Anoja Weerasinghe
අනෝජා වීරසිංහ
Born
Paranapalliya Guruge Anoja Kanthi Siriwardena

(1955-01-21) January 21, 1955 (age 69)
Badulla, Sri Lanka
NationalitySri Lankan
EducationPrince of Wales College, Moratuwa
Occupation(s)Actress , writer
Years active1987–present
Children1

Paranapalliya Guruge Anoja Kanthi Siriwardena (Sinhala:අනොජා වීරසිංහ), popularly as Anoja Weerasinghe (born January 21, 1955), is an actress in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television.[1][2] One of the most respected film actresses in Sinhala cinema, Weerasinghe won the Golden Award at New Delhi Film Festival for her critics acclaimed movie Maldeniye Simion.[3]

Personal life

Main article: Sri Lanka cinema family

Born on 21 January 1955 near Badulla, as the seventh of the 12 siblings in the family which includes seven daughters and five sons. Her father was Jeldeen Siriwardena and mother was Wijayasinghe Arachchige Seelavathi. Anoja had older siblings: Shanthi, Sunethra, Asoka, Sunil and Maya Damayanthi. Anura, Shiyan, Lekha, Sandhya, Sudath are younger brothers and sisters.[4]

After few years, the family moved to Monaragala due to many political disputes. Her father was a theatre actor who performed in stage dramas such as Barrister Hamu and Hingana Kolla. Her first marriage was celebrated in 1979 and lasted only for twelve years, where she married again to a plantation owner in 1991.[5]

With the failure of her second marriage, she faced a number of challenges where she went to commit suicide seven times. Once she swallowed a bunch of sleeping pills due to stress and depression.[4]

Career

Meanwhile, when Anoja was in grade 9, she acted in the play Anduren Eliyata produced by Newton Gunaratne and Yoga Balasuriya of Mahanama College, Moneragala.[4] Weerasinghe first came to the screen with a minor role in Yasapalitha Nanayakkara's film Tak Tik Tuk. Her first main role came through role Surangi of Yasapalitha's film Monarathenna.[5] She appeared in the Australian film Island in 1989.[6]

In the film Maldeniye Simieon, she played dual roles, which became her turning point. For the roles, she won the Best Supporting Actress at the 11th New Delhi International Film Festival. Then she established herself in the 1980s in Sinhala cinema, made her mark in popular cinema with the film Obata Diwura Kiyannam. Her popular role in 1980s came through Araliya Mal, Channayi Kello Dennayi, Peraḷikārayō, Mamayi Rajā, Sināsenna Raththaran and Yukthiyaṭa Væḍa. She later won Best Actress award at Sarasaviya, Presidential, OCIC and Swarnasanka awards for her performances in artistic films such as Kelimadala, Gurugedara, Surabidena, Julietge Bhumikawa, Muhudu Lihini, Seilama, Siri Medura and Janelaya.[4]

Weerasinghe rose to popularity in cinema and acclaim after winning the Silver Peacock Award for the Best Actress at the New Delhi International Film Festival in 1987 for the film Maldeniye Simion, directed by Dr. D. B. Nihalsinghe and produced by Vijaya Ramanayake for Tharanga Films. This was the first time a Sri Lankan actress won a best actress award at an international film festival.[7] Thereafter she went on to LAMDA in London to further hone her skills and won further accolades, nationally and internationally. She has been honored with the Kohinoor Award by the Governor of Tamil Nadu, Government of Sri Lanka's Kala Suri national award, the Asian Film Center tribute to her in 1994, Munich International Film Festival retrospective of her films, and the state governments of Kerala and West Bengal retrospectives of her films are among the many accolades she has received.

Apart from Sinhala films, Anoja played a leading role in the Australian film Island directed by Paul Cox. She has also acted in Pakistani Urdu films like Raththathin Rath Thame, India-Sri Lanka co-production film Hum Se Na Takrana, Agar Tum Na Hote, Suraj Bhi Tamasha, Miss Lanka, Naadani, and Do Haath. After that, she studied music, acting and voice acting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (Lamda) in London. After return to Sri Lanka, she started the 'Advanced Performing Arts Institute' on the land belonging to the Bellanwila Rajamaha Vihara adjoining temple.[4]

Stage dramas

Awards

She is a recipient of many local, regional and international awards.[9]

