UNDISPUTED CELEBRATED QUEEN OF THE SILVER SCREEN GEETHA KUMARASINGHE FORFEITED LUCRATIVE PROFESSION TO BECOME POLITICIAN TO SERVE VILLAGE FOLKS – By Sunil Thenabadu
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Geetha Kumarasinghe, the celebrated professional actress and politician was born as Kumara Vidugalage Dona Geetha Samanmalee Kumarasinghe on July 5, 1955, is well-known to most Sri Lankans. Sinhalese films encompass a
When Geetha was very young according to her horoscope it had been predicted that she would be a popular actress.Hence it was haunting in her mind to watch a Sinhalese film. A neighbouring elder sister had secretly taken her to watch a film ‘’Sandeshaya at a cinema hall in neighbouring Aluthgama for the morning show.As she had gone without the permission from the parents she had been shivering. The main actress was “Kanthi Gunathunga’ from neighbouring Ambalagoda who had been elected to portray the role after she had been adjudicated as a winner of a beauty queen contest by which she had got this opportunity, Geetha had been attracted to her role and had thought would become an actress. When Geetha’s father got to know about her visit to the cinema he had been dumbfounded given a pleasant punishment to relate the story of the film in detail to the parents by kneeling down The impressive manner she related the story had prompted her parents also to go and watch the film ‘Sandeshaya’. Geetha’s father had said hereafter to see films she should go with mother.
She started her acting career in 1975. Her first film was ‘Wasana’, directed by K. A. W. Perera. However, the film Lassana Kella’ she acted in directed by Neil Rupasinghe was released earlier. Geetha Kumarasinghe is often called “the prettiest girl” in Sri Lankan cinema. She has acted in well over 80 movies. She has won many awards all awards an actress and film producer the Sarasaviya Best Actress Award four times and the Sarasaviya Most Popular Actress Award several times. Incidentally in one Sarasaviya awards ceremony she received four awards which is still a record in all award ceremonies in the annals of archives of the film history in Sri Lanka.How she entered to the cinema is interesting recollecting.. One professional photographer Daya Perera had taken an impressive photograph of her in cloth and blouse had published in a weekend popular English newspaper at a time when the technology was at low ebb prior to the emergence of the television era. This is how she became a sought-after actress for film producers and directors.
Geetha Kumarasinghe was born on July 5, 1955, a native of Hamburugala native village in Bentara, Sri Lanka. She was the eldest child in her family of eight siblings five younger sisters and two younger brothers. One sister is in USA one younger brother Upendra had died when young.All other sisters barring the one living in her vicinity now in Bentara.All are living around Colombo easily contactable as Geetha lived in Nawala then. Her father, Wijepala Kumarasinghe, a person related to art had even been a person who was involved in the production of Sri Lanka’s first Sinhala film “Kadawunu Poronduwa” in working on the script. He had joined worked in the Navy in Malaysia to serve and was also a journalist having excelled in his Sinhalese vernacular was very competent in drafting Buddhist articles. Had been appointed the editor of the Sinhala newspaper ‘Baudhaya’ newspaper had later served as a Principal. Her mother, Udulawathi Siriwardena, was a housewife who was guiding her in her acting career with utmost passion and eagerness. As the eldest sibling her mother had taught her to be the spearhead at her dwelling to control her siblings as a frontrunner. Father’s friend Amitha Abeysekera the famous cartoonist had been a follower and friend of Gamini Fonseka had gone to view the shooting of the film “Nayana’ where Malini Fonseka and Gamini Fonseka had portrayed characters. After Gamini had viewed Geetha’s photo in the ‘Dawasa ‘ newspaper had asked Amitha who is this girl?, When he had told is my close friend’s daughter could introduce to you. Then only father had been convinced, this is how his consent was approved and received his blessings though prior to it he was not in favour of Geetha taking to acting. Geetha had recollected she had signed to portray roles opposite ‘Cinema Sakwithi’ Gamini Fonseka in three films.
