Veteran film director and editor Titus Thotawatte passed away Saturday (Oct. 15) at a private hospital in Colombo, aged 82 years.
Affectionately known as Ti Mahattaya, Ti Maama Mr. Thotawatte made several popular and technically skilled Sri Lankan action movies in the 1960s and 1970s and later developed children's programmes.
He was born Emmanuel Titus de Silva on April 17, 1929 in Borella.
He attended Ananda College in Colombo and studied art under J.D.A. Perera and Stanley Abeysinghe.
Mr. Thottawatte joined Lester James Peries and Willie Blake in making ‘Rekhava’ in 1956 as editor.
He struck out as a director with ‘Chandiya’ in 1965, starring Gamini Fonseka in the first villain role of Sinhala cinema.
Other early films include ‘Kavuda Hari’ (1969), ‘Thewatha’ (1970) and ‘Haralakshaya’ (1971).
In 1980, Mr. Thotawatte wrote and directed the popular children's movie ‘Handaya’, which was adjusted the best picture at the Sarasaviya Film Festival.
He created many programmes for children by dubbing English cartoon films into Sinhalese. It was Titus Thotawatta who is considered the pioneer in the field of dubbing cartoon films into Sinhalese. The cartoon movies dubbed by him for the past several decades have become extremely popular amongst children. Amongst his most popular works are Dostara Honda Hitha and Pissu Poosa, Gulliver, Ha Ha Hari Haawa.
He also dubbed internationally popular films, Robinhood, Oshin and Malgudi Deshaya.
Final rites of veteran film and TV personality Titus Thotawatta will be carried out at the Borella cemetery on Wednesday at 4 pm. The remains are currently lying at his residence at No: 292/6, Nawala Road, Rajagiriya. It will be brought to the National Art Gallery at 10 am on Wednesday.
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Sir... Thank you for giving us a amazing childhood memories... You are a part of our childhood...You will be in our hearts forever... May you attain the supreme bliss of Nibbana....
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