Malini Fonseka

Honourable
Malini Fonseka
මාලිනී ෆොන්සේකා
MP

Malini Fonseka
Member of the Sri Lanka Parliament
for National List
In office
2010–2015
Personal details
Born Wanni Arachchige Malani Senehelatha Fonseka
(1947-04-30) 30 April 1947
Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
Nationality Sri Lankan
Spouse(s) Upali Senanayake (m. 1965; div. 1980)
Lucky Dias (m. 1986)
Occupation Film actress
Religion Theravada Buddhism
Awards Sarasaviya Best Actress Award (1980), (1982), (1983) and Sarasaviya Most Popular Actress Award (1980–1983)

Malani Senehelatha Fonseka (Sinhala:මාලිනී සෙනෙහෙලතා ෆොන්සේකා) (born 30 April 1947 in Kelaniya) is an award-winning Sri Lankan film actress, also 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.[2] In 2010 she has been named by CNN as one of Asia's 25 greatest film actors of all time.[3]

Biography

Early life

Born as the third child to the Gilbert and Seelwathie Fonseka at Peliyagoda, Kelaniya. After Malini was born, her family moved to Jambugasmulle, Nugegoda. In 1952 she started her education at St. John's College, Nugegoda until the 5th grade. After moving of the family to Wedamulle, Kelaniya she was enrolled at Gurukula Maha Vidyalaya, Kelaniya until completing her education.[4]

Personal life

On 12 June 1986, she married Lucky Dias, a veteran Cinema and teledrama actor and producer.

Political life

On April 2010, she was appointed to the Sri Lanka Parliament as a National List of United People's Freedom Alliance.

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 Abudasse 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 artistic career with Sasara Chetana in 1984, where she became both its director and producer. She has directed two other films so far: Ahimsa 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 honour 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.[5]

Her latest film is Uppalawanna directed by Prof. Sunil Ariyaratne.

Malini's career enhanced with Gamini Fonseka and both who had a long journey in history of the silver screen. Malini stated at Gamini's funeral in 2004, "His performance had appeal across the board and I had the good fortune of being associated with Gamini. The cinema of that era is slowly fading away and the passing away of Gamini is another step towards that direction".[6]

Awards

Fonseka was the first Sri Lankan actress to reach international heights, winning a special Jury award at the Moscow International Film Festival in 1975. This was to be the first of her many international awards.She also won an award at 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.

Malini Fonseka felicitation ceremony titled Maliniye held at the BMICH on 30 April 2003 with the participation of President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga for her four decades of contribution to the Cinema of Sri Lanka in more than 150 films.[7]

Sri Lankans living in USA gathered in large numbers at Los Angeles to honour legendary actress Malini in January 2008. Also a special dinner hosted by the Consular General of Sri Lanka Jaliya Wickramasuriya and Mrs. Wickramasuriya and the Consulate staff. A special ceremony organised for her to present an Appreciative Plaque by the Consulate General of Los Angeles Jaliya Wickramasuriya with the participation of representative groups of the community, Associations, renowned artists and actors and well wishers and fans of actress Malini Fonseka.[8]

Sarasaviya Awards won by Fonseka:

Filmography

Year Film Director Role Notes
2008 Akasa Kusum Prasanna Vithanage Sandya Rani Winner, Silver Peacock Award – 39th International Film Festival of India
Aba Jackson Anthony Baddhakachchayana Winner, Sarasaviya Best Supporting Actress Award
Machan Uberto Pasolini Manoj's Mother
2007 Uppalawanna Sunil Ariyaratne Chief Bhikkuni
2006 Ammawarune Lester James Peiris Sumanawathi
Dedunu Wessa Buddhika Jayarathna
2004 Muthu Etaye Modayo Giwantha Arthasad
Prathirawaya Jayantha Das Perera
Udu Sulanga H.D. Premaratne Menike
Wekande Walauwa Lester James Peiris Sujata Rajasuriya
2002 Punchi Suranganawi Somaratne Dissanayake Sinhala teacher
2000 Saroja Somaratne Dissanayake
1998 Anthima Reya Gamini Fonseka
1996 Apaye Thathpara Asuharadhahak Dinesh Priyasad
1977 Pilot Premnath A.C Thirulogachanthar
1994 Muthu Etaye Modayo Somapala Leelanda
Sandamadala Malani Fonseka
1992 Sathya Ranjith Siriwardene Sathya
Roomathiyayi Neethiyayi M. Arukgoda
Umayangana Ananda Fonseka
Ahimi Dadaman Danny W. Pathirana
Suwadena Suwandak Milton Jayawardene
1991 Sthree Malani Fonseka
Madusamaya K.A. WijeratneSarojani
Raja Kello Shirley P. WijeratneLady inspetor of police
Hithata Dukak Nathi Nisa Dinesh Priyasad Teacher
Paradeese Dinesh Priyasad
1990 Honda Honda Sellam Dinesh PriyasadLady inspetor of police
Weerodara Shirley P. Wijeratne
1989 Shakthiya Obai Amma Ranga Wijendra and Anton Kingsley
1988 Siri Medura Parakrama Niriella Nirmala
Waradata Danuwam Dinesh Priyasad
Newa Gilunath Ban Choon Hemasiri Sellaperuma
1986 Avurududa Wimal Saman Jayaweera and Nimal Tennakoon
Awards
Preceded by
Swarna Kahavita
for Binaramalee		 Sarasaviya Best Actress Award
for Hingana Kolle
1980 		Succeeded by
Vasanthi Chathurani
for Ganga Addara
Preceded by
Vasanthi Chathurani
for Ganga Addara		 Sarasaviya Best Actress Award
for Aradhana
1982 		Succeeded by

for
Preceded by

for		 Most Popular Actress Award
for
1980 		Succeeded by

for
Preceded by

for		 Most Popular Actress Award
for
1981 		Succeeded by

for

References

  1. ↑ Malani leaves for London
  2. ↑ "Biography for Malini Fonseka". IMDb. Retrieved 19 June 2008.
  3. ↑ CNNGo – Asia’s 25 greatest actors of all time
  4. ↑ "Biography-1". (Personal Website). 9 February 2008.
  5. ↑ Malani on Television
  6. ↑ "Tributes to cinema legend Gamini flow in". BBC News. 30 September 2004.
  7. ↑ "President pays glowing tribute to Malini". Daily News. 2 May 2003.
  8. ↑ "Legendary Screen Actress Malini Fonseka Honoured in Los Angeles". Asiantribune.com. 28 January 2008.


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