Geetha grew up in Bentara and Elpitiya area though born in the Badulla hospital as her mother was a native of village Wetabaddara in Kotmale. She was educated at Sangamitta Girl’s College in Aluthgama and later at the village school in Hamburugala Elpitiya, Thereafter in Elpitiya Ananda Balika Vidyalaya until she left school.When she was young Geetha too had attended the classes of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna as many students were forced to participate.When the government forces were searching these students Geetha’s mother been frightened had handed over to Inspector in Galle Police station named Chintha Ranasinghe for her safety when she was about to sit for her ordinary level, she had got selected for her first film.Geetha when young in year 1960 with father’s influence had been afforded the opportunity for her to garland the then Prime Minister Dudley Senanayake.she recollects the Prime Minister had bowed down and the pipe was detached to accept the garland from her. As her popularity grew Geetha was afforded the unique opportunity to appear in many commercials. She recollects once when she was named the LUX queen she had to travel in a open vehicle into the Bogambara grounds waving at thousands of onlookers. Indeed she was a real Queen with her amazing advent. In fact she was known by people from north to south of the country who could not identify even the country’s President.
She was a talented netball player during her school days. However, she had returned after film shooting had triumphed in the ordinary level with amazing results. But her advanced level studies had been hampered owing to her involvement in films though the parents insisted her to concentrate on higher studies to enter a university.,.
In year 1973, when she was just16 years old, Geetha won the ‘Avurudu Rupa Sundari’ beauty competition. It is revealed that she was forced to participate by her two cousins sans the knowledge of her father as he was very strict. The adjudicators had been famous personalities in the film industry, v.i.z.,Malini Fonseka, Sonia Dissanayake Yasapalitha Nanayakkara,Ronald Fernando etc. who had assured a film role to be bestowed to the winner which had motivated inspiring Geetha. Her mother was always with her during this time. Her aunt was friends with the famous director Lester James Peiris. Her aunt’s house was even used as a filming location for his movie ‘Ransalu’. As a child, Geetha was used to visit her aunt’s dwelling had pretended to be her favorite actress to be Punya Heendeniya. During the shooting Geetha was fortunate to see Tony Ranasinghe and many others, the cameraman Sumitta Amerasinghe. Geetha had never thought in her wildest dream that she would portray a cinematic role opposite Tony Ransinghe also work with cameraman Sumitta Amerasinghe at that moment .She recollects without closing her eyes she had focused entirely on the shooting routine process
Before her first film was even released, Geetha had signed contracts for around 20 movies. Geetha had portrayed roles in all types of films like dramatic, musical, action and romantic films had mostly acted opposite to top actors opposite Gamini Fonseka, Vijaya Kumaratunga, Ravindra Randeniya . Sanath Gunatilleke, Tissa Wijesurendra ,Shashi Wijendra and Ranjan Ramanayake This is a record in Sri Lankan cinema and any actress. Her first film, ’Wasana’ , was released in year 1975. However, the film “Lassana Kella” was screened in cinemas first.In this film Geetha has had to portray opposite Tissa Wijesundara.At a song sequence when Tissa approached her she had not responded as she was not competent in scenes like kissing. Neil Rupasinghe had blamed her, she had sorry had over portrayed the role, after saying to Neil sorry Sir.
Geetha Kumarasinghe has acted in many diverse roles. She has also appeared in films from other countries, including in Pakistani, Hindi, Japanese, Tamil, and French productions. In year1981, she had even acted alongside the celebrated Indian actor Sivaji Ganesan in the Tamil film ‘Mohana Punnaga directed by Sri Dharani..She was also directed by the Japanese director Kinoshito too which she recollects to be vastly privileged Also in a television interview Geetha revealed that she was invited to portray roles in Bollywood , though lucrative had not proceeded as she had to wear half nude attires shot in locations like jungles .She and her mother had not consented owing to these restraints which were not conducive at all.
