Denawaka Hamine
Encyclopedia
Dona Meraya Denawaka was a Sri Lanka
n actress. "The grand old lady" was known for portraying elderly characters.
Hamine was born February 20, 1906 in Imbulgoda, Gampaha. She was by profession a school teacher until a chance encounter with G. D. L. Perera
when she accompanied a young actress to a theatrical audition, led to her winning the role of an elderly mother in Perera's play Kandulu. Due to her masterful performance in the role, Perera brought Hamine into his drama group Kala Pela; she would play in Kala Pela productions like Manamalayo, Sakkarawattang and Sama (as Nonnohamy) and was honored with a merit award at the 1964 Arts Council Drama Festival for her role in Totupola.
Hamine's debut film role was in the film adaption of Sama (1965) by Perera reprising the role she had popularized in the play. In Sath Samudura
(1968) she played the mother of two fishermen to much critical rave. She was presented a Best Character Actress Award for the role by a special government council. It was delivered on stage by the then Sri Lankan prime minister Dudley Senanayake
.
In the 1970s, Hamine had major roles in Tun Man Handiya, Desa Nisa
Kolomba Sanniya
and Matara Achchi. She continued to perform the elderly woman character. She played to Western audiences with a small role in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
as a weeping mother in 1984. In 1987, she was awarded the Kalasuri title.
Hamine did work in television with roles in teldramas like Kopi Kade
. In 1998 she received an honorary award for her contributions to Sinhala Cinema from the Sri Lankan president Chandrika Kumaratunga.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
n actress. "The grand old lady" was known for portraying elderly characters.
Hamine was born February 20, 1906 in Imbulgoda, Gampaha. She was by profession a school teacher until a chance encounter with G. D. L. Perera
G. D. L. Perera
G. D. L Perera is a Sri Lankan film director and dramatist.Perera's interest in drama began as a student at Prince College, Kotahena where he met arts patron Edwin Hewakapuge. He joined the Labour Department after finishing secondary schooling at Prince College and following the victory of S. W. R. D...
when she accompanied a young actress to a theatrical audition, led to her winning the role of an elderly mother in Perera's play Kandulu. Due to her masterful performance in the role, Perera brought Hamine into his drama group Kala Pela; she would play in Kala Pela productions like Manamalayo, Sakkarawattang and Sama (as Nonnohamy) and was honored with a merit award at the 1964 Arts Council Drama Festival for her role in Totupola.
Hamine's debut film role was in the film adaption of Sama (1965) by Perera reprising the role she had popularized in the play. In Sath Samudura
Sath Samudura
Sath Samudura is a landmark Sri Lankan film directed by professor Siri Gunasinghe and released in 1967. This film was critically acclaimed and is considered a major work in Sri Lankan cinema....
(1968) she played the mother of two fishermen to much critical rave. She was presented a Best Character Actress Award for the role by a special government council. It was delivered on stage by the then Sri Lankan prime minister Dudley Senanayake
Dudley Senanayake
Dudley Shelton Senanayake was a Ceylonese politician, who became the second Prime Minister of Ceylon and went on to become prime minister on 2 more times during the 1950s and 1960s.-Early life:Dudley was born on 19 June, 1911 as the eldest son to Molly Dunuwila and Don Stephen Senanayake, who...
.
In the 1970s, Hamine had major roles in Tun Man Handiya, Desa Nisa
Desa Nisa
Desa Nisa is a 1972 Sri Lankan drama film directed by Lester James Peries. The film stars Joe Abeywickrema as Nirukada, an ugly man who worries that his blind wife will leave him if she regains her sight....
Kolomba Sanniya
Kolomba Sanniya
Kolomba Sanniya is a 1976 Sinhalese language comedy film directed by Manik Sandrasagara that follows the lives of middle and upper class people in rural and urban Sri Lanka...
and Matara Achchi. She continued to perform the elderly woman character. She played to Western audiences with a small role in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is a 1984 American adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg. It is the second film in the Indiana Jones franchise and prequel to Raiders of the Lost Ark . After arriving in India, Indiana Jones is asked by a desperate village to find a mystical stone...
as a weeping mother in 1984. In 1987, she was awarded the Kalasuri title.
Hamine did work in television with roles in teldramas like Kopi Kade
Kopi Kade
Kopi Kade is a popular Sri Lankan comedy-drama television series broadcast on the Independent Television Network. More than 1000 episodes of the program have been produced as of 2006. It is telecast on Wednesdays and remains the most popular program at its time-slot according to Survey Research...
. In 1998 she received an honorary award for her contributions to Sinhala Cinema from the Sri Lankan president Chandrika Kumaratunga.