Kalukapuge Don David (born 1 September 1913 – died 10 September 1987 as ඩේවිඩ් ධර්මකීර්ති), 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 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
Year Film Role Ref. 1953 Sujatha Mudali 1953 Prema Tharagaya 1954 Warada Kageda? 1955 Seda Sulang Sir Edward Palipana 1958 Salli Malli Salli 1958 Vana Mohini 1959 Sirimali Galgedera Mudalali 1960 Pirimiyek Nisa 1960 Sandesaya Ekanayake 'Disawa' 1961 Suvineetha Lalani 1962 Suhada Divi Piduma Ranatunga 1963 Deepashika Lucky's father 1963 Sudu Sande Kalu Wala Ralahamy 1963 Gamperaliya Kaisaruwaththe Muhandiram 1964 Kala Kala De Pala Pala De 1964 Sithaka Mahima 1964 Sulalitha Sobani Danapala Mudalali 1964 Suba Sarana Sepa Sithe Karolis 'Appu' 1964 Samaje Api Okkoma Samanai 1965 Hathara Maha Nidhanaya Keerthisena 1965 Landaka Mahima 1966 Athulweema Thahanam 1966 Mahadana Muththa Mahadana Muththa 1966 Kapatikama Mr. Fernando 1966 Seegiri Kashyapa King Dhatusena 1966 Senasili Suwaya Loku Unnahe 1967 Hathara Kendare 1967 Iwasana Dana 1968 Singithi Surathal 1968 Akka Nago 1968 Bicycle Hora 1968 Indunila 1968 Dehadaka Duka Uncle 1968 Punchi Baba Mala's uncle 1969 Kawuda Hari? Mudalithuma 1969 Prewesamwanna Mr. Basnayake 1969 Pancha 1971 Kathuru Muwath Don David Pathirana 1972 Hathara Wate 1972 Lokuma Hinawa Renuka's Pappa 1972 Ihatha Athmaya Priyani's father 1973 Suhada Pathuma Siriwardena 1973 Sinawai Inawai Guru Sabha 1973 Sunethra 1975 Kokilayo 1975 Sadhana 1976 Madol Duwa Mudalali 1978 Veera Puran Appu Gunnepana Arachchi 1979 Divi Thibena Thuru 1979 Hari Pudumai Mahathun 1980 Parithyagaya Ralahamy 1981 Baddegama Mudalithana 1981 Jeevanthi 1981 Aradhana 1984 Para Sathuro Grand father 1987 Kiwulegedara Mohottala Elderly Nilame 1988 Sagara Jala Madi Handuwa Village Man 1994 Ahas Maliga
References
External links හොරණ ඉන්ද්රදාසට මත ගැටුම් වැඩිවෙයි! හින්දි චිත්රපටයක් කොපිකර ලංකාවේ නැගලා ගිය ‘සුජාතා’ අපේ කලා ලෝකයෙන් අප්රකට කතා කිසිම චිත්රපටයක කොටස් කපන්නේ නෑ...