{{short description|Sri Lankan filmmaker}} {{Infobox person | name = Jayantha Chandrasiri <br/>ජයන්ත චන්ද්රසිරි | other_names = | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | birth_date = June 1959 | birth_name = Jayantha Chandrasiri | birth_place = Colombo, Sri Lanka | death_date = | death_place = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates = <!-- {{coord|LAT|LONG|display=inline,title}} --> | education = | years_active = 1978–present | party = | spouse = Madhumani Hapuarachchi | children = 3 | awards = Kala Keerthi<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kalakeerthi to Jayantha |url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/news/2019/08/22/8525/ජයන්තට-කලාකීර්ති |access-date=2021-01-23 |website=sarasaviya}}</ref> | signature = | website = | footnotes = | occupation = Actor, director, producer, screen writer }}
Kala Keerthi '''Jayantha Chandrasiri''' (ජයන්ත චන්ද්රසිරි; born 1959), is a Sri Lankan journalist, screenplay writer, television director, and filmmaker in Sri Lankan cinema.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.nfc.gov.lk/artist/jayantha-chandrasiri-296/ | title=Jayantha Chandrasiri | publisher=Sinhala Cinema Database | access-date=8 October 2018}}</ref> Chandrasiri's film ''Agnidahaya'' won seven golden awards and four silver awards at the Signis International Film Festival 2003.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.island.lk/2003/12/31/news24.html | title=Seven golds for 'Agnidahaya'| publisher=The Island | access-date=8 October 2018}}</ref> His two teledramas ''Dandubasnamanaya'' and ''Akala Sandhya'' are rated as two of Seven Iconic Teledramas In Sri Lanka's Television History.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://roar.media/english/life/history/seven-iconic-teledramas-in-sri-lankas-television-history/ | title=Seven Iconic Teledramas In Sri Lanka's Television History | publisher=Roar | access-date=8 October 2018}}</ref>
==Career== Chandrasiri started his acting career in 1978 under the guidance of German dramatist Dr. Norbet J. Mayer.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://dubaifilmfest.com/en/cast/29393/jayantha_chandrasiri.html | title=Jayantha Chandrasiri bio | publisher=Dubai International Film Festival | access-date=8 October 2018}}</ref> He completed extensive study on theater by earning scholarships to Norway, Sweden, Germany and the USA.<ref name=agnidahaya>{{cite web | url=https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2002/12/15/mag08.html | title=Agnidahaya - the unquenchable thirst for humanity | publisher=Sunday Observer | access-date=8 October 2018}}</ref> In 1979 he worked as the playwright for the play ''Saraswathi''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/050102/tv/6.html |title=Jayantha's 'Guerilla Marketing' ready for release |publisher=Sunday Times |access-date=3 December 2019}}</ref> Armed with the knowledge gained through these scholarships, he returned home and began directing with stage drama ''Ath'', which led to State Drama Award winners ''Mora'' and ''Oththukaraya''.<ref name=agnidahaya/> In 2016 he resigned from the post of executive editor of the Divaina newspaper due to political disputes.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://srilankamirror.com/news/news-in-brief/822-next-divaina-editor-from-mathugama | title=Next 'Divaina' editor from Mathugama | publisher=Sri Lanka Mirror| access-date=8 October 2018}}</ref>
He has acted in two films, ''Sagarayak Meda'' and ''Maatha''. His maiden stage drama direction came through ''Hankithi Daha Thuna''.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://rangahala.lk/hankithi-13/ | title=Hankithi 13 | publisher=Rangahala | access-date=8 October 2018}}</ref> His maiden television drama direction came through super hit ''Weda Hamine''. His maiden cinematic direction was ''Agnidahaya''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/010909/tv.html |title=Chandrasiri has touch of success |publisher=Sunday Times |access-date=27 November 2019}}</ref>
==Filmography== His first film direction came through ''Agnidahaya'' in 2002. His most notable films include ''Guerrilla Marketing'' and ''Samanala Sandhawaniya''.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://fragmenteyes.blogspot.com/2017/02/jayantha-chandrasiri-and-unveiling-of.html | title=Jayantha Chandrasiri and the unveiling of the political | publisher=Daily Mirror fragments | access-date=8 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://archives.dailynews.lk/2013/02/11/fea23.asp | title=Chandrasiri's next coming soon | work=Daily News | access-date=8 October 2018}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" |- ! Year !! Film !! Ref. |- | 2002 || ''Agnidahaya'' || <ref name=agnidahaya /><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sundaytimes.lk/020519/tv.html| title='Agni Dahaya' another Chandrasiri contribution | publisher=Sunday Times| access-date=8 October 2018}}</ref> |- | 2005 || ''Guerilla Marketing'' || <ref>{{cite web | url=https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2005/05/15/mag03.html | title=Going to Extremes | publisher=Sunday Observer| access-date=8 October 2018}}</ref> |- | 2013 || ''Samanala Sandhawaniya'' || <ref>{{cite web | url=http://magazine.lankahelp.com/2013/09/16/samanala-sandhawaniya-a-film-by-jayantha-chandrasiri/ | title="Samanala Sandhawaniya" – A film by Jayantha Chandrasiri | publisher=Lanka