa Wijesurendra

The first death anniversary of yesteryear Sinhala cinema heartthrob Tissa Wijesurendra falls tomorrow, May 11. Tissa Wijesurendra ignited the silver screen with his chocolaty charm especially as the matinee idol of the seventies since he made his debut in Ranjith Lal’s ‘Nim Walalla’. But his major role came in Kalana Mithuro in the early seventies.

Among some 65 films he acted in, a majority of them were box office hits in the seventies especially. But Tissa will go down in history as the only actor who went awardless in his illustrious film career.

In his last interview with Daily Mirror Life Impulse, Tissa said though he studied science subjects with the aim of becoming a doctor, destiny made him an actor.

“There were many youngsters who became doctors then, but only a very few became actors. So I thought I was made to become an actor,” he said.

When Vijaya-Malani’s Thushara was running to packed houses in one circuit, another circuit attracted filmgoers who came in their thousands to watch ‘Suhada Pethuma’ featuring Malani and Tissa. Besides Malani, Tissa had acted opposite Sumana Amarasinghe, Jenita Samaraweera, Sriyani Amarasena and other heroines. 

 Even during the peak of his career Tissa conducted himself in a dignified manner and that prevented his name from being linked with gossips. He always reiterated that he never went behind anyone seeking roles and also never went behind the media seeking undue publicity.

Text: Ramesh Uvais

• Full Name: Don Bathiya Tissa Wijesurendra
• Born: At Sarikkamulla, Panadura on April 3, 1949
• School: Nalanda College, Colombo
• First film: Nim Walalla
• Other movies: Kalana Mithuro, Pujithayo, Samanala Kumariyo, Suhada Pethuma, Sinawai Inawai, Surekha, Lasanda, Es Idiripita, Pem Kurullo, Kohoma Kiyannada, Lassana Kella, Sadhana, Hadawathaka Vasanthaya, Haratha Hathara, Nedeyo, Neela Sudu Parewiyo, Niluka, Honda Hitha, Saja, Niwena Ginna, Sithaka Suwanda, Deepanjali, Kumara Kumariyo, Jeevana Kandulu, Ran Kurullo, Rosa Mal Thunak, Anusha, Api Dedena, Jeewanthi, Kiri Suwanda, Sithara, Major Sir, Senehasaka Kandulu, Bonikka, Hadawathaka Wedana, Hondin Nethnam Narakin, Oba Mata Wishwasai, Bambasara Bisaw, Nelum Saha Samanmali, Kiri Suwanda, Dadabima and others.
• Death: May 11, 2020

TISSA FILMOGRAPHY

• Nim Walalla
• Kalana Mithuro
• Poojithayo
• Samanala Kumariyo
• Suhada Pethuma
• Sinawai Inawai
• Surekha
• Lasanda
• Aes Idiripita
• Pem Kurullo
• Kohoma Kiyannada
• Lassana Kella
• Sadhana
• Hadawathaka Wasanthaya
• Haratha Hathara
• Nedeyo
• Neela
• Sudu Paraviyo
• Niluka
• Niwena Ginna
• Honda Hitha
• Sajaa
• Sithaka Suwanda
• Deepanjali
• Kumara Kumariyo
• Jeewana Kandulu
• Ran Kurullo
• Rosa Mal Thunak
• Anusha
• Api Dedena
• Jeewanthi
• Kiri Suwanda
• Sithaara
• Major Sir
• Senehasaka Kandulu
• Bonikka
• Hadawathaka Wedana
• Prarthana
• Hondin Nathinam Narakin
• Christhu Charithaya
• Oba Mata Wishwasai
• Bambasara Bisaw
• Nelum Saha Samanmali
• Juriya Mamai
• Hitha Honda Nam Waradin Na
• Ragaye Unusuma
• Aege Wairaya 2
• Viyaru Geheniyak
• Aeya Obata Barai
• Premlla
• Dadabima
• Oba Magema Wewa
• Hathara Denama Soorayo remake
• Rupantharana
• Supiri Andare