Geetha Kumarasinghe
Encyclopedia
Geetha Samanmali Kumarasinghe (born July 5, 1955, in Badulla
) is an award winning Sri Lankan film
actress. She made her debut with veteran director K.A.W. Perera's Wasana in 1975
but it was Neil Rupasinghe
's Lassana Kella which was released first. Since then, she has made her mark in over 80 movies, winning the prestigious Sarasaviya Best Actress Award
four times, in 1991, 1996, 2000 and 2004. She was also one of the few actresses to receive the Sarasaviya Most Popular Actress Award
several times.
. She grew up in Bentara, Elpitiya
and had her education at Sanghamitta Girls College
, Aluthgama
and Holy Family Convent, Kalutara
.
As a child, she showed talent for singing and dancing. She was crowned a beauty Queen, competing among 100 contestants in a beauty contest organized by a local newspaper in 1973.
She signed contracts for 21 films before her maiden film was released, a record in Sri Lankan Cinema.
It was in the year 1975 that Geetha debuted in K.A.W. Perera's Vasana but it was Neil Rupasinghe's Lassana Kella which reached theaters first.
Kumarasinghe, who is often famous for casting in controversial roles, has also performed in foreign films which include Pakistani
, Hindi, Japanese, Tamil
and French productions.
She received critical acclaim in roles such as 'Dulcie' in Pembara Madhu, 'Dotty' in Palama Yata, 'Punna' in Lokuduwa and 'Amali' in Ran Diya Dahara. Her performance in Palama Yata (Under the Bridge) where she plays the role of a woman in the slums earned raving reviews both in Sri Lanka and overseas.
She produced popular films like Palama Yata, Salambak Handai, Loku Duwa, Anuragaye Ananthaya, Wasuli and Geetha. Both of her productions, Palama Yata and Loku Duwa won her the Best Film Awards
at the Sarasaviya Awards Festival
.
Badulla
Badulla , is the capital of Uva Province, Sri Lanka. Badulla is located 60 km southeast of Kandy, almost encircled by the Badulu Oya River, about 680 metres above sea level and is surrounded by picturesque hills and mountains, most of which have tea plantations.-Geography:It is located on the...
) is an award winning Sri Lankan film
Cinema of Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan cinema encompasses the films made in Sri Lanka. It is a fledgling industry that has struggled to find a footing since its inauguration in 1947 with Kadawunu Poronduwa produced by S.M.Nayagam of Chitra Kala Movietone.Sri Lankan films are usually made in the Sinhalese language, the...
actress. She made her debut with veteran director K.A.W. Perera's Wasana in 1975
1975 in film
The year 1975 in film involved some significant events, with Steven Spielberg's thriller Jaws topping the box office.-Events:*March 26 - The film version of The Who's Tommy premieres in London....
but it was Neil Rupasinghe
Neil Rupasinghe
Don Jayawickramage Neil Rupasinghe is a Sri Lankan politician, a former member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka and a former government minister.-References:...
's Lassana Kella which was released first. Since then, she has made her mark in over 80 movies, winning the prestigious Sarasaviya Best Actress Award
Sarasaviya Best Actress Award
The Sarasaviya Best Actress Award is presented annually by the weekly Sarasaviya newspaper in collaboration with the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited at the Sarasaviya Awards Festival.The award was first given in 1964...
four times, in 1991, 1996, 2000 and 2004. She was also one of the few actresses to receive the Sarasaviya Most Popular Actress Award
Sarasaviya Most Popular Actress Award
The Sarasaviya Most Popular Actress Award is presented annually by the weekly Sarasaviya newspaper in collaboration with the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited at the Sarasaviya Awards Festival. This award is decided solely on popular vote and is chosen based on the verdict given by the...
several times.
Early life
Geetha Samanmalie Kumarasinghe was born as the eldest daughter of Wijaya, a journalist and Udula Kumarasinghe in 1955 at BadullaBadulla
Badulla , is the capital of Uva Province, Sri Lanka. Badulla is located 60 km southeast of Kandy, almost encircled by the Badulu Oya River, about 680 metres above sea level and is surrounded by picturesque hills and mountains, most of which have tea plantations.-Geography:It is located on the...
. She grew up in Bentara, Elpitiya
Elpitiya
Elpitiya is a municipality located in Galle District, Southern Province of Sri Lanka.Elpitiya is easily accessible from the Colombo - Galle main road and is about from Ambalangoda. Also there are 3 other access roads from the Colombo - Galle main road at Bentota, Kosgoda and Ahungalla. Elpitiya is...
and had her education at Sanghamitta Girls College
Sanghamitta Girls College
Sanghamitta Girls College is a Buddhist girls school in Galle, Sri Lanka. It is a national school, which provides primary and secondary education. The school was established in 1919, as the first Buddhist Girls School in Southern province of Sri Lanka. Hon...