Help | access-date=8 October 2018 | archive-date=8 October 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181008214224/http://magazine.lankahelp.com/2013/09/16/samanala-sandhawaniya-a-film-by-jayantha-chandrasiri/ | url-status=dead }}</ref> |- | 2015 || ''Maharaja Gemunu'' || <ref>{{cite web | url=https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2015/01/25/mon30.asp | title=Extraordinary cinematic experience | publisher=Sunday Observer | access-date=8 October 2018}}</ref> |- | 2018 || ''Gharasarapa'' || <ref>{{cite web | url=http://archives1.sundayobserver.lk/2018/07/08/art/gharasarapa-lurking-serpent-series-acting-gems | title=Gharasarapa (The lurking Serpent): A series of acting gems | publisher=Sunday Observer | access-date=8 October 2018}}</ref> |- | 2023 || ''Midunu Vishwaya'' || <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/films-local/2020/03/19/17489/මිදුණු-විශ්වය-පුදන්නේ-මගේ-ගුරුවරුන්ටයි-සරසවියටයි | title=The frozen universe is bestowed on my teachers and the university | publisher=Sarasaviya | access-date=25 March 2020}}</ref> |- | 2025 || ''Devi Kusumasana'' || |- | TBD || ''Samaharu Saha Samagama'' || <ref>{{cite web | url=https://sarasaviya.lk/ජයන්ත-චන්ද්රීසිරි-සමහර/ | title=ජයන්ත චන්ද්රීසිරි ‘සමහරු සහ සමාගම’ අරඹයි | publisher=Sarasaviya | access-date=25 March 2020}}</ref> |}
==Television== His first television serial is ''Weda Hamine'',<ref>{{cite web | url=http://microsola.com/torana/tele-drama/wedahamine-detail | title=Wedahamine | publisher=Torana Video | access-date=8 October 2018}}</ref> which later became a cult classic in Sri Lankan television drama history.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2009/07/12/mag10.asp | title=Teledrama her first love| publisher=Sunday Observer | access-date=8 October 2018}}</ref> His most notable television direction came through ''Dandubasnamanaya''. His television serial, ''Akala Sandya'' is credited as the first ever Sri Lankan teledrama to depict the concept of time travel.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://fragmenteyes.blogspot.com/2018/06/jayantha-chandrasiri-and-intersection.html | title=Jayantha Chandrasiri and the intersection of magic and reality | publisher=Daily Mirror fragments | access-date=8 October 2018}}</ref>
* ''Akala Sandya''<ref>{{cite web | url=http://paradisaya.tripod.com/teledrama/akalasandya.html | title=Akala Sandya | publisher=Paradisaya | access-date=8 October 2018}}</ref> * ''Dandubasnamanaya''<ref>{{cite web | url=http://paradisaya.tripod.com/teledrama/dandubasna.html | title=Dandubasna Manaya | publisher=Paradisaya | access-date=8 October 2018}}</ref> * ''Hathara Denek Senpathiyo''<ref>{{cite web | url=http://archives.dailynews.lk/2007/06/20/fea11.asp | title=Wisdom travels from past to present | publisher=Sunday Observer | access-date=8 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/070624/TV/tv_8.html |title='Sathara Denek Senpathiyo' a fact and a fiction from Jayantha |publisher=Sunday Times |access-date=11 December 2019}}</ref> * ''Nannaththara'' <ref>{{Cite web |title=My screenwriting role is a challenge to my directorial role: Veteran director Jayantha Chandrasiri is returning to the telemedia with 'Nannattara' |url=https://www.sarasaviya.lk/news-features/2022/09/22/23953/මා-නමැති-තිරරචකයා-මා-නමැති-අධ්%E2%80%8Dයක්ෂවරයාට-අභියෝගයක් |access-date=2022-09-21 |website=සරසවිය}}</ref> * ''Rajina''<ref>{{cite web | url=http://wideangle.lk/jayantha%20chandrasiri.html | title=Concept Development Lecturer - Jayantha Chandrasiri | publisher=Wide Angle | access-date=8 October 2018}}</ref> * ''Weda Hamine''<ref>{{cite web | url=http://paradisaya.tripod.com/teledrama/wedahamine.html | title=Weda Hamine | publisher=paradisaya | access-date=15 August 2019}}</ref> * ''Wes Muhuna''
==Accolades== *Sumathi Best Teledrama Director Award 1995 - ''Dandubasnamanaya''<ref>{{cite web|title=Sumathi Award winners in each year|url=http://sumathiawards.lk/sumathi-awards-winners.php|website=www.sumathiawards.lk}}</ref> *SIGNIS Salutation Award for Best Director 2003 - ''Agnidahaya''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Today's Top Stories year|url=http://archives.dailynews.lk/2003/12/31/index.html |website=Daily News}}</ref> *Presidential Award for Best Director 2003 - ''Agnidahaya''<ref>{{cite web|title=Presidential Film Awards |url=http://archives.dailynews.lk/2005/09/10/main.htm |website=Daily News}}</ref> *Sumathi Best Teledrama Series Award 2009 - ''Hathara Denek Senpathiyo''<ref>{{cite web|title=Senpathiyo bags Sumathi award|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/091115/Magazine/sundaytimestvtimes_07.html|publisher=The Sunday Times}}</ref> *Sumathi Best Teledrama Director Award 2009 - ''Hathara Denek Senpathiyo''<ref>{{cite web|title=Bringing the best of the tele scene|url=http://archives.dailynews.lk/2009/10/28/art19.asp|work=Daily News}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== *[http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/Orpheus-and-Eurydice-in-Sri-Lanka-151922.html Orpheus and Eurydice in Sri Lanka] *[http://www.sarasaviya.lk/2018/08/16/?fn=sa18081624 කළු කුමාරයා උද්දච්ඡ පුරුෂ රත්නයක්] *[http://www.sundaytimes.lk/070930/TV/tv-times00004.html Return of the warriors]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Chandrasiri, Jayantha}} Category:Sri Lankan male film actors Category:1937 births Category:Sri Lankan film directors Category:Living people