Damayanthi Fonseka

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Damayanthi Fonseka
දමයන්ති ෆොන්සේකා
Born
Wanniarachchige Damayanthi Priyalatha Fonseka

(1960-08-25) August 25, 1960 (age 63)
Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
NationalitySri Lankan
Occupation(s)Actress, Producer
Years active1979–present
SpousePrasanna Vithanage (m. 1991)
Parents
  • Gilbert Fonseka (father)
  • Seelwathie Fonseka (mother)
Relatives

Wanniarachchige Damayanthi Priyalatha Fonseka (born 25 August 1960 as දමයන්ති ෆොන්සේකා) [Sinhala]), popularly as Damayanthi Fonseka, is an actress in Sri Lankan cinema, theater and television as well as a director and producer.[1]

Personal life[edit]

She was born on 25 August 1960 in Kelaniya in a family with 11 siblings.[2] Her father Gilbert Fonseka worked at a Government Press. Her mother Seelwathie Fonseka from Peliyagoda, Kelaniya and was a housewife.

Though she received a government teaching appointment to Habarana, she refused to move far from home.[3] She is married to popular Sri Lankan filmmaker Prasanna Vithanage.[4]

Family background[edit]

Three of her sisters - Malini, Sriyani, Rasadari - and two of her brothers - Dayananda and Ananda - are a part of the cinema industry. Her elder sister Malini Fonseka is considered the Queen of Sinhala cinema, has acted many critically acclaimed films since 1963[5] and has received many Best Actress awards in the local award festivals.

Like her siblings, Damayanthi's several relatives are in the Sinhala film industry. Actor Karunarathna Hangawaththa is her brother-in-law, Actresses Samanalee Fonseka and Senali Fonseka are her nieces, Actor Ashan is her nephew[6] and Actress Kushenya Sayumi of Rookada Panchi fame is her grandniece.[7] Apart from her popular nieces, Samanalee and Senali, five of her other nieces - Shivanya, Ruwani, Tharindi, Manori and Sanduni - are also in the drama industry.[8]

Damayanthi's older brother Actor Dayananda died in 2012 and her other brother Ananda died aged 70 in 2020.[9][10]

Career[edit]

She started acting as a child artiste at the age of 10 while attending school.[11] She acted in the short film Piyek Saha Minisek by I.M. Hewawasam.[12] Her maiden cinematic appearance came through 1976 film Madol Duwa directed by Lester James Peries under the influence by elder sister Malini. However her first screened film was Edath Suraya Adath Suraya in 1972. Since then she acted in many supportive roles in commercially successful films such as Umayangana, Dolosmahe Pahana, Angulimala, Shakthiya Obai Amme and Prathiroo.[13]

She has also produced two films, Purahanda Kaluwara and Anantha Rathriya which were directed by her husband, Prasanna Vithanage[14] and the film Guru Geetha directed by Upali Gamlath. She also helped support the production side of Vithange's newest film Ae. In 2013, Damayanthi established a drama school.[15][16]

She has acted in many stage plays and television serials.[17] She won an award for her role as a villain in the television serial Hopalu Arana.[12] She won a Jury award for the acting in stage play Avi and then received a Special Merit award for the film Umayangana in 1993 Sarasaviya Film Festival.[12][18]

Her maiden theatre production came through Ape Aeththo.[19] In 2003, she produced the play Popiyana Uyana and introduced her nephew Ashan Fonseka onto stage.[6] She further produced two stage plays Gasthuwa Keeyada, a Sinhala adaptation of the play "Farewell" by Alexander Vampilov in 1966,[20] and Parana Pinak in 2015[21][19] and in 2017, she directed the tele-serial Rankiri Amma where her sister Malini acted in a main role.[22][23] She also directed the tele-drama Iragala Nekatha.[24]

Selected stage plays[edit]

  • Amal Biso
  • Api Kawuda
  • Avi
  • Awalan Kalla
  • Balawa Namaka Aruma
  • Bheema Bhomi
  • Boniki Gedara [25]
  • Debiddo
  • Deshapaluwa
  • Devlowa Yanakan
  • Dukganna Rala
  • Dvitva
  • Erabadu Mal Pottu Pipila
  • Ex Girlfriend
  • Kadadasi Oru
  • Little Animal's Home
  • Loka Dekai Eka Minihai
  • Man Nilame
  • Nari Bena
  • Paarajika
  • Rajakiya Wendesiya
  • Sivamma Dhanapala
  • Ukdandu Hewana
  • Viyanga
  • Wes

