SANJAYA MURAMUDALI FROM MODEST BEGINNINGS WITH INNATE TALENT CUM DEVOTION BECOMES A SOUGHT AFTER ACTOR/PERFORMER/ PRESENTER – By Sunil Thenabadu
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Sanjaya Kasun Muramudali was born on 7th September 1993 to very humble parents who were typical cultivators in an authentic rural charm of Sri Lankan village Gonaganthenna off the town of Hanguranketha in the Nuwara Elya district where life was. simple and peaceful. Life in a rural countryside community is a world away from the city rush, hassle embracing the art of stone living. As they have for countless generations, the villagers blend their lives into the harmonious rhythm of nature. A community invariably involved in chena and paddy farming nurtured by the fertile soil and conducive climatic environment. Sanjaya has a solitary younger sibling a sister who was several years younger to him.
Sanjaya’s primary and secondary education had been at Diyathilaka Central College in Hanguranketha. Sanjaya had performed drama and performing Arts in school from his young days having innate talent sans any hereditary affiliations to any sort of art. One day at a workshop in visual and performing arts a teacher having impressed with Sanjaya’s talent had selected him to portray a role in a school drama scripted by his school,.Incidentally was his first portrayal at any level. Sanjaya himself believed he had innate talent in this field. This drama Sanjaya recollects had won first place at the schools drama festival.
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In school however Sanjaya was well noted as a very boisterous character who was known as such to the entire tutorial staff including the Principal. For any dishonourable infamous deed it was Sanjaya who was accused. He used to pluck mangoes by throwing objects once had broken glass windows of an adjoining dwelling. However, boisterous Sanjaya was he was a very bright student was always determined to study to be recognised as a studious student. Sanjaya was known in school by several names as ‘Kasun, ‘Sanjaya’,and. ‘Muramudali’. Once when the head prefect left Principal had bestowed that position to Sanjaya sans much hesitation..
Sanjaya has had an ambition to learn acting knowing his innate ability had when able sans disrupting his school studies had travelled to Colombo often to learn the trade despite so many hardships and constraints. This feeling he had felt as he was anticipated choosing acting as a career. He thought he should commence to attend to acting classes in Colombo He had stated that he used to walk for one and a half hours to the Hanguranketha bus stand to travel to Colombo. As often no seats were available he was used to sit on the floor of the bus adjoining to the rear door which was invariably closed. Coming back also in the wee hours of the morning it was again an agonising journey having to walk back for one and a half hours to his dwelling from the bus terminus. His father feeling sorry for Sanjaya had occasionally dropped him in a three wheeler to the bus stand as walking was a tedious exercise.
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Sanjaya has had an Uncle in Japan who was involved in the business of importing cars to Sri Lanka. Sanjaya had developed a craze for this has had a firm idea to go to Japan to emulate his Uncle. But his tremendous passion for acting surpassed his planned journey to Japan. Hence Sanjaya had concentrated on his proposed acting career which he believed would prove to be truly triumphant. As Sanjaya was a bright student had entered the University of Kelaniya. Before long his skills in acting was known and identified by his colleagues had portrayed diverse roles in University stage dramas. Among them his role in the stage play ‘Devilowa Doni” stands conspicuous With his training undergone in acting Sanjaya was able to join a group of actors in the University in “Street Drama” ( Veedi Natya).Sanjaya recollects that while performing with the cast he used to dwell in temples like ‘Kelaniya Temple’ and ‘Maharagama Neelambara temple’. This was purely to save money to buy clothes and requisites for the new year to his parents and sister.
While participating in University stage dramas he successfully completed his degree , having awarded the diploma in Drama, Diploma in Art in Drama school in early 2013. Sanjaya had even studied further in other universities to study courses to enhance in knowledge in acting skills in dramas. This endeavour of Sanjaya was fruitful as he had the experience and intelligence to grasp anything related to acting abruptly.