In year1976, while filming ‘Podi Malli’, she was involved in a car accident. She has had to undergo plastic surgery on her face. Geetha recollected at a television dialog the role ‘Emonona’ in the film ‘Siribo Aiyya’ directed by Professor Sunil Ariyaratne was challenging as all others too where she had to portray a role of a young girl who grows to be an elderly woman to portray a tedious role where her character was drastically changed by the makeup artist. Also in a television dialog Geetha had recalled when KAW Perera was searching for a new actress for a new film her school friends had posted her photo playing Netball which too had fired was selected for the film ‘Wasana”.
Geetha has won many awards for her vivid portrayal. She received great praise for her acting in diverse roles. Some of her notable characters include ‘Dulcie’ in ‘Pembara Madhu’, ‘Dotty’ ‘ Palama Yata,’ ‘Punna’ ‘Lokuduwa’, and ‘Amali’ in’Ran Diya Dahara.’. Geetha was the heartthrob of the cinema for two or more decades by far was the most pursued and cherished after female actress.
Geetha had tied the nuptial knot in year 1980 after which she recollects she has received a huge expanse to her life mainly in the cinematic field . She was the lead actress and producer for the film ‘Palama Yata’, which was based on a novel. For this film, she won 10 awards at the 1991 Sarasaviya Awards ceremony ,won 9 awards at the Swarna Sanka Awards, and 7 at OCIC Awards, totaling 26 awards. She won both Best Actress and Best Producer for the second time . it need to be emphasized that no artiste had in the annals of the history of film awards had achieve this accomplishment. Producer for’Palama Yata’,which was a box office production. Geetha when she won two awards for best actor and best producer She had spoken in media dialogues that all these successors were achieved when technology was at low retreat, hence the accomplishments were more laudable, also as most films were in ‘black and white’. Geetha paid a huge tribute to the versatile director HD Premaratne for making “Palama Yata” based on a novel by Kulasena Fonseka was a resounding box office triumph for ‘Palama Yata’ At Regal theatre Geetha recalled having three houseful shows a day had run for over three months. In some cinema halls in the endeavor to enter the cinema hall the fans had broken gates of the respective theatres She recollects the money invested for this film and all other films she produced had been lavishly disbursed by her Swiss based millionaire husband. This film was also very fruitful, screened for 100 days continuously at the Regal Cinema. Geetha also represented Sri Lanka with this film at the 1990 Singapore International Film Festival. During the tenure of Geetha Kumarasinghe there were only a few overseas ‘Film Festivals. The film ‘Loku Duwa’ filmed in year 1991 was produced by Geetha Kumarasinghe’s millionaire Swiss husband was directed by Sumithra Peiris was also displayed the film in an overseas film festival. When the films produced reaped huge profits her Swiss millionaire husband wanted her to follow courses in UK on garment industry trade had invested on a “Denim Washing Plant and a thread factory which were successful ventures via which employment to many were found.
At many television dialogs Geetha had said acting was a tedious exercise had to toil very hard also had to aid in dubbing sometimes after the whole night been involved in dubbing had to next morning had to be ready for shooting. The process was very hazardous and tedious exercise unlike many think it was plain sailing.
As a film producer, with financial assistance from millionaire Swiss husband she produced a number of films ’Salambak Handai,’ ‘Loku Duwa’,’Anuragaye Ananthaya,’ Wasuli’, and ‘Geetha’ . Both ‘Palama Yata and ‘Loku Duwa’ won her the Best Film Awards at the Sarasaviya Awards Festivals. Geetha holds an unconquerable record of winning film awards uninterruptedly from year 1979 to year 2004.