Selected television serials[edit]

  • Andiri Hewanella
  • Amanda
  • Ambu Daruwo
  • Divya
  • Garunda Damana [15]
  • Hopalu Arana
  • Kumarihami
  • Mudiyanse Mama
  • Nenala [26]
  • Pabalu Menika
  • Prarthana Mal
  • Piya Saha Daruwo
  • Sudu Nelum Vila
  • Pujasanaya
  • Ranmasu Uyana
  • Sanda Madala Kaluwarai
  • Sath Mahala
  • Senehasata Adarei
  • Sihina Genena Kumariye
  • Sinahawata Paata Denna
  • Sisila Ima
  • Sohoyuro
  • Thurya
  • Tikiri Nilame
  • Tikiri Saha Ungi
  • Udumbara Kumariyak
  • Uragala
  • Wana Sarana
  • Yaddehi Gedara

Filmography[edit]

Year Film Role Ref.
1972 Edath Suraya Adath Suraya Onlooker
1976 Madol Duwa Lawyer's daughter [27]
1982 Chathu Madura Pushpa
1985 Kirimaduwal
1986 Asipatha Mamai Manel
1987 Yukthiyada Shakthiyada
1988 Amme Oba Nisa
1988 Angulimala
1989 Shakthiya Obai Amme Dhammi
1991 Sthree
1991 Jayagrahanaya
1991 Paaradise
1991 Dolosmahe Pahana
1992 Umayangana Umayangana
1993 Mawila Penevi Rupe Dalsi
1994 Nohadan Landune
1994 150 Mulleriyawa
1997 Pavuru Valalu Daisy
1998 Anthima Reya
2007 Aganthukaya
2008 Nil Diya Yahana Shanuka's elder sister
2012 Prathiroo Muslim mother
2013 Siri Parakum Duraya's wife
2018 Kalu Hima
2022 Night Rider [28]
TBD Gaadi Bulathgama Disawe's sister
TBD Anora

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Actresses in Sri Lankan cinema - Damayanthi Fonseka". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  2. ^ "My father was watching the road with his cane curled up in a chair". Silumina. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  3. ^ "Today she look like polished diamond". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  4. ^ "I have no other restrictions on him except one". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  5. ^ Malani leaves for London
  6. ^ a b "Insights from the platform is the strength in my career - Ashan Fonseka". Divaina. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  7. ^ "She is the latest child actor in cinema". Mirror Arts. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  8. ^ "Malani talks about her young generation". webgossip. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  9. ^ "Ananda Fonseka ends his life". thepopcorns. Retrieved 2020-12-01.
  10. ^ "Malani reminds her brother". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  11. ^ "Damayanthi fonseka the Determined actress". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  12. ^ a b c "Cinema has been revised". Hiru FM. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  13. ^ "Damayanthi Fonseka films". IMDb. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  14. ^ "Damayanthi Fonseka filmography". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  15. ^ a b "I want to make a good group of students". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  16. ^ "With the advancement of technology, the creativity of today's generation is diminished". Divaina. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  17. ^ "Damayanthi Fonseka official blog". damayanthifonseka.blogspot.com. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  18. ^ "Malini said the name was recommended". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  19. ^ a b "It is bringing 'Old Pinak' with the new generation". Divaina. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  20. ^ "Damayanthi back on stage". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  21. ^ "Today the stage is getting a low treat - Damayanthi Fonseka". Dinamina. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  22. ^ "Ranmakri Amma is the first teledrama directed by Damayanthi Fonseka". sirilakanews. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  23. ^ "Damayanthi Fonseka directs Malini Fonseka". Rasa Gossip. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  24. ^ "Latest from Damayanthi Fonsekaa". mawratanews. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  25. ^ "Woman's role in a male - oriented world". Daily News. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  26. ^ "Nalan's 'Nenala come on TV". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  27. ^ "All about Madol Duwa". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  28. ^ "Nonviolent girl caught in a mob". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 12 September 2019.

External links[edit]

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