Malini Fonseka
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| Malani Fonseka | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Image:MaliniFonseka1.jpg Malani, known as the "Queen of Sinhalese Cinema" | ||||||
| Born | April 30 1947 Image:Flag of Sri Lanka.svg Kelaniya, Sri Lanka | |||||
| Years active | 1968-Present | |||||
| Spouse(s) | Upali Senanayake is the first marriage in 1965, 2nd Lucky Dias | |||||
| Official site | Official Website | |||||
| ||||||
Malani Senehelatha Fonseka (born April 30, 1947 in Kelaniya) is an award-winning Sri Lankan film actress, once known as the "Queen of Sinhalese cinema"[1]. Her cinema career which has spanned many decades began with Tissa Liyansooriya's Punchi Baba in 1968. She first earned recognition, when she won the 'Best Actress Award' at the 1969 National State Drama Festival This was followed by Sarasaviya Best Actress Awards for Hingana Kolla in 1980, Aradhana in 1982 and Yasa Isuru in 1983.
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[edit] Background
Born, the third child of Gilbert and Seelwathie Fonseka as Wanni Arachchige Malani Senehelatha Fonseka, she studied at St. John's College, Nugegoda until Grade 5, and then at Gurukula Maha Vidyalaya, Kelaniya.
On June 12, 1986, she married Lucky Dias, a veteran Cinema and teledrama actor and producer.
[edit] Career
Fonseka started her acting career with stage dramas. In 1963, she made her entry to stage dramas with "Noratha Ratha". In 1968, Fonseka won the best stage drama actress national award for her performance in Akal Wessa. She has since played the lead role in 14 stage dramas. She entered the cinema industry through one of her brothers, Ananda Fonseka, who was both a film director and producer but was introduced to the cinema itself by Tissa Liyansuriya and Joe Abeywickrama.
She made her debut with Tissa Liyansuriya's Punchi Baba (The little Baby) in 1968. These films were followed by Abuddassa Kale, Dahasak Sithuwili and Adarawanthayo in the same year. With the critical success she gained with these, she was offered the lead role by several movie directors of the time. Fonseka has acted in over 140 movies since then, some of which were international movies.
Some of her successful films include Nidhanaya by Lester James Peiris, Siripala Saha Ranmenika by Amaranath Jayathilake, Eya Den Loku Lamayek and Bambaru Ewith by Dharmasena Pathiraja. She achieved a significant milestone in her artisic career with Sasara Chetana in 1984, where she became both its director and producer. She has directed two other films so far: Ahinsa in 1987 and Sthree in 1991.
She paired up with popular Tamil actor, Sivaji Ganeshan in Pilot Premnath in 1978.
Later on, she also worked in the television industry. Fonseka has won praise for her performance in Manalada Puthe Kiri Dunne, Pitagamkarayo, Kemmura, and Ambu Daruwo teledramas. She won the Sumathi Best Tele Actress Awards for her roles in Pitagamkarayo and Kemmura.
She has also made her mark as a teledrama director, with successful creations such as Sanasili Suwanda. She even had the honor of being the first female teledrama director in the history of Sri Lanka teledrama history, when she, both directed and acted in her first teledrama Nirupamala. [2]
Her latest film is Uppalawanna directed by Prof. Sunil Ariyaratne.
[edit] Awards
Fonseka was the first Sri Lankan actress to reach international heights, winning awards at the Moscow International Film Festival in 1975 and the New Delhi Film Festival in 1977.
Apart from the many Sarasaviya Awards she has won, she has also earned other honours like the Presidential Awards, OCIC Awards and also international recognition.
Her most recent awards include the "Best Actress Award" for the teledrama "Kemmura" at the Sumathi Tele Awards Ceremony, 2000 and Wishva Prasadhini Award as appreciation of her service to the cinema industry from the President in 1996.
Sarasaviya Awards won by Fonseka:
- Ranathisara Award, 1985
- Most Popular Actress, 1983
- Best Actress Actress - Yasa Isuru, 1982
- Most Popular Actress, 1982
- Best Actress Award - Aradhana, 1981
- Most Popular Actress Award, 1981
- Most Popular Actress Award, 1980
- Best Actress Award - Hingana Kolla, 1979
[edit] Filmography
| Year | Film | Director | Role | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Aba | Jackson Anthony | Baddhakachchayana | Being Filmed |
| 2007 | Uppalawanna | Prof. Sunil Ariyaratne | Bhikkuni | |
| 2006 | ||||
| 2005 | ||||
| 2004 | Muthu Etaye Modayo | Giwantha Arthasad | ||
| 2004 | Prathirawaya | Jayantha Das Perera | ||
| 2004 | Udu Sulanga | H.D. Premaratne | ||
| 2004 | Wekanda Walawwa | Lester James Peiris | ||
| 2003 | ||||
| 2002 | Punchi Suranganawi | Somaratne Dissanayake | ||
| 2001 | ||||
| 2000 | ||||
| 1999 | ||||
| 1998 | Anthima Reya | Gamini Fonseka | ||
| 1997 | ||||
| 1996 | Apaye Thathpara Asuharadhahak | Dinesh Priyasad | ||
| 1995 | ||||
| 1994 | Muthu Etaye Modayo | Somapala Leelanda | ||
| 1994 | Sandamadala | Malani Fonseka | ||
| 1992 | Sathya | Ranjith Siriwardene | ||
| 1992 | Roomathiyayi Neethiyayi | M. Akuragoda | ||
| 1992 | Umayangana | Ananda Fonseka | ||
| 1992 | Ahimi Dadaman | Danny W. Pathirana | ||
| 1992 | Suwadena Suwandak | Milton Jayawardene | ||
| 1991 | Sthree | Malani Fonseka | ||
| 1991 | Madusamaya | K.A. Wijeratne | ||
| 1991 | Raja Kello | Shirley P. Wijeratne | ||
| 1991 | Hithata Dukak Nathi Nisa | Dinesh Priyasad | ||
| 1991 | Paradeese | Dinesh Priyasad | ||
| 1990 | Honda Honda Sellam | Dinesh Priyasad | ||
| 1990 | Weerodara | Shirley P. Wijeratne | ||
| 1990 | Honda Honda Sellam | Dinesh Priyasad | ||
| 1989 | Shakthiya Obai Amma | Ranga Wijendra and Anton Kingsley | ||
| 1988 | Siri Medura | Parakrama Niriella | ||
| 1988 | Waradata Danuwam | Dinesh Priyasad | ||
| 1988 | Newa Gilunath Ban Choon | Hemasiri Sellaperuma |
