Suraj Mapa
සුරාජ් මාපා
Born
Mapa Mudiyanselage Suraj Laksiri[1]

(1980-01-02) 2 January 1980[2]
Kandy, Sri Lanka
NationalitySri Lankan
EducationTrinity College, Kandy
Occupation(s)Actor, Dramatist, Choreographer
Years active2002–present
Parent
  • Dayani Mapa (mother)
AwardsMost Popular Actor

Mapa Mudiyanselage Suraj Laksiri (born on 2 January 1980 as සුරාජ් මාපා) [Sinhala]), popularly as Suraj Mapa, is an actor in Sri Lankan cinema and television as well as a Teledrama Producer, model, dancer, and a choreographer.[3] Mapa is best known for the roles in many television serials such as Olu, Pooja, and Haara Kotiya. Apart from acting, he owns partnership in the brand named Elsa Clothing.[4]

Personal life

He was born on 2 January 1980 in Kandy, Sri Lanka as the youngest of the family with two elder sisters.[5] His father was a businessman and his mother was a housewife. He completed education from Trinity College, Kandy and did his Advance Level examination in 1999.[5]

Then, Mapa attended a course in Hotel Management earning a Diploma in Hotel Management and worked for one year in his father's hotel – ‘Hotel Zurich Park’. He also studied at IDM and gained a Diploma in Computer Studies. During this period he worked for ‘Suntel’ as a customer care executive. As a model he has walked the ramp for Lou Ching Wong the fashion designer and for Nayana the popular hair dresser.[5] Later he obtained qualifications in Marketing through SLIM.

His father died on 13 July 2016[6] and mother Dayani Mapa died on 17 August 2018 by a blood clot in the brain.[7] His mother's sister, Suneetha Ratnayake was a popular dancer.[5]

Acting career

Mapa started his acting career in 2000 with the television serial Mage Sanda Oba directed by Prasanna Vithanage. He was starring the main role, which gained him large popularity and also selected for Upcoming Actor award in year 2002.[8] During the very early stage of his carrier, he appeared in the serial Suriya Daruwo in 2002, which made him popular.[9][5] He was also nominated as the Best Upcoming Actor in 2003, for the lead role in the serial Olu directed by Shirly P. Delankawala which made his turning point in the career.[5][10] In the serial, he was starring a role of a young English Teacher named "Asanka".[11] Later he won the award for the Most Popular Actor in both Sumathi Awards and Raigam Tele'es awards in 2005[10] and 2006 for the role.[12] In 2005, he won the award for the most popular Sri Lankan actor in the UAE.[8] Then he acted in the serial Pooja directed by Eranga Senarathne. In the serial, he played the role "Nirmala", a famous Writer who was leading a battle to save his child and the family.[5]

With that success, he played several lead roles particularly as the lover in the serials such as;[13] Sapumali,[14] Poojasanaya,[15] Ridee Siththam,[16] Sepalika, Muthu Wessak, and Mage Sanda Oba.[17] In 2016, he acted in the serial Kalu Araliya[18] by performing multiple roles as famous actor Vishwa Disanayaka, servant Muni and a disabled person. Then he was nominated for the best actor award for the serial as well. In 2017, he acted in the sci-fi serial Lokantharayo[18] directed by Thushara Thennakon, where Mapa screened dual roles. In the same year, he appeared in the popular crime serial Haara Kotiya where he played the role of gang leader "Nepolion". In 2018, he acted in the serial Amuthu Rasikaya with the role of "Vijitha", where he obtained award nominations.[19][20]

Mapa started his film career with a supportive role in 2004 comedy film, Clean Out directed by Roy de Silva.[21] He also acted in Belgium film Semi Tower.[5] He acted in the film Sikuru Hathe directed by Giriraj Kaushalya, which became a blockbuster hit and became the highest-grossing film in 2007.[22] In 2019, he appeared in the film Uththara.[23]

Apart from television serials and films, he also acted in several single episode teledrama such as Sansara Sewanali - Podi Hamuduruwo[24] and Thunkal Sihinaya[25] as well the telefilm Mathaka Sihina.[26]

Notable television serials

Dancing career

Mapa started dancing at school age and excels in Latin American dance. He studied dancing under Neomi Rajaratnam and performed at many events both locally and internationally such as "Footwork Dance Sport 2002".[8] Mapa's talented in Latin Dance. Mapa always works on positioning himself as an actor with dancing capabilities.

His maiden dance show titled Elements with Surya was held at Bishop's college auditorium on 14–15 May 2010 at 7 p.m.[8] On 27 February 2016, Mapa organized a dance show with over fifty dancers. The show was held at the Dharmaraja College Auditorium from 10.00 am and 6.30 pm.[56] In 2013, he contested for the reality program Derana City of Dance, The Ultimate Level telecast by TV Derana[57] and in 2018 Hiru Mega Stars telecast by Hiru TV.[58] In the same year, he learned Kandyan dance traditions under Kulasiri Budawatta and became a Ves Kandyan dancer in 2014.[56][59]

In 2015, Mapa started Suraj Dance Academy where he conducts workshops in Colombo & Kandy.

Other work

Mapa contributed as a producer for the serial Dagammadiyawa. He was also starring in it and was awarded a Merit Award in Sumathi Awards Ceremony. In 2008, he hosted the reality shown Sirasa Dancing Stars season 1 together with Nirosha Perera, which later won the most popular award in 2008. Apart from that, he acts as the Head of Sales & Marketing for Elsa Clothing brand which was launched together with 2 other partners.

