Veena Jayakody
වීණා ජයකොඩි
Scene of Bahuchithawadiya Film
Born
Virginia Sandhya Peiris

(1952-11-27) November 27, 1952 (age 71)
Sri Lanka
NationalitySri Lankan
EducationHoly Family Convent, Bambalapitiya
Occupation(s)Actress, Dramatist
Years active1968–present
Children3
ParentRohini Jayakody (mother)
AwardsBest Actress

Virginia Sandhya Peiris (born 27 November 1952 as වීණා ජයකොඩි) [Sinhala]), better known as Veena Jayakody, is an actress in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television.[1][2] Jayakody started as a child artist and has played critically acclaimed roles in films Sagarayak Meda, Ra Manamali and Sarungalaya.

Personal life

Veena Jayakodi was born on 27 November 1952. Her mother, Rohini Jayakody, was a popular actress and a film director.[3] She studied as Holy Family Convent, Bambalapitiya.[4]

Veena has three children – one daughter and two sons. Eldest daughter is Anjana, eldest son is Chandu and youngest son is Sanjay. Anjana is married to Srini and they have two children – Waishya and Kaushik. Chandu is married to Melonie and the couple has three children – Jason, Tharaa and Joshua.

Acting career

Jayakody started her film career with Ahankara Sthree back in 1954, directed by A. B. Raj as a 5-month-old child with her mother.[3] At the age of 12, Jayakody acted in 1968 film Hangi Hora directed by her mother Rohini Jayakody, where she acted as a dancer. At the age of 14, she acted in a Vesak drama Kohomada Wade.[3] In the meantime, she studied dance under Pramila Kuruppu, Daya Nellampitiya and Rudrani Liyanage. Later she learned Kathakali dance from Sirimathi Rasadari. When she was a child, she acted as the daughter in the Vijaya Kuveni stage drama when her mother was 'Kuveni'. At school, she also played the role of 'Kisa' in the play 'Kundala Keshi'.[4]

The she played the role of 'Gunapali' in the stage play Sivamma Dhanapala. After the tragic death of lead actress Rukmani Devi, Venna got the role of 'Sivamma'. After that she acted in plays such as Siripala Saha Ran Menika and Dwithwa. Later she won an award for the play Uruvisi. But in time and on long journeys, she had to retired from the stage when she got sick because of the lack of facilities.[4]

Then she moved to television serials, started with the serial Aththa Bidei directed by Henry Jayasena. She later made a popular role 'Sudharma' in the critically acclaimed serial Doo Daruwo.[4]

Notable teledramas

Filmography

Year Film Role Ref.
1954 Ahankara Sthree Child Sukumal
1968 Hangi Hora Dancer
1969 Kohomada Wade
1978 Deepanjali
1978 Apsara
1979 Geheniyak Rupa
1979 Minisun Athara Minisek Vajira
1979 Chuda Manikya Sheryn Kodikara
1979 Sarungale Susheela [27]
1979 Muwan Palessa Kekuli
1980 Miyurige Kathawa Miyuri
1981 Thawalama Khema
1981 Sagarayak Meda Deepa Moladanda
1981 Bandura Mal Uma
1982 Re Manamali Asha
1982 Miss Mallika
1984 Shirani
1987 Sathyagrahanaya Ramani [28]
1988 Gedara Budun Amma Samanthi's mother
1991 Sihina Ahase Wasanthaya
1991 Keli Madala Samara Tennekoon
1991 Suwandena Suwandak
1992 Sisila Gini Gani Kumari Makalanda [29]
1992 Kulageya Ramya
1993 Yasasa
1993 Till Death Do Us Part
1993 Sargent Nallathambi Juliana 'Julie'
1993 Surabidena Saama [30]
1994 Nohadan Landune
1994 Pawana Ralu Viya
1994 Aragalaya Tamil dancer
1995 Maruthaya Geetha Wickramaratne
1996 Soora Daruwo
1996 Anantha Rathriya Loku Amma [31]
1996 Loku Duwa [32]
1997 Mother Teresa: In the Name of God's Poor Charu Ma
1997 Vijayagrahanaya
1997 Sudu Akka
1997 Savithrige Rathriya
1998 Vimukthi
1998 Dorakada Marawa Priyantha's mother
1999 Salupata Ahasata 1 Prema [33][34]
1999 Sura Yahana [35]
1999 Theertha Yathra Grace Sooriyabandara [36]
2000 Salupata Ahasata 2 Prema [37]
2001 Kinihiriya Mal Brothel receptionist [38]
2001 Kalu Sudu Mal Pushpa
2002 Rosa Patikki
2002 Surapurata Kanyaviyak [39]
2003 Madre Teresa Municipal Inspector Aoura
2005 Asani Warsha Granny
2006 Nilambare
2007 Sikuru Hathe OIC's wife
2008 Ai Oba Thaniwela
2009 Juliya Mrs. Lewke Bandara [40]
2009 Alimankada Kamala's Mother [41]
2010 Ira Handa Yata
2011 Gamani Dead rebel's mother
2011 Dheewari
2011 Putha Mage Sooraya
2012 A Common Man Vegetable vendor
2012 Kusa Pabha Queen Seelawathi
2012 Wassane Senehasa Pradeep's mother
2012 Kurumittek Awilla [42]
2012 Sihinaya Dige Enna Shanthi "Sakunthala" de Silva
2012 Prathiroo Parwathi
2013 Peeter One Elizabeth Briganza
2015 Bora Diya Pokuna Doreen
2016 Motor Bicycle Rangana's Mother
2016 Weerawarna Suriyasingha's mother
2018 Eka Dawasaka Api Vimukthi's mother
2019 Sangile Punchi malli's wife
2020 Suparna Suparna's mother
2020 Sheleena
TBD Kandak Sema
TBD Monara Vilak [43]
TBD Guththila [44]
TBD Bahuchithawadiya Iranganie
TBD Minnu [45]

