DASUNI NAVODYA ITN AVURUDU KUMARI, TELIVISION PRESENTER,TELEDRAMA AND FILM ACTRESS,NOMINATED FOR BEST UP AND COMING ACTRESS IN RAIGAM TELE AWARDS IN ‘MEMESSA’ ALREADY A CELEBRITY – By Sunil Thenabadu
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