Filmography

YearFilmRoleRef.
2004Clean OutPathale Sudha 'Sam'[60]
2007Sikuru HatheVidyartha[61]
2008Akasa Kusum[62]
2010UththaraShanilka[63]
2011SuseemaRanga[64]
2015Singa Machan CharlieRomeo[65]
2018Yama Raja SiriIn item song[66]
2019Ginnen Upan SeethalaVijitha Ranaweera[67]

Awards and accolades

Sumathi Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2007People's voteMost Popular ActorWon
2011DegammediyawaMerit AwardWon

References

  1. ↑ "Suraj Mapa biography". wordpress. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  2. ↑ "Happy Birthday – January 2". suratha. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  3. ↑ "Suraj Mapa සුරාජ් මාපා". Digital Identity of Sinhala Cinema - www.films.lk. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  4. ↑ "Elsa Clothing". elsa.clothing. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Memorable performance". Lakadesha. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  6. ↑ "Actor Suraj Mapa's father passes away". Hiru FM. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  7. ↑ "Actor Suraj Mapa's mother passes away". lankahitgossip. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "In step with Suraj". Daily News. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  9. 1 2 "Nalan Mendi Sooriya Daruwo". Nalan Mendis. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  10. 1 2 "Suraj and Harshini : 'Coke Ambassadors'". Sunday Times. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  11. ↑ "Remarkable Performance". Lankadeesha. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  12. ↑ "Elements with Suraj". Derana. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  13. ↑ "Im getting married". Daily News. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  14. ↑ "Sapumali". pcworld. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  15. 1 2 "Poojasanaya". The Nation. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  16. ↑ "RideeSiththam". GossipLanka. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  17. 1 2 "'Mage Sanda Oba': a tender love story". Sunday Times. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  18. 1 2 "Mapa's Favorite 10 acts". facebook. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  19. 1 2 "'අමුතු රසිකයා' ආලින්දයට පැමිණේ". Divaina. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  20. ↑ "රයිගම් ටෙලීස් නිර්දේශ". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  21. ↑ "Suraj Mapa - සුරාජ් මාපා films". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  22. ↑ "'Sikuru Hathe' back on screen". Sunday Times. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  23. ↑ "Uththara". dailynews. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  24. ↑ "Sasara Sewanali". Hiru TV. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  25. ↑ "Thinkal Sihinaya". Hiru TV. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  26. ↑ "Mathaka Sihina". Hiru TV. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  27. ↑ "Aathma Senehasa teledrama". Alankulama Holding (Pvt) Ltd. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  28. ↑ "Stars in scuffle at Baloli location". Sunday Times. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  29. ↑ "'Chotte' on Rupavahini". Daily News. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  30. ↑ "දාංගලේ". Swarnawahini. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  31. ↑ "A play on worthlessness of wealth". Sunday Times. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  32. ↑ "Haara Kotiya, Its No Waste Of Time!". The Sunday Leader. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
  33. ↑ "'Handewa' pictures a tragedy in a colony". Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  34. ↑ "'Indrachapa':A family drama". Sunday Times. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  35. ↑ "'Isuru Bawana' miniplay on Rupavahini". Sunday Times. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  36. ↑ "'Jeewa Chakra' brings world-renowned literature on miniscreen". Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  37. ↑ "කළු අරලිය". Swarnavahini. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  38. ↑ "ලෝකාන්තරයෝ:අනන්ත ආදරයේ විශ්වාන්තර කථිකාව". Thushara Tennakon. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  39. ↑ "'Mini Kirana' on Rupavahini from Wednesday". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  40. ↑ "Muthu Wessak". Swarnavahini. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  41. ↑ "Nethra Theme Song". Siyath TV. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  42. ↑ "Pini Theme Song". ITN. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  43. ↑ "'Pinikunatuwa':A drama with hundred episodes". Sunday Times. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  44. ↑ "පූජා". Swarnavahini. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  45. ↑ "Ridee Siththam theme song". Randeepa Media. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  46. ↑ "Tele treat". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  47. ↑ "'Sepalika' on Swarnavahini". Sunday Times. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  48. ↑ "Mohan Niyaz has a dream in Colour". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  49. ↑ "Sihina Cinderella Theme Song". Randeepa Media. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  50. ↑ "'Sihini'theme song". ITN. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  51. ↑ "'Suddilage Kathawa' back on miniscreen". Sunday Times. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  52. ↑ "Thanamalvila Kollek' - Award-winning warmth and fatherly memory". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  53. ↑ "Tharumalee wins many hearts". SundayTimes. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  54. ↑ "Uthum Pathum Theme Song". SirasaTV. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  55. ↑ "'Veeduru Mal': Depicts a topsy-turvy tale". Sunday Times. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  56. 1 2 "Suraj Mapa presents 'Elements with Surya'". Sunday Times. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  57. ↑ "City Of Dance - The Ultimate Level". Derana TV. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  58. ↑ "Suraj Mapa - සුරාජ් මාපා bio". Hiru TV. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  59. ↑ "Suraj dances his way to maturity". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  60. ↑ "එදා මෙදා තිරගත වූ සිංහල චිත්‍රපට". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  61. ↑ "Sikuru Hathe: A magnificent comedy". Daily News. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
  62. ↑ TV Times (19 October 2008). "Akasa Kusum (Flowers of the Sky) Blooms in Pusan". The Sunday Times, Sri Lanka.
  63. ↑ "Sandun brings 'Uththara'". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  64. ↑ "Susima on the big screen". Daily News. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  65. ↑ "Singa Machan Charlie movie". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  66. ↑ "Yama Raja Siri films.lk article". Films.lk (in Sinhala). Archived from the original on 5 April 2018. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  67. ↑ "Gratitude for that sacrifice - Director Anuruddha". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
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