Geetha Kumarasinghe became involved in politics sans any hereditary affiliations which is hitherto common occurrence as sons, daughters ,wife’s, nephews in laws come to politics after demise of father or husband predominantly to earn money under the pretext with family influences. When Geetha sought permission from her Swiss husband to enter politics he had said are you insane having known the mentality of politicians and politics as a whole in Sri Lanka in comparison to the politicians in other countries mainly in Switzerland and in the rest of the globe.The invitation had come from the then President Mahinda Rajapaksa which she had refused owing to objections from her Swiss husband. However as there was a desperate need to assist her Bentara Elpitiya destitute folk to support them in numerous ways she took up politics. Geetha’s sole intention was enormously contrary was solely to become a representative of the people to assist her destitute village folk in her native Bentara Elpitiya zone which her mother too had braced. There had been no female representative in politics in the entire Southern province for several decades. Geetha has had no intentions of earning a single cent but spent her own money lavishly for the people and election campaigns. Geetha had followed Mahinda Rajapakse regime in the year 2010 presidential elections. She ran for general elections in 2010 but was not successful. The reason was that nominations were given to two candidates from the same party, hence the preferential votes were split radically. In year 2014, she ran for the provincial council elections instantly became a counselor at the Southern Provincial Council from where her services to people begun.
She then contested the 2015 Parliamentary Election from the Galle District. Geetha Kumarasinghe had been the only female candidate from the SLPP for the entire southern province in about ten electorates. For about seven decades when she contested for the Bentara-Elpitiya seat there had been no female contestants given nominations. .She had triumphed navigating over many constraints like she been condemned and duped with false propaganda material . She was elected to the 15th Sri Lankan Parliament with a massive amount of preferential votes of 63,357 to be elected Member of Parliament for Galle District, which was incidentally the second most preferential votes polled in the entire district. She had assumed office on 20th August 2020 In April 2022 was appointed Minister of State for Cultural. and Performing Arts until 9th May 2022 under President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and Prime minister Dinesh Gunawardena, During her tenure as the Minister of State she brought legislation not to allow mothers to be employed in the Middle East unless children were five years completed. She also made suggestions to offer money and nutrition for expecting mothers before childbirth and after during they were feeding the babies. These were all most appropriate proposals she was contented in her fruitful endeavour.
On May 3, 2017, a Sri Lankan court ruled that she could not be a Member of Parliament. This was because she held citizenship in both Sri Lanka and Switzerland. Geetha recalls that after her marriage she automatically became a citizen of Switzerland. Sri Lanka’s constitution stipulates that a person cannot be elected to parliament if he or she possess dual citizenship which is contrary to the nineteenth amendment to the constitution She appealed to this decision, but the Supreme Court confirmed that she was ineligible was expelled from her parliamentary seat.Geetha blames those party stalwarts who submitted the nominations papers should have this clause, been ignorant of this clause cost her hard merited state minister post in the parliament In the process she had withdrawn her Switzerland citizenship but as the process was not a rapid process she could not prove she had withdrawn her Swiss status. Geetha married her film idol Chris Fuhrere Ferdinand a Swiss millionaire citizen in year 1980 later divorced him in year 2018 after four decades.
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Geetha Kumarasinghe’s first film was ‘Wasana’, but ‘’Lassana Kella’’ was released earlier in 1975. She stopped acting in films after the award-winning movie ‘Randiya Dahara’ to focus on her political career. However, after 10 years, she played a trivial role in ‘‘ Siri Daladagamanaya’’ in year 2014.Altogether Geetha had portrayed roles in well over eighty Sinhalese films alone.
|
Year
|
No.