, Aluthgama
Aluthgama
Aluthgama is a coastal town in the Western Province of Sri Lanka...
and Holy Family Convent, Kalutara
Kalutara
Kalutara is a resort town located approximately 40 km south of Colombo in Sri Lanka.- Overview :Once an important spice-trading center, the city's name is derived from the Kalu Ganga River . In the 11th Century, the town was temporarily made a capital on the orders of a South Indian Prince...
.
As a child, she showed talent for singing and dancing. She was crowned a beauty Queen, competing among 100 contestants in a beauty contest organized by a local newspaper in 1973.
Career
Though Geetha’s father did not approve of a career in movies or her participation in the beauty pageant, her mother was always with her. Her aunt, Anula Wickramapala was also a friend of Sir. Lester James Peiris . Incidentally, it was her aunts mansion that he used as the location for his film Ransalu. Little Geetha, who used to spend her school vacations in her aunt’s house in Kollupitiya would imitate Punya Heendeniya, as her childhood heroine.She signed contracts for 21 films before her maiden film was released, a record in Sri Lankan Cinema.
It was in the year 1975 that Geetha debuted in K.A.W. Perera's Vasana but it was Neil Rupasinghe's Lassana Kella which reached theaters first.
Kumarasinghe, who is often famous for casting in controversial roles, has also performed in foreign films which include Pakistani
Cinema of Pakistan
The cinema of Pakistan refers to Pakistan's film industry. Most of the feature films shot in Pakistan are in Urdu language but may also include films in English, Punjabi, Pashto, Balochi or Sindhi languages....
, Hindi, Japanese, Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
and French productions.
She received critical acclaim in roles such as 'Dulcie' in Pembara Madhu, 'Dotty' in Palama Yata, 'Punna' in Lokuduwa and 'Amali' in Ran Diya Dahara. Her performance in Palama Yata (Under the Bridge) where she plays the role of a woman in the slums earned raving reviews both in Sri Lanka and overseas.
She produced popular films like Palama Yata, Salambak Handai, Loku Duwa, Anuragaye Ananthaya, Wasuli and Geetha. Both of her productions, Palama Yata and Loku Duwa won her the Best Film Awards
Sarasaviya Best Film Award
The Sarasaviya Best Film Award is presented annually in Sri Lanka by the weekly Sarasaviya newspaper in collaboration with the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited at the Sarasaviya Awards Festival for the best Sri Lankan movie of the year....
at the Sarasaviya Awards Festival
Sarasaviya Awards
Sarasaviya Awards are the most prestigious awards presented to distinguished individuals involved with the Sinhala cinema, each year by the Sarasaviya weekly newspaper in collaboration with the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited , Sri Lanka in recognition of the contributions made by them to...
.
Awards
| Year | Organization | Award | Film |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | National Film Festival | Best Supporting Actress | |
| 1988 | National Film Festival | Best Supporting Actress | |
| 1990 | OCIC Merit Awards | Palama Yata | |
| 1990 | Sarasaviya Awards Sarasaviya Awards Sarasaviya Awards are the most prestigious awards presented to distinguished individuals involved with the Sinhala cinema, each year by the Sarasaviya weekly newspaper in collaboration with the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited , Sri Lanka in recognition of the contributions made by them to... Festival |
Best Actress | Palama Yata |
| 1990 | Sarasaviya Awards Sarasaviya Awards Sarasaviya Awards are the most prestigious awards presented to distinguished individuals involved with the Sinhala cinema, each year by the Sarasaviya weekly newspaper in collaboration with the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited , Sri Lanka in recognition of the contributions made by them to... Festival |
Most Popular Actress | |
| 1990 | Swarna Sanka Film festival | Best Actress | Palama Yata |
| 1996 | Sarasaviya Awards Sarasaviya Awards Sarasaviya Awards are the most prestigious awards presented to distinguished individuals involved with the Sinhala cinema, each year by the Sarasaviya weekly newspaper in collaboration with the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited , Sri Lanka in recognition of the contributions made by them to... Festival |
Best Actress | Loku Duwa |
| 1996 | Swarna Sanka Film festival | Best Actress | Loku Duwa |
| 1997 | National Film Festival | Best Actress | Loku Duwa |
| 2000 | National film festival | Talented Performance | Anuragaye Ananthaya |
| 2000 | Sarasaviya Awards Sarasaviya Awards Sarasaviya Awards are the most prestigious awards presented to distinguished individuals involved with the Sinhala cinema, each year by the Sarasaviya weekly newspaper in collaboration with the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited , Sri Lanka in recognition of the contributions made by them to... festival |
Best Actress | Rajya Sevaya Pinisai |
| 2000 | National Film Festival | Best Actress | Rajya Sevaya Pinisai |
| 2004 | Sarasaviya Awards Sarasaviya Awards Sarasaviya Awards are the most prestigious awards presented to distinguished individuals involved with the Sinhala cinema, each year by the Sarasaviya weekly newspaper in collaboration with the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited , Sri Lanka in recognition of the contributions made by them to... Festival |
Best Actress | Ran Diya Dahara |
| 2005 | Signis Salutation | Most Outstanding Performance | Ran Diya dahara |
| 2005 | National Film Festival | Best Actress | Ran Diya Dahara |