Roshan Ravindra
Contents
Background
Rajapaksha Thevage Ravindra Kumara Karunachandra, known as Roshan Ravindra Rajapaksha, is a Sri Lankan actor, producer, director, and a makeup artist. He was born on 13th of June 1978 at Piliyandala, Sri Lanka. He studied at the Piliyandala Central College.[1] He started his career in the hotel industry, and later moved to the entertainment industry. Ravindra studied drama and theatre under Mahendra Perera, an actor who was also known to have appeared in tobacco promotion scenes throughout his career.[2] Ravindra is married to Sanjeewani and is the father their two sons, Neththru and Thiru, and daughter, Kethaki.[1]
Ravindra has acted in many films and teledramas that gained popularity, including Adaraneeya Wassanaya, Sulanga Gini Aran, Address Na, Sahodaraya, Uthuwan Kande Sura Saradiyal, Weeraya Gedara Awith, and Sathya.[3] ‘Thanmalvila kollek’ is a teledrama written and directed by Ravindra that became popular.[4] Ravindra won many awards for best actor, best supporting actor, best upcoming actor, best single episode, and exceptional talent, in many awarding ceremonies including Sarasavi awards, Signis Awards, Sumathi Awards, and Raigam Tele’s. He received Best Actor award at Raigam Tele Awards (2010, 2016, 2018); Sumathi Awards (2011, 2021); Signis Awards (2021), and State Television Awards (2015, 2020). He received the Best Teledrama Director award for ‘Thanamalwila Kollek’ in 2020 at Raigam Tele Awards, Singis Awards, and Sumathi Awards. [1]
Tobacco Related Activity
Appearing in Tobacco Smoking Scenes
Roshan Ravindra played the main role in the ‘Adaraniya Wassanaya’ which depicted cigarette smoking prominently. The film was based on a novel written by Upul Shantha Sannasgala.[6]
Promoting tobacco smoking in his productions
He directed the teledrama “Thanamalvila Kollek,” which included smoking and related scenes among adolescents and young women in 18 episodes out of 46 episodes.[7] Teledrama was telecast over the Independence Television Network (ITN), a state-owned television channel in Sri Lanka. The main actors of this teledrama included Dhanuka Dilshan, Dasun Pathirana and Xavier Kanishka. In the credits, Ravindra mentioned a special thanks to the “Royal Taprobanian”, an art gallery with a library and a theater, owned by Upul Shantha Sannasgala.[8][9] Gallery:
Image 3: Excerpt from ‘Thanamalwila Kollek’ teledrama- Episode 2
Image 4: Excerpt from ‘Thanamalwila Kollek’ teledrama- Episode 3
Image 5: Excerpt from ‘Thanamalwila Kollek’ teledrama- Episode 12
Image 6: Excerpt from ‘Thanamalwila Kollek’ teledrama- Episode 44
Alcohol Related Activities
Appearing in Alcohol Drinking Scenes
Roshan Ravindra appeared in many alcohol drinking film scenes, including in the ‘Adaraniya Wassanaya’.[6]
Promoting Alcohol in his Productions
The teledrama “Thanamalvila Kollek,”, directed by Roshan Ravindra, had numerous scenes related to alcohol and alcohol use in 18 out of its 46 episodes.[10][11] Gallery:
Image 8: Excerpt from ‘Thanamalwila Kollek’ teledrama- Episode 15
Image 9: Excerpt from ‘Thanamalwila Kollek’ teledrama- Episode 18
Image 10: Excerpt from ‘Thanamalwila Kollek’ teledrama- Episode 23
Implications
Multiple research studies have shown that exposure to portrayal of tobacco products or their use in television and in movies is associated with initiation of smoking among viewers, especially among adolescents and youth, and sustenance of smoking among current smokers.[12]A large body of evidence suggests that tobacco industry is known to have commissioned celebrities to promote tobacco and related products in media and through entertainment activities.[13]
National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA) Act No 27 of 2006 is the main legal framework for tobacco and alcohol control in Sri Lanka. Section 35 of the NATA Act prohibits tobacco and alcohol advertisements and promotion in media including ‘the internet’. NATA Act defines tobacco advertisements as, “any writing, still or moving picture, sign, symbol or distinctive colours or other visual image or any audible message or any combination of the aforesaid that promotes or is intended to promote – smoking, the purchase or use of a tobacco product, a trade mark registered in respect of a tobacco product or articles that include tobacco products, a brand name associated with a tobacco product, the name of the manufacturer of a tobacco product.” Thus, portrayal of tobacco products and their use has a negative effect on tobacco control measures in the country and violates the NATA Act.
TobaccoUnmasked Resources
- Mahendra Perera
- Upul Shantha Sannasgala
- Xavier Kanishka
- Danuka Dilshan
- Dasun Pathirana
- National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA) Act
The local language translations
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Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Wikiwand. Roshan Ravindra, undated, accessed June 2024
- ↑ Gossip Lanka Hot News. Mahendra Perera likes to act with Sunny Leone, 10 June 2014, accessed June 2024
- ↑ IMDb. Roshan Ravindra, 2024, accessed June 2024
- ↑ IMDb. Full Cast & Crew, 2024, accessed June 2024
- ↑ Book My Show. Roshan Ravindra, 2024, accessed June 2024
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 V&V Media. Aadaraneeya Wassanaya |Sinhala full movie, 17 September 2019, accessed June 2024
- ↑ Centre for Combating Tobacco. Scientific investigation of Tobacco and Alcohol Portrayal in Sri Lankan Media and its Public Health Implications, 2021, accessed June 2024
- ↑ ITN Sri Lanka. Thanamalvila Kollek | Episode 01 - (2020-01-19) | ITN, 19 January 2020, accessed June 2024
- ↑ M Dee. Royal Taprobanian, 25 May 2020, accessed June 2024
- ↑ Centre for Combating Tobacco. Scientific investigation of Tobacco and Alcohol Portrayal in Sri Lankan Media and its Public Health Implications, 2021, accessed June 2024
- ↑ ITN Sri Lanka. Thanamalvila Kollek | Episode 01 - (2020-01-19) | ITN, 19 January 2020, accessed June 2024
- ↑ M Bennett et all. Exposure to tobacco content in episodic programs and tobacco and E-cigarette initiation, October 2020, accessed August 2024
- ↑ A. Charlesworth, S. Glantz. Tobacco and the Movie Industry, 2006, accessed August 2024
