# Prem Jayanth

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{{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](/source/Grandpass), Sri Lanka
| death_date    = 17 March 1997 (aged 64)
| death_place   = [Colombo](/source/Colombo)
| resting_place = 
| other_names   = 
| occupation    = Actor
| years_active  = 1942-1984
| known_for     = 
| notable_works = 
| children      = 7
| spouse        = Nanda Leelanayake
| relatives     = [Umaria Sinhawansa](/source/Umaria_Sinhawansa) 
}}
'''Hettiarachchige Emanuel Aloysius Rodrigo''' (1933&ndash;17 March 1997), better known as '''Prem Jayanth''', was an actor in [Sri Lanka](/source/Sri_Lanka)n 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](/source/Sujatha_(1953_film)) (1953) and ''[Seda Sulang](/source/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](/source/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](/source/B._A._W._Jayamanne). His breakthrough came when he was cast in the lead male role in the 1953 film ''Sujatha'' opposite [Florida Jayalath](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Sujatha_(1953_film))'' || Nihal || 
|-
| 1953 || ''Puduma Leli'' || Raja || 
|-
| 1954 || ''Warada Kageda'' || Rohith || 
|-
| 1955 || ''[Seda Sulang](/source/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}}

{{authority control}}

{{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

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Prem Jayanth](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prem_Jayanth) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prem_Jayanth?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.