Shanthi Lekha

Shanthi Lekha
Born
Rita Irene Koys

(1929-07-01)July 1, 1929
Kalutara Sri Lanka
DiedJune 11, 2009(2009-06-11) (aged 79)
Monte Carlo Monaco
NationalitySri Lankan
Known forFilm Actress
SpouseShanthi Viraj

Rita Irene Koys (July 1, 1929 – May 11, 2009),[1] better known as Shanthi Lekha, was a Sri Lankan Film actress. She played the role of mother in more films than any other actress in Sinhala cinema.

Personal life

Lekha was born in Kalutara on July 1, 1929. She received her stage name from her first husband Shanthi Viraj. They had first met while she was attending Holy Family Convent in Kalutara.

She died in France May 11, 2009.[2]

Career

She starred in composer D. T. Fernando's play Shantha Prabha (1942). She subsequently made a mark as a dancer in plays starring Dommie Jayawardena and Nona Subeda.[3]

With Jayawardena, Lekha had her first film role in Sujatha (1953). Wearing a bathing suit, she danced along with Jayawardena to the song "Pem Rella Nagi." The role came with a payment of Rs. 500 and a contract prohibiting her from doing films for other production companies. The producer K. Gunaratnam would subsequently offer her roles in Warada Kageda, Radala Piliruwa and Dosthara.[3]

Lekha first played a mother in Sandesaya (1960). She would play this role in over 350 films.[3]

Lekha won Best Supporting Actress Awards at the Sarasaviya Film Festival for Gamini Fonseka's Parasathu Mal (1968) and Mudalinayaka Somaratne's Binaramali (1969). She also won Presidential Awards for Mayurige Kathawa and Ridi Nimnaya.[3]

Filmography

Year Film Role Ref.
1953 Sujatha Prema
1954 Warada Kageda Rupa
1954 Radala Piliruwa Laviniya
1956 Dosthara Rita [4]
1957 Jeewitha Satana
1958 Salli Malli Salli
1960 Sandesaya Executed man's wife
1963 Gamperaliya Hamine [5]
1964 Suba Sarana Sepa Sithe
1965 Sepatha Soya Accomplice Rathna
1965 Allapu Gedara Sepalika's mother
1966 Seethala Wathura
1966 Delovak Athara Accident victim's mother
1966 Parasathu Mal Kamala's mother [6]
1966 Oba Dutu Da
1966 Senasili Suwaya Wimal's mother
1967 Ran Salu Sarojini's mother
1967 Saru Bima
1967 Vasanthi
1967 Ipadune Ai
1967 Rena Giraw Dissa's mother [7]
1967 Sura Chauraya
1968 Pini Bindu
1968 Dehadaka Duka Gamini's mother
1968 Ataweni Pudumaya
1969 Narilatha Jean [8]
1969 Kawuda Hari Rita's mother
1969 Binaramalee Kiri Amma [9]
1969 Uthum Sthriya
1970 Athma Pooja
1970 Thevetha
1970 Penawa Neda
1970 Akkara Paha Sena's mother [10]
1970 Tun Man Handiya Sirisena's mother
1971 Poojithayo Mrs. Batuwantalawa
1971 Devena Pipasa
1971 Seeye Nottuwa
1971 Samanala Kumariyo
1971 Sahanaya [11]
1972 Nidhanaya Irene's mother [12]
1972 Edath Suraya Adath Suraya Alice
1972 Hithaka Pipunu Mal
1973 Aparadaya Saha Danduwama
1973 Thushara Sampath's mother [13]
1973 Hondama Welawa
1973 Hondata Hondai Violet
1974 Ahas Gauwa Vijay's mother
1974 Hadawath Naththo
1974 Onna Babo Billo Enawa
1974 Senakeliya
1974 Duppathage Hithawatha Kanthi [14]
1974 Lasanda Samadara
1975 Hitha Honda Minihek Jothi's mother
1975 Obai Mamai Suminda's mother
1975 Kohoma Kiyannada Sheela's mother
1975 Amaraneeya Adare
1975 Lassana Kella
1975 Kokilayo
1975 Sikuruliya Namali's mother [15]
1975 Lassana Dawasak Priyanthi's mother
1975 Sangeetha Sangeetha's mother [16]
1976 Nayana
1976 Kawuda Raja Manu's mother [17]
1976 Ganga
1976 Madol Duwa Annie Perera [18]
1976 Walmathwuwo Cyril's mother
1976 Kolamba Sanniya Andare's sister
1976 Asha
1976 Hariyata Hari Agnes
1976 Onna Mame Kella Penapi
1976 Saradielge Putha Upasaka Amma
1976 Adarei Man Adarei
1976 Ran Thilaka
1977 Neela
1977 Sakunthala
1977 Sudu Paraviyo Kumari's mother
1977 Hithuwoth Hithuwamai Sumali's mother [19]
1977 Pembara Madhu
1977 Deviyani Oba Kohida Aginda [20]
1977 Chin Chin Nona [21]
1977 Siripala Saha Ranmenika [22]
1977 Rahas Kumanthranaya
1977 Chandi Putha Shanthi [23]
1977 Yakdaya Somey's mother [24]
1977 Eya Dan Loku Minihek Susila's mother
1977 Aege Adara Kathawa Ruvini's mother
1978 Vishmaya Janaka's mother
1978 Hitha Mithura Celestina
1978 Sithaka Suwanda Rita Samson
1978 Mage Ran Putha
1978 Tikira Daisy Samarasekara
1978 Sally
1978 Sasara
1978 Ahasin Polawata
1979 Sarungale Susheela's mother [25]
1979 Amal Biso
1979 Ran Kurullo Rajesh's mother
1979 Sawudan Jema
1979 Visihathara Peya Sumana's mother
1980 Uthumaneni Mother [26]
1980 Ektam Ge Rosalin [27]
1980 Doctor Susantha
1980 Parithyagaya Seelawathie
1980 Sasaraka Pethum Jagath's mother
1980 Ganga Addara Mrs. Bunna
1980 Raja Dawasak
1980 Sankhapali Sanka's mother
1980 Api Dedena
1980 Miyurige Kathawa
1981 Thavalama Angatakka
1981 Ranga Vajira's mother
1981 Sayuru Thera Kathrina
1981 Vajira Nima's mother
1981 Sagarayak Meda Nurse Seneviratne
1981 Bandura Mal
1982 Re Manamali Landlord
1982 Sakvithi Suwaya Ado 'Akka'
1982 Sudu Ayya Ananda's aunt
1982 Ridee Nimnaya Millie 'Nona'
1982 Pradeepa
1982 Sithara
1982 Thakkita Tharikita
1982 Chathu Madhura Somawathie
1983 Yali Pipunu Malak
1983 Siwu Ranga Sena
1983 Chutte Kadajumma
1983 Athin Athata Nelum's mother [28]
1983 Thunhiri Mal
1983 Pasamithuro Gemunu's mother
1984 Mala Giravi Party well-wisher
1984 Kokila W. J. Nona
1984 Sasara Chethana
1984 Rana Derana
1984 Hithawathiya Mrs. Weerasinghe
1985 Puthuni Mata Samawenna
1985 Du Daruwo
1986 Yali Hamuwennai Prasanna's mother
1986 Devduwa
1986 Pooja
1987 Yugayen Yugayata
1987 Kele Kella Roshini's mother
1988 Ko Hathuro
1990 Jaya Kothanda
1991 Paaradisaya
1991 Salambak Handai
1998 Aeya Obata Barai Kumari's mother
1999 Surangana Yahana

