M. S. Ananda

Biography:

M. S. Ananda, whose full name was M. S. Ananda, was a Sri Lankan film director, cinematographer, screenwriter, and producer who lived from 22 April 1933 to 25 June 2016.

He was wed to the film producer Violet Ananda, his lifelong companion. There are two girls in the relationship. Shyama Ananda, the elder daughter of M. S. Ananda, is a well-known actress who has acted in several renowned Shyama film series. On December 15, 1980, Shayama marries Saliya Perera, a former cricket team captain for Thurstan College. Ritchie Perera is their son, while Mandeera DeMel is their daughter.

At the age of 83, he passed away on June 24, 2016. His remains were interred at the Borella Jayaratne Funeral Home. On June 26, 2016, the last ceremonies were performed at the Kanatte Cemetery.

He worked as the studio’s chief cameraman in Ceylon. Ananda began his cinematography career in 1959 with the release of Gehenu Geta. Afterwards, he served as an assistant cinematographer on Sri Lanka’s first color full-length film, Ranmuthu Duwa. After that, he served as cinematographer for a number of critically acclaimed films, including Gehenu Lamai, Akkara Paha, Golu Hadawatha, Madol Duwa, and Nidhanaya.

Subsequently, he began directing the movie. In 1964, he directed his first motion picture, Sithaka Mahima. His daughter Shyama starred in two roles in Prashawanna, the first movie he produced and directed.

Then, he brought his daughter Shyama Ananda to the big screen as the director of the well-known film franchise Shyama. Mage Nangi Shyama, Chandi Shyama, Hello Shyama, and Mama Baya Nehe Shyama are the four Shyama series films that he directed. The 1965 Ananda-directed film Satha Panaha gained immense popularity thanks to the H.R. Jothipala song Chandrame Re Paya Awa.