The factual turning point in Sanjaya’s career was when he entered to the ‘Sirasa Film Star competition in year 2017-2018.With Sanjaya’s innate talent and acquiring knowledge in the field of drama to tall elevations was able to excel in this competition to supersede all participants to be adjudicated as the ‘best actor also had carried away six other awards in diverse categories of acting including singing. In this backdrop many directors in films and television channels commenced to offer diverse protagonists to Sanjaya. Initially in Sirasa television he was selected to portray the role of ‘Sihina’ in the teledrama “Api Ape’. Subsequently in the teledrama ‘Amaliya” in the Swarnavahini channel. Thereafter in “Sanda Tharu Mal’, ‘Oba Nisa” also in Sirasa TV. Professor Sunil Ariyaratne had invited Sanjaya to portray a small role for his film ‘Vijayba Kollaya’ , a historical film included many stars like Hemal Rranasinghe, Senali Fonseka ,Ashan Dias to the music score of Rohana Weerasinghe. Later, in year 2023 Professor Sunil Ariyaratne had cast Sanjaya in a bigger role in the film “Ksheera Sagaraya Kalabina” which was a magical realism film adopted by a novel ,also among the cast were stalwarts like Hemal, Udari, Jackson ,Gihan and Sarath Kotalawela. Sanjaya had recently portrayed a role for an Indian film where many Sri Lankan artistes too had participated.
Sanjaya’s career in television had commenced in year 2015 had portrayed roles under many directors in teledramas and films as Jayaprakash Sivagurunathan, Ravindra Wijeratne, Lalith Kumarasinghe,Tikiri Ratnayake, Mahendra Kulasinghe,Charith Abeysinghe ,Sharmila Dharmarasa,Iresh Lokubandara and Sunil Ariyaratne, Hector Kumarasiri, Sudaththa Thilakasiri etc. Most teledramas Sanjaya acted in were directed by Ravindra Wijeratne by names the tele dramas and films are: ‘Maya Patala’ , ‘Anguru Siththam’ ‘Dedunnai Adare’ in year 2016 ‘ Muthu Vassa’ in year 2018, ‘Amuthu Rasikaya’, ‘Sooriya Wachchasa’, ‘Sooriya Nayo’ . ‘Kanaadiriyo’ in 2019 , ‘Debidi Bro’‘Saki’ ,’ Husmak Tharamata’, ‘Deulowa Doni’‘Oba Nisa’ ‘Kusumasana Devi’, ‘ Susumaka Ima’ ;’Thodu’, ‘Anantha’ , ‘Para Wasa Atha’ ,’Kumi’,’Api Ape’, ‘Megha Warsha’ , ‘Amaliya’ in 2021 , ‘Sanda Tharu Mal’ , ‘Thadee’ in 2022 , ‘ Visekara Haduvak’ , Bonikara Tharu , ‘Rahai Jeewithe’ in 2023 .’Vacation’ , ‘Ok Boss ‘ ‘Meka Thamai Jeewithe’ ‘ ‘Key’, ‘Rosa ‘, ‘ Kalu Rosa’ , in 2024, ‘Akurata Yana Welave’, ‘Sihina Genena Kumariye’, Circuskarayo’, ‘Nebaraya’, ‘Lalai Lilai Lai’,’Ksheera Sagaraya Kalabina’ ,in 2023 “Alawanthayo in Sirasa TV, ‘Fire of Lust’ Indian Film All these teledramas were screened in ITN,SLRC,TV Derana, Siyatha, Sirasa TV, Swarnavahini as such Sanjaya is very well known as a proficient actor to be a fan of many.
AWARDS Received by Sanjaya Muramudali in his short but illustrated career are winning the best upcoming actor at Sumathi awards festival in year 2018 for portrayal of role Sandara in ‘Amuthu Rasikaya” Was hence nominated for the best supporting actor in year 2019 for Heena in ‘Api Ape” Then in Rigam Telee’s nominated for the best upcoming actor in year 2018 also for the role of Sandara in ‘Amuthu Rasikaya” Was once more nominated for the best supporting actor in year 2019 for portrayal of role Heena in ‘Api Ape”. Sanjaya was adjudicated as the Upcoming Actor in Sri Lankan Drama Industry awards in year 2018
From school level Sanjaya had been known for his triumph and feats in miming acting has taken part in song videos and advertisements for his pleasant looking photogenic appearance. Some video songs were of famous Amarasiri Pieris, Samitha Mudunkotuwa,Nirosha Virajini,Theekshana Anuradha etc.In many advertisements in Elephant House ice cream, Necto,Telcom partners Airtel,Hutch, SLT Mobitel etc
In the above context Sanjaya Muramudali has climbed the ladder of stardom within a short span of a few years much less than a decade. Sanjaya had conveyed at an interview he is obviously happy with the place he is now in relation to his humble beginnings while dwelling in his village Gonaganthenna in Hanguranketha.His future is well established for him to climb to the apex of the pinnacle of fame for which all his followers, friends and fans would wish him strength to continue this jourmey.in the same vein.
