{{Short description|Sri Lankan actor (1933–1997)}} {{Infobox person | name = Prem Jayanth <br> ප්‍රේම් ජයන්ත් | image = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = Hettiarachchige Emmanuel Aloysius Rodrigo | birth_date = 1933 | birth_place = Grandpass, Sri Lanka | death_date = 17 March 1997 (aged 64) | death_place = Colombo | resting_place = | other_names = | occupation = Actor | years_active = 1942-1984 | known_for = | notable_works = | children = 7 | spouse = Nanda Leelanayake | relatives = Umaria Sinhawansa }} '''Hettiarachchige Emanuel Aloysius Rodrigo''' (1933&ndash;17 March 1997), better known as '''Prem Jayanth''', was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema as well as a producer and art director.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.films.lk/sinhala-cinema-artist-prem-jayanth-965.html|title=Actors of Sinhala cinema - Prem Jayanth |publisher=Sinhala Cinema Database |access-date=2 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nfc.gov.lk/artist/prem-jayanth-678/ |title=Prem Jayanth filmography |publisher=National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka |access-date=2 February 2020}}</ref> Considered as the first male superstar in Sinhala cinema, Jayanth rose to prominence with starring roles in the popular films Sujatha (1953) and ''Seda Sulang'' (1955).<ref name= prem>{{cite web |url=http://www.divaina.com/2011/03/11/cineart03.html |title=First male superstar in Sinhala cinema |publisher=Divaina |access-date=2 February 2020}}</ref>

==Personal life== {{main|Sri Lanka cinema family}} Jayanth was born in Layards Broadway, Grandpass and attended Joseph’s College, Grandpass and St. Lucia's College Colombo 13.<ref name= prem />

Jayanth married actress Nanda Leelanayake sometime in the 1960s and had seven children, two boys - Jagath and Janith - and five girls - Sunila, Sandhya, Anusha, Nirma and Shiroma.<ref name= jayanth>{{cite web |url=http://archives.sarasaviya.lk/2015/01/08/?fn=sa15010841 |title=A son remembers Prem Jayant and Nanda Leelanayake |publisher=Sarasaviya |access-date=2 February 2020}}</ref> His son, Jagath Rohan appeared in few film including the 1980 film ''Sabeetha''.<ref name="A">{{cite news|first=Ramesh|last=Uvais|title=Prem Jayanth: Sinhala Cinema's first super star|work=Daily Mirror|date=2006}}</ref>

Jayanth died on 17 March 1997 at the age of 64. Nanda died on 26 September 2014 at the age of 84.<ref name= jayanth />

==Cinema career== He entered the school stage. In 1932, he first joined the public stage through the stage drama ''Carnival'' produced by A. D. J. Mathupala.<ref name="A"/>

Jayanth began his film career with a small role in the 1952 film ''Unmathu Wishwasaya'' directed by B. A. W. Jayamanne. His breakthrough came when he was cast in the lead male role in the 1953 film ''Sujatha'' opposite Florida Jayalath. The film became a big hit and established Jayanth and Jayalath as major stars.<ref name= jayanth /> They reappeared together in the 1955 film ''Seda Sulang'' which was also popular featuring the only songs sung by Lata Mangeshkar for a Sri Lankan film. Jayanth had a major role in ''Warada Kageda'' in 1953.<ref name="A"/>

Jayanth subsequently acted in ''Awishwasaya'', ''Purusha Rathnaya'' (1959) and ''Sithaka Mahima'' (1964) before reuniting with Jaylath in her directorial effort ''Sweep Ticket'' (1965). In 1967 he portrayed a role in ''Sarana'' directed by Ashoka David.<ref name= prem /> He quit from acting after the film ''Sarana''.<ref name= jayanth />

Jayanth started his company Seven Arts around 1972 and produced such films as ''Sahanaya'' (1972), ''Hondata Hondai'' (1973), ''Kawda Raja'' (1976), ''Sabeetha'' (1980), ''Senasuma'' (1981) and ''Mala Giravi'' (1984).<ref name= prem /> He was also active as a designer of film cutouts and was the art director of ''Wahal Doopatha'' (1968) and ''Deviyani Oba Kohida'' (1977).<ref name="A"/>

==Filmography ==

{| class="wikitable" |- ! Year !! Film !! Role !! Other roles |- | 1952 || ''Umathu Vishwasaya'' || || |- | 1953 || ''Sujatha'' || Nihal || |- | 1953 || ''Puduma Leli'' || Raja || |- | 1954 || ''Warada Kageda'' || Rohith || |- | 1955 || ''Seda Sulang'' || Sunil || |- | 1958 || ''Salli Malli Salli'' || || |- | 1959 || ''Aviswasaya'' || Vijay || |- | 1959 || ''Purusha Rathnaya'' || Vijithapala || |- | 1964 || ''Heta Pramada Wedi'' || Saman || |- | 1964 || ''Suba Sarana Sepa Sithe'' || || |- | 1964 || ''Sithaka Mahima'' || || |- | 1965 || ''Sweep Ticket'' || || |- | 1967 || ''Sarana'' || || Producer |- | 1968 || ''Wahal Doopatha'' || || Art director |- | 1971 || ''Sahanaya'' || || Producer <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/films-local-story/2020/09/24/19039/සිහින-නෙළුම්-මල-ජීවිත-පොකුණේ-“සහනය” | title=All about Sahanaya | publisher=Sarasaviya | access-date=24 September 2020}}</ref> |- | 1971 || ''Samanala Kumariyo'' || || Art Director |- | 1973 || ''Hondata Hondai'' || || Producer, Assistant Director |- | 1976 || ''Kawuda Raja'' || || Producer |- | 1980 || ''Sabeetha'' || || Producer |- | 1981 || ''Senasuma'' || || Producer, Dialogue Writer |- | 1983 || ''Sandamali'' || || Title Writer |- | 1984 || ''Mala Giravi'' || || Producer |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Jayanth, Prem}} Category:1933 births Category:1997 deaths Category:Sri Lankan male film actors Category:20th-century Sri Lankan male actors Category:People from Colombo District