Nita Fernando

Nita Fernando
නීටා ප්‍රනාන්දු
Born (1947-09-05) September 5, 1947 (age 77)
Negombo, Sri Lanka
OccupationFilm actress / film producer
Years active1965-1975
1995–Present
SpouseElian Perera
AwardsBest Actress Award at the 1998 Singapore International Film Festival,
Vishwa Kirthie Award, Presidential Award, Critics Award in 1999,
OCIC Award for Best Actress in 2000

Kala Suri Nita Fernando (born September 5, 1947, නීටා ප්‍රනාන්දු) in Negombo, Sri Lanka, is an actress in the Sri Lankan cinema. She has starred in films like Duhulu Malak and Pavuru Walalu.[1]

Biography

Early life

Nita Fernando was the eldest of four children. She studied at Holy Family Convent Wennappuwa.

Personal life

Fernando gave up acting after her marriage to lawyer Elian Perera in 1975 and moved to Canada, where she worked as a receptionist at the Montreal General Hospital.

Career

Nita Fernando made her screen debut in Landaka Mahima alongside Joe Abeywickrama in 1965. Over the next eight years, she made over 40 films, e.g., Duhulu Malak, Lasanda, Hadawath Neththo, Mangala, Wasana, and Shanthi.[2]

Fernando obtained her first film role in Gamini Fonseka's Parasathu Mal. She was unable to appear in the film, however, because her parents didn't approve. Discouraged, she toyed with the idea of becoming a teacher before she returned to acting after finishing school. Her interest in film was supported by her uncle.[2]

In 1983, she briefly returned to film, producing and starring in Sooriyakantha. She kept a low profile subsequently until 1998, when she played Violet in the Prasanna Vithanage film Pavuru Walalu.[3]

The role won her international acclaim, netting her a Best Actress Award at the 1998 International Singapore Film Festival.[4] the Vishwa Kirthie award, the Presidential Award, the Critics Award in 1999, and the OCIC Award for Best Actress in 2000 in Sri Lanka.[3][5][6][7]

In 2020, she won the Best Actress award at the 2019 Nice International Film Festival in France.[8]

Filmography

Key
† Denotes films that have not yet been released
Year Film Role Ref.
1965 Landaka Mahima Latha
1965 Sathutai Kandului
1966 Layata Laya
1968 Ruhunu Kumari
1969 Pickpocket Menika
1969 Hari Maga Daya
1969 Mee Masso
1970 Geetha Champa
1971 Ran Onchilla [9]
1971 Kesara Sinhayo Shyama
1971 Bindunu Hadawath
1971 Samanala Kumariyo
1972 Sujeewa Suramya [10]
1973 Matara Achchi Kanthi
1973 Sunethra Samanthi
1974 Hadawath Naththo
1974 Shanthi
1974 Duppathage Hithawatha Doctor Rupa [11]
1974 Lasanda Lasanda
1974 Wasthuwa
1974 Sagarika
1975 Hitha Honda Minihek Film actress
1975 Raththaran Amma Charitha's girlfriend
1975 Kaliyudga Kale
1975 Kohoma Kiyannada Sheela
1975 Cyril Malli
1975 Lassana Kella Chitra
1975 Kokilayo
1975 Rajagedara Paraviyo
1975 Jeewana Geethaya
1976 Wasana Sudam's sister
1976 Duhulu Malak Nilupa Suraweera
1976 Asha
1976 Haaratha Hathara
1976 Hariyata Hari Kusuma
1976 Onna Mame Kella Panapi
1976 Deviyange Theenduwa Shanthi Ranatunga
1976 Mangala
1977 Hithuwakkarayo
1979 Visihathara Peya Sumana
1981 Sooriyakantha Soba
1997 Pavuru Valalu Violet
2000 Saroja Varuni's mother
2003 Bheeshanaye Athuru Kathawak Mrs. Somadasa
2006 Samaara
2007 Nisala Gira Radha
2010 Bambara Walalla Podi Eka's mother
2014 Rassa Kale
2014 Que Sera
2014 Thanha Rathi Ranga Chandare's mother
2014 Swaroopa
2014 Parapura Kanthi
2016 Paththini Chithrapathi
2016 Sakkarang
2017 Kaala Henchman's mother
2020 Paangshu Babanona
2022 Praana Nun [12]
2023 Swara
2024 Kambili Lalitha Amma
TBA Theja † [13]
TBA Magam Soli † [14]

Awards

  • Vishwa Kirthie Award - Sri Lanka Government
  • Kala Suri Award- Sri Lanka Government
  • 1998 - Best Actress - International Singapore Film Festival
  • 2018 - Sumathi Life time Award
  • 2020 - Best Actress Nice Film Festival France
  • 2020 - Best Actress - Indus Valley International Awards
  • 2019 - Life time Achievement Award 19th Presidential Awards
  • 2019 - Best Actress - 20th Presidential Awards
  • 2019 - Best Actress - 35th Sarasaviya Awards

References

  1. ^ "I learnt many more from all directors". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Unfading Star of the Silver Screen". Daily News. 2006. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2007.
  3. ^ a b "Nita's achievements on the Net". Sunday Times. 2001. Retrieved 19 May 2007.
  4. ^ "Sri Lankan stars shined at international level". Sarasaviya. Archived from the original on 21 November 2017. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  5. ^ "Nita Fernando : Returns to cinema after a sojourn". Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka). 7 October 2007. Archived from the original on 21 August 2010. Retrieved 14 February 2008.
  6. ^ "Boost for Sinhala cinema". The Sunday Times(Sri Lanka). 7 June 1998. ISSN 1391-0531.
  7. ^ "Stars in jail shocker as Nisala Gira takes to the screen". Daily News(Sri Lanka). 5 September 2007.
  8. ^ "Our mother also had the experience of Babanona". Sarasaviya. 29 August 2020.
  9. ^ "All about Ran Onchilla". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  10. ^ "All about Sujeewa". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  11. ^ "All about Duppathage Hithawatha". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  12. ^ "Praana comes in early August". සරසවිය. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  13. ^ "තේජා පූර්ව ප්‍රචාරය අරඹයි". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  14. ^ "සසර මඟ දිගු කළ මාගම්සෝලි". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 20 January 2024.