Manike Attanayake

Manike Attanayake
මැණිකේ අත්තනායක
Born
Attanayake Mudiyanselage Podi Manike

(1947-08-23) August 23, 1947 (age 77)
Kandy, Sri Lanka
NationalitySri Lankan
EducationD. S. Senanayaka College, Kandy
Mahamaya Girls' College, Kandy
OccupationActress
Years active1976–present
SpouseRaja Attanayake
Children3

Kala Suri Attanayake Mudiyanselage Podi Manike (born August 23, 1947), popularly as Manike Attanayake (Sinhala: මැණිකේ අත්තනායක), is an actress in Sri Lankan cinema, theater and television.[1] She is best known for the role in television serial Palingu Manike.[2] In 1987, she was honored with "Kalasuri", becoming the youngest Sri Lankan to win that award.[3]

Personal life

Manike Attanayake was born on 23 August 1947 in Thalwatte, Kandy as the youngest of the family with five siblings. Her father, Wilson Attanayake was a renowned Sokeri actor in Kandy who worked at Cargills Company.[4] Her mother Ran Manike Attanayake was a housewife.[5] Attanayake completed education from Senkadagala Maha Vidyalaya, currently known as D. S. Senanayaka College, Kandy[6] and Mahamaya Girls' College, Kandy.[7] One of her elder sisters, Kumari Manike also acted in many stage dramas.[8]

She is married to retired police officer Raja Attanayake[5] and the couple has two sons and one daughter.[9]

Acting career

Attanayake joined with "Ranga Shilpa Shalika" at Lionel Wendt Art Centre to start stage drama acting.[10] She studied drama and theater under renowned dramatist Dhamma Jagoda, who converted her name into stage name "Manike Attanayake".[3] Her maiden stage drama acting came through Ediriweera Sarachchandra's Maname in 1976.[9] In 1979, Attanayake engaged as a singer in Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation with a versatile range of singing in Noorthi, Nadagam and Classical.[5]

Meanwhile, she started to act in many popular stage plays such as Sarachchandra's Sinhabahu, Lomahansa, Mahasara, Wessanthara, R.R. Samarakoon's Kelani Palama, W.B. Makuloluwa's Depano, Dayananda Gunawardena's Nari Bena, Dikthala Kalagola and Modara Mola.[3] In 1981, Attanayake won the award for Best Actor at State Drama Festival for the role "Paththini" in the play Mini Salamba.

She is one of the earliest pillars in Sri Lankan television history. She acted in many popular serials including Palingu Manike, Ella Langa Walawwa, Yashorawaya, Parana Tawuma, Nelli Gedara and Anu Nawayen Nawaya.[9][3]

Her maiden cinematic experience came through 1981 film Sudda directed by Rathnaweera De Silva. She generally acted in many supportive roles in cinema. Some of her popular films are Niliyakata Pem Kalemi, Seilama and Parliament Jokes.[11]

Selected television serials

  • Anu Nawayen Nawaya
  • Denuwara Manike [12]
  • Deweni Gamana [13]
  • Dikkasadaya [14]
  • Ella Langa Walawwa
  • Induwara
  • Kele Handa [15]
  • Mal Kekulak [16]
  • Mano Mandira
  • Medagedara [17]
  • Medi Sina
  • Nelli Gedara
  • Niyan Kurullo
  • Nomerena Minisun
  • Palingu Manike
  • Parana Tawuma
  • Piththala Konderuma [18]
  • Sandagalathenna
  • Sikuru Lanthe
  • Wasuda
  • Yashorawaya

Songs

  • Ethata Yami Piyabala
  • Hunuwataye Kathaya
  • Rathdare Siriya Paradana

Selected stage dramas

  • Depano
  • Deiyo Sakki [19]
  • Dikthala Kalagola [20]
  • Lomahansa
  • Kelani Palama
  • Mahasara
  • Manamalaya
  • Maname
  • Mini Salamba
  • Modara Mola
  • Nari Bena
  • Sinhabahu
  • Wessanthara

Filmography

Year Film Role Ref.
1981 Sudda
1982 Ridee Nimnaya Prabha
1983 Niliyakata Pem Kalemi Hamu's wife
1984 Birinda
1985 Rejina
1985 Du Daruwo
1987 Mangala Thegga Mekhala
1987 Viragaya Officer Hamine
1989 Okkoma Rajawaru
1989 Waradata Danduwam
1990 Pem Raja Dahana
1990 Wana Bambara
1991 Asai Bayai
1991 Esala Sanda
1993 Surabidena Midwife [21]
1993 Saptha Kanya Mrs. Silva [22]
1993 Nelum Saha Samanmalee
1994 Sujatha Singer
1994 Dhawala Pushpaya Matron
1995 Seilama Marcus' wife
1995 Deviyani Sathya Surakinna
1996 Soora Daruwo
1997 Duwata Mawaka Misa Manike Aththanayaka
2002 Parliament Jokes Manike
2002 Sathkampa Yasawathi
2003 Yakada Pihatu Loku Nena
2005 One Shot Rani
2008 Nil Diya Yahana Shanuka's mother
2012 Super Six Julo's mother [23]
2015 Lantin Singho
2015 Gindari Minister's wife

References

  1. ^ "Actresses in Sri Lankan cinema - Manike Attanayake". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  2. ^ "Seven Iconic Teledramas In Sri Lanka's Television History". Roar. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d "Chat with veteran actress Manike Attanayake". Lassana Jeewithe. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  4. ^ "When the hand was broken, Sokeri was stopped - Manike Attanayake". Saaravita. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  5. ^ a b c "Chat with Manike Attanayake". gossiplankalive1. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  6. ^ "Here are some of the things in school times". The Truth. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  7. ^ ""I will never quit" – An actress proud of her role". The Nation. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  8. ^ "My name, not mine". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  9. ^ a b c "Never thought to be an actress - Manike Attanayake". Saaravita. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  10. ^ "ඇද්ද මෙදිය කුස ඔබ වැනි නිරිඳුන්". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  11. ^ "Menike Attanayaka". IMDb. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  12. ^ "Denuwara Manike". paradisaya. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  13. ^ ""Deweni Gamana" of Mangala Thegga". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  14. ^ "Anora eager to reveal her secret". Daily News. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  15. ^ "Kele Handa comes to television". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  16. ^ "Mal Kakulak". lankaflix. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  17. ^ "Medagedara, a message to women". Sunday Times. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  18. ^ "Piththala Konderuma". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  19. ^ "Deiyo Sakki". Rangahala. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  20. ^ "Dikthala Kalagola". Rangahala. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  21. ^ "සිතූ පැතූ සම්පත් දුන් සුරබි දෙන‍". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  22. ^ "Unmada Wu Premadara: Saptha Kanya". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  23. ^ "Sixes on top!". Daily News. Retrieved 20 January 2020.