Awards and accolades

She has won several awards at the local film festivals and television festivals.[2]

Presidential Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1982 Ra Manamali Best Actress Won

References

  1. ^ "Veena Jayakody bio". Rate your music. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Sri Lankan actresses – Veena Jayakody". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  3. ^ a b c "First lover was Gamini Fonseka". Hiru FM. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  4. ^ a b c d "No cheating in cinema". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2020-12-22.
  5. ^ "'Ahanna Kenek Na' by Sunil Costa". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  6. ^ "Amarapuraya: A rare visual treat". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  7. ^ "Aragalaya". christysf. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  8. ^ "16 short stories on mini screen". Sunday Times. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  9. ^ "Bhawana". Torana Video. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  10. ^ "Erosion of traditional values in a typical Sri Lankan milieu". The Island. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  11. ^ "'Eth Kanda Lihini': Return of the aristocrats". Sunday Times. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  12. ^ "'Ganga Addara' released". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  13. ^ "Tale of a tea estate". Sunday Times. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  14. ^ "Hirusanda Maima : Sinhala Tamil love tale". Sunday Times. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  15. ^ "Treble teledrama treat from Swarnavahini". Sunday Times. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  16. ^ "'Laabai Apple' underway". Sunday Times. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  17. ^ "Kele Handa comes to television". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  18. ^ "'Oba Mageya' : a tale of crime and punishment". Sunday Times. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  19. ^ "'Nadeeladiya': Tale of revenge". Sunday Times. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  20. ^ "Ruwata Ruwa is the tale of a look alike". Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  21. ^ "Sins of father visits on son". Sunday Times. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  22. ^ "Story of 'Sanda Mudunata'". Sunday Times. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  23. ^ "සසඳරා පුංචි තිරයට පායයි". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  24. ^ "Sihina Kumari becomes a reality". Daily News. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  25. ^ "'Sudu Kapuru Pethi' : Another tale of war". Sunday Times. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  26. ^ "Roshan unfurls a rain of pearls". Daily News. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  27. ^ "All about Sarungale". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  28. ^ "All about Sathyagrahanaya". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  29. ^ "Fire on Ice 1991 'Sisila Gini Gani'". Letterboxd Limited. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  30. ^ "සිතූ පැතූ සම්පත් දුන් සුරබි දෙන‍". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  31. ^ ""Anantha Rathriya" – a study of a man's conscience". The Island. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  32. ^ "Loku Duwa appears on Rupavahini". Sunday Times. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  33. ^ "Ban lifted on 'Salupata Ahasata'". Sunday Times. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  34. ^ "'Salupota Ahasata': a rare theme". Sunday Times. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  35. ^ "Two women in fatal attraction". Sunday Times. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  36. ^ "'Theertha yatra' goes in search of family roots". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  37. ^ "Life of a 'comfort woman' on screen". Sunday Times. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  38. ^ "Kinihiriya Mal – කිනිහිරියා මල්". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  39. ^ "'Surapurata Kanyaviyak': Mario's new film". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  40. ^ "Enter Julia". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  41. ^ "'Alimankada' journey of arch-rivals". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  42. ^ "Junaideen journeys for a united cinema". Sunday Times. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  43. ^ "Malini with Sanath after 14 years". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  44. ^ "Tale of Guththila becomes a cinema". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
  45. ^ "තුන්පත් රෑනක සොඳුරු අනන්තය "මින්නු"". www.sundaytimes.lk.
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