Munasinghe Arachchilage Don Bandu (16 March 1936 – 5 February 2005 as බන්දු මුණසිංහ [Sinhala]), popularly known as Bandu Munasinghe, was an actor, and stunt director of Sri Lankan cinema. Particularly acted in cinema in villain roles, Munasinghe was the first stunt director of the Sri Lankan silver screen.

Personal life He was born on 16 March 1936 in Borella. He first studied at Hewavitharana College, Rajagiriya and his secondary education at Nalanda College, Colombo. He excelled as a boxer. Because of this, he joined the army for a while after school and showed boxing skills.

He was married to Jayanthi Munasinghe where the wedding was celebrated on 16 March 1967.

Munasinghe, who had been a movie star for thirty-five years, suddenly fell ill in 1993. He went to Embilipitiya in Ratnapura where one of his leg was amputated. He died on 5 February 2005 at the age of 69.

Career In 1958, he was invited in perform stunts to a film by M.P. Gilman and M.P. Gemunu, both stuntmen. They informed Munasinghe to be at Kiribathgoda Sirisena Wimalaweera's Nawajeevana studio at about 10 am. In Nawajeevana studio, he performed his maiden cinematic appearance in the film Ma Ale Kala Tharuniya. The second movie starring Munasinghe as a stuntman was Gilman's 1961 directorial hit Wedibima. Then he acted in the films, Daskon, Wena Swargayak Kumatada, Deepashika and Getawarayo. In 1965, he was selected for a villain role for the first time in his career in the film Saaravita. Later, he played as the stuntman in the films such as Dheewarayo, Satha Panaha, Sweep Ticket and Daru Duka.

He continued to work as the henchman in several movies for major villain characters most notably in the films, Surayangeth Suraya, Edath Suraya Adath Suraya, Hathara Denama Surayo, Singapore Charlie, Suli Sulang and Hitha Honda Minihek. His major breakthrough in cinema came through as the stunt director in the 1964 film Sithaka Mahima directed by M. S. Ananda. However, his first character role came through the film Tharangaa directed by Sena Dayananda. In the 1975 film Rajagedara Paraviyo by Sathischandra Edirisinghe, Munasinghe along with fellow stuntman Alexander Fernando created good realistic fight scenes.

He is also a skilled sword fight expert. He learned about sword fighting from Gamini Fonseka and H. D. Kulatunga. Among the characters played by Munasinghe were the scenes where the lead actress was tortured most notably in the film Awa Soya Adare. In the 1970s, he played the character roles of Agra Sajeewani and Manel Wanaguru in the films Sugandhi (1979) and Tharangaa (1975) respectively.

Filmography & Stunt Coordination

Year Film Acting role Other roles Ref. 1959 Ma Ale Kala Tharuniya Augie Minor stuntman 1961 Wedibima Police inspector 1962 Daskon 1963 Wena Swargayak Kumatada 1963 Deepashika Train track abductor 1964 Sithaka Mahima Stunt coordinator 1964 Getawarayo Boxer 1965 Handapaana 1965 Laa Dalu 1965 Saaravita Somey 1965 Hithata Hitha 1965 Satha Panaha Assailant near Sheela's home 1965 Sweep Ticket 1966 Sanda Naga Eddi 1967 Sorungeth Soru 1967 Daru Duka Police Inspector 1967 Sarana 1967 Hitha Giya Thena 1969 Hari Maga Norbert henchman 1969 Surayangeth Suraya 1970 Lakseta Kodiya Party guest 1970 Dan Mathakada Jerry 1970 Aathma Pooja 1970 Ohoma Hondada 1970 Suli Sulang 1971 Dawena Pipasa 1971 Hathara Denama Surayo 1971 Samanala Kumariyo 1972 Edath Suraya Bandu 1972 Sujeewa Stunt Coordinator 1972 Singapore Charlie 1973 Matara Achchi Cyril's friend 1973 Gopalu Handa 1973 Handama Welawa 1973 Sunethra Debt CollectorStunt Coordinator 1973 Hondai Narakai 1973 Hondata Hondai Bandu 1974 Kasthuri Suwanda Stunt Coordinator 1974 Susee Harry Stunt Coordinator 1975 Hitha Honda Minihek Stunt Coordinator 1975 Tharangaa Jerry Stunt Coordinator 1975 Awa Soya Adare Stunt Coordinator 1975 Kokilayo Stunt Coordinator 1975 Rajagedara Paraviyo Bandu 1975 Lassana Dawasak Bandu Stunt Coordinator 1975 Hadawathaka Wasanthaya 1975 Sangeetha Stunt Coordinator 1975 Nayanaa 1976 Kawuda Raja Henchman 1976 Harima Badu Thunak Sidaran's friend 1976 Vanarayo 1976 Loka Horu 1976 Hariyata Hari Stunt Coordinator 1976 Onna Mame Kella Panapi 1976 Ran Thilaka 1977 Sakunthala 1977 Sri Madara Franklin Stunt Coordinator 1977 Chin Chin Nona 1977 Siripala Saha Ran Menika Piyadasa 1977 Tom Pachaya Alex Stunt Coordinator 1977 Niwena Ginna 1978 Madhuwanthi Stunt Coordinator 1978 Saara 1978 Tikira Bandu 1978 Apsara 1978 Kumara Kumariyo Bandu Stunt Coordinator 1978 Anupama Murdered shop owner 1979 Sawudan Jema 1979 Sugandhi Bennet 1979 Subhani 1980 Seetha 1982 Sandaa 1982 Sudu Ayya 1982 Miss Mallika Stunt Coordinator 1983 Hithath Hondai Wedath Hondai 1985 Araliya Mal Chandana's man 1985 Channai Kello Dennai 1985 Karadiya Wallalla 1987 Podi Vijay 1989 Badulu Kochchiya 1989 Obata Rahasak Kiyannam 1989 Randenigala Sinhaya Lando 1990 Yukthiyata Wada Kuruppu 1992 Rumathiyay Neethiyay 1992 Sathya 1994 150 Mulleriyawa Funeral walker 1995 Mama Baya Na Shyama 1995 Hitha Honda Surayo

References

External links රොබින් ප්‍රනාන්දු ඇලුම් කළ අපේ සිනමාවේ සටන් නළුවන් හත් දෙනෙක්