Filmography

Year No. Film Role Ref.
1979 423 Monarathenna Suranji [11]
1980 440 Tak Tik Tuk
1980 465 Sinhabahu
1981 487 Amme Mata Samawenna Dulcy
1981 492 Dayabara Nilu
1981 493 Geethika Naalika
1981 499 Aradhana [12]
1981 504 Saaranga
1982 534 Kale Mal Pushpalatha
1983 548 Kaliyugaya
1983 560 Hasthi Viyaruwa
1983 562 Pasa Mithuro
1983 564 Menik Maliga
1983 571 Monarathenna 2
1984 574 Muhudu Lihini
1984 583 Niwan Dakna Jathi Dakwa
1984 584 Thaththai Puthai Anoja
1984 590 Hithawathiya
1984 601 Batti
1985 612 Mihidum Salu
1985 613 Mawubima Nathnam Maranaya
1985 616 Araliya Mal
1985 620 Channai Kello Dennai
1985 621 Aeya Waradida Oba Kiyanna
1985 624 Obata Diwura Kiyanna
1985 629 Varsity Kella
1985 608 Miss Lanka
1986 636 Mal Warusa Soma
1986 640 Peralikarayo
1986 643 Maldeniye Simion Jane / Somawathi [13]
1987 644 Devuduwa
1987 654 Hitha Honda Chandiya
1987 655 Janelaya Mrs. Weerasinghe
1987 656 Sathyagrahanaya [14]
1987 662 Kale Kella
1988 670 Ahinsa
1988 673 Chandingeth Chandiya
1988 682 Ko Hathuro
1988 681 Nawatha Api Ekwemu
1989 685 Mamai Raja Nisha
1989 689 Obata Rahasak Kiyannam
1989 692 Sinasenna Raththaran
1989 694 Randenigala Sinhaya
1989 696 Sirimadura
1990 700 Yukthiyata Wada
1990 702 Weera Udara
1990 707 Pem Raja Dahana Rekha Gajasinghe
1991 714 Hitha Honda Puthek
1991 721 Sihina Ahase Wasanthaya
1991 722 Kelimadala
1991 724 Hithata Dukak Nathi Miniha Yasawathi
1991 729 Asala Sanda
1991 732 Ran Hadawatha
1991 741 Ma Obe Hithawatha
1992 742 Ranabime Veeraya
1992 746 Rajadaruwo
1992 757 Me Ware Mage
1993 770 Guru Gedara
1993 772 Surabidena Soma [15]
1993 775 Wali Sulanga
1994 817 Shakthi
1995 822 Vijay Saha Ajay
1995 824 Seilama Siriya
1998 891 Aya Obata Barai
1998 902 Julietge Bhumikawa Anjali Senanayake
1999 921 Aduru Sewanali
2002 983 Thahanam Gaha Seetha [16]
2003 1001 Pura Sakmana Gunawathi
2003 1016 Yakada Pihatu Manuja
2014 1213 Thanha Rathi Ranga Wimal's Mother
1989 - The Island
2014 - Human Touch

References

  1. ^ "Healing wounded minds". Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka). 19 March 2006. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 24 February 2008.
  2. ^ "Drama group aids tsunami victim". BBC News. 11 August 2005.
  3. ^ "What good is hair to me when I have lost everything I loved: Veteran actress Anoja Weerasinghe". Sarasaviya. 9 August 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d e "The Iron Lady of Sinhala Cinema: Anoja Weerasinghe". Silumina. Retrieved 2021-06-05.
  5. ^ a b "Its 60 years to Anoja". Sarasaviya. 11 August 2016. Archived from the original on 21 January 2015. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  6. ^ "Lankan film stars shy away from poll campaign". Hindustan Times. 4 November 2006. Archived from the original on 31 May 2012.
  7. ^ "Sri Lankan stars shined at international level". Sarasaviya. Archived from the original on 21 November 2017. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  8. ^ "The Trojan Women". Sunday times. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  9. ^ "Anoja Weerasinghe awards". Sarasaviya. Archived from the original on 21 January 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  10. ^ "Sri Lankan Cinema History". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  11. ^ "All about Monarathanna". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  12. ^ "'Aradhana': A tale of love, separation and reconciliation". Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  13. ^ "'Maldeniye Simeon' back after 20 years". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  14. ^ "All about Sathyagrahanaya". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  15. ^ "සිතූ පැතූ සම්පත් දුන් සුරබි දෙන‍". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  16. ^ "'Thahanam Gaha': A film with a political flavour". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 November 2019.

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