Udula Dabare

Kalabooshana Gangodavilage Udula Dabare (උදුලා දාබරේ; 22 September 1936 – 26 December 2023), was an actress in Sri Lankan cinema, theatre and television. One of the earliest pillars in Sinhala cinema, Dabare started her career with comic roles but turned to dramatic roles and made award-winning appearances in the films such as Warada Kageda, Radala Piliruwa, Duppathage Duka, Dosthara and Pirimiyek Nisa. In the period between 1950 and 1963, she particularly acted in villain stepmother roles.

Personal life
Udula Dabare was born on 22 September 1936 in Mahawatta, Narahenpita, British Ceylon as the sixth of the family with seven siblings. Her father was P. R. Lewis Dabare and her mother was Ataudarachchige Alyssa Dias. However, three sisters died at a young age except an elder brother and a younger sister. She started education from Narahenpita Mahawatta Junior High School (currently as Parakramabahu Vidyalaya) and completed from Maradana St. Lawrence College and Dharmapala Vidyalaya, Pannipitiya in English medium. She was dated with a photographer for a long time. But when he went Australia with a scholarship, her mother did not allow Dabare to go with him. The relationship ended from there and since then she did not get married.

Her elder brother was married to fellow film actress Millie Kahandawela. Dabare's younger sister's son Upul Nishantha is a cinema media coordinator.

Dabare died on 26 December 2023 at the age of 87 following a brief illness. Her remains were laid at No. 32 / 97, Golden Meadows Housing Complex, Kirigampamunwa, Polgasowita from 12.00pm to 4.00pm on 27 December. Her final rites were performed on 28 December 2023 at the Mattegoda Cemetery.

Career
Besides cinema, she joined with Lama Pitiya singing program of Radio Ceylon at the age of 12 and voiced in radio films. In 1952, she went India with her cousin sister Milly Kahandawala who acted in the film Kele Handa for her support. During this visit, she was able to be friendly with the film crew. When a new actress was needed for a small role, director B. A. W. Jayamanne asked Dabare to act in the film. With that, she made her first cinema appearance in the 1953 film Kele Handa with an uncredited role.

Her acting credentials were thoroughly observed by Karunaratne Abeysekera where he introduced Dabare to film producer and director K. Gunaratnam. With that, she acted in Gunaratnam's 1954 film Warada Kageda by singing a comic song along with Bertram Fernando. The film became her turning point in the career, where he rose to popularity overnight. In 1954 while still a school girl, she acted in the T.R. Sundaram's film Radala Piliruwa opposite to Christy Leonard Perera.

Since then, she acted in numerous blockbuster films in the following years including: Dosthara, Duppatāgē Duka, Gæhænu Gæṭa, Naḷangana, Pirimiyek Nisā, Suvinīta Lālanī, Daruvā Kāgeda, Sīgiri Kāśhyapa, Sulalita Sōbanī, Sūrayangeth Sūrayā, Dæn Matakada and Sally. In many of those films, she acted as sub-lead characters, but they brought popularity due to lyrical scenes that are memorable to the audience. In these films, she was lucky to share the acting with popular actors such as Gamini Fonseka, Joe Abeywickrama, L.M. Perera, Ravindra Rupasena and Anthony C. Perera. She took a break from cinema in 1970 and re-entered in 1977 with the film Hithuwakkarayo.

She also made stage appearances with the stage dramas such as: Ran Ethana, Warenthuwa, Sivammā Dhanapāla, Ganudenu, Samaja Peraliya and Balgisnōnā. Then she acted in few television serials in 1980s, including: Gama Sundarayi Rēvathī, Raja Varam, Siyapatha, Eḷivanathuru, Gangulen Etheraṭa and Wasanthaya Nimāviya. Apart from acting, she worked as the Public Relations Officer at the National Lotteries Board for 18 years from 1977 to 1995.

In 2013, she acted in Upali Piyaratne's Pramada Wadi and Lal Priyadeva's Yali Pipunemi, which are yet to screened. Her final cinema acting came through the 2018 film Madhura Charika directed by Udayakantha Warnasuriya.

Awards and accolades
She was honored with "Namaskara Pooja" Special Award at the 25th Sarasaviya Awards in 1998. Apart from that, she received awards at 1977 Sarasaviya, 1994 Journalist Fellowship and 1978 SIGNIS OCIC Award ceremonies. In 2004, she was titled with Kalabooshana and Pioneer award at the 2004 Presidential awards. Homagama Vibhuti Award and Dream Institute Tribute award in 2011 are also received for her acting achievements.

In 2014, she won an award at the Suwanda Padma award ceremony. In 2018, she received the tribute award at the Gamini Fonseka's 14th virtue commemoration. In 2021, she was honored with a lifetime achievement award at an award presentation for 21 artists who have done exemplary service to Sinhala cinema in the initial decade of Sinhala cinema.