References

  1. ^ "Sri Lanka, 5 - 11 - 2009: Renowned Sri Lankan actress Shanthi Lekha passes away". www.colombopage.com. Archived from the original on 2009-05-15.
  2. ^ Renowned Sri Lankan actress Shanthi Lekha passes away ColomboPage Retrieved on 2009-05-12
  3. ^ a b c d "Most popular screen mother". The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. 2004. Archived from the original on 2009-05-15. Retrieved 2008-05-01.
  4. ^ "Gunaratnam–Meyyappan–Dosthara". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  5. ^ "All about the blockbuster film "Gamperaliya"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  6. ^ "All about "Parasathu Mal"". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  7. ^ "All about "Rena Giraw"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  8. ^ "All about Narilatha". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  9. ^ "All about Binaramalee". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  10. ^ "All about the film "Akkara Paha"". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  11. ^ "All about Sahanaya". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  12. ^ "40 years for the greatest film ever produced in Sinhala cinema". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  13. ^ "All about the film "Thushara"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  14. ^ "All about Duppathage Hithawatha". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  15. ^ "He left me: Sikuruliya". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  16. ^ "All about Sangeetha". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  17. ^ "All about the film "Kawuda Raja"". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
  18. ^ "All about Madol Duwa". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  19. ^ "All about "Hithuwoth Hithuwamai"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  20. ^ "Deviyani Oba Koheda". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  21. ^ "Chin Chin Nona, who came before Tom Pachaya". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-03-05.
  22. ^ "Siripala and Ranmenika highlighted the poetic mind of the misguided man". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  23. ^ "All about Chandi Putha". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  24. ^ "All about Yakadaya". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  25. ^ "All about Sarungale". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  26. ^ "All about 'Uthumaneni'". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  27. ^ "We will alone in Ektam Ge". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  28. ^ "Full of stars and rings: Athin Athata". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-23.