|
Film
|
Role
|
|
1975
|
317
|
Lassana Kella
|
Geetha
|
|
1975
|
324
|
Damayanthi
|
|
|
1976
|
336
|
Wasana
|
Pushpa
|
|
1976
|
341
|
Kolomba Sanniya
|
Susila
|
|
1976
|
347
|
Asha
|
|
|
1976
|
351
|
Onna Mame Kella Panapi
|
|
|
1976
|
358
|
Ran Thilaka
|
|
|
1977
|
366
|
Niluka
|
|
|
1977
|
367
|
Pembara Madhu
|
|
|
1977
|
375
|
Chandi Putha
|
Geetha
|
|
1977
|
377
|
Aege Adara Kathawa
|
Kanthi
|
|
1977
|
378
|
Maruwa Samaga Wase
|
Menika
|
|
1978
|
408
|
Ahasin Polawata
|
|
|
1978
|
389
|
Seetha Devi
|
Goddess Ramba
|
|
1978
|
391
|
Maduwanthi
|
Maduwanthi
|
|
1978
|
396
|
Saara
|
Sara
|
|
1978
|
403
|
Deepanjali
|
|
|
1978
|
407
|
Apeksha
|
Menaka
|
|
1979
|
410
|
Samanmalee
|
Samanmali
|
|
1979
|
412
|
Minisum Athara Minisek
|
Indu
|
|
1979
|
414
|
Jeevana Kandulu
|
Geetha
|
|
1979
|
428
|
Akke Mata Awasara
|
Thanuja
|
|
1979
|
430
|
Sawdan Jema
|
Vinodani
|
|
1979
|
433
|
Podi Malli
|
Nalika
|
|
1980
|
449
|
Siribo Ayya
|
Emma Nona
|
|
1980
|
455
|
Ganga Addara
|
Miss de Soysa
|
|
1980
|
456
|
Karumakkarayo
|
J.A Somawathi
|
|
1980
|
466
|
Api Dedena
|
Himali
|
|
1981
|
Mohana Punnagai
|
Gawiri. Tamil film, acted with Sivaji Ganesan
|
|
|
1981
|
470
|
Kolamkarayo
|
Naticia
|
|
1981
|
473
|
Ranga
|
Sunali “Punchi Hamu”
|
|
1981
|
477
|
Walampuri
|
Rasamma
|
|
1981
|
494
|
Anjaana
|
Anjaana
|
|
1981
|
497
|
Sathara Diganthaya
|
|
|
1981
|
495
|
Hodama Naluwa
|
|
|
1982
|
506
|
Mahagedara
|
Kumari Malwinna
|
|
1982
|
526
|
Kiri Suwanda
|
Madani
|
|
1982
|
527
|
Sithara
|
|
|
1982
|
530
|
Thakkita Tharikita
|
|
|
1982
|
532
|
Major Sir
|
|
|
1983
|
550
|
Yali Pipunu Malak
|
|
|
1983
|
549
|
Siv Ranga Sena
|
Surangi
|
|
1983
|
573
|
Hithath Hondai Wadath Hondai
|
|
|
1983
|
575
|
Bonikka
|
Renuka ‘Renu’ Serasinghe
|
|
1984
|
602
|
Maya
|
Neela Dias
|
|
1984
|
597
|
Himakathara
|
Manika
|
|
1984
|
610
|
Jaya Sikurui
|
|
|
1985
|
613
|
Mawbima Nathinam Maranaya
|
|
|
1985
|
615
|
Chalitha Rangali
|
Producer and actor
|
|
1986
|
Nobody Is Perfect
|
||
|
1986
|
645
|
Jaya Apitai
|
|
|
1986
|
646
|
Koti Waligaya
|
Nilmini
|
|
1986
|
648
|
Sura Saradiyel
|
Thangamma
|
|
1986
|
652
|
Sinha Patau
|
|
|
1987
|
661
|
Yukthiyada Shakthiyada
|
|
|
1987
|
665
|
Rajawadakarayo
|
Rekha
|
|
1987
|
668
|
Obatai Priye Adare
|
Tina
|
|
1988
|
672
|
Ayya Nago
|
|
|
1988
|
676
|
Amme Oba Nisa
|
|
|
1988
|
679
|
Durga
|
|
|
1989
|
686
|
Badulu Kochchiya
|
|
|
1990
|
709
|
Palama Yata
|
Dottie. Also as producer.
|
|
1991
|
720
|
Dolos Mahe Pahana
|
|
|
1991
|
731
|
Salabak Hadai
|
also as producer.
|
|
1992
|
752
|
Malsara Doni
|
Teena
|
|
1992
|
764
|
Muwan Palessey Kadira
|
|
|
1993
|
787
|
Nelum Saha Samanmali
|
|
|
1993
|
789
|
Lagin Giyoth Aehak Naha
|
|
|
1993
|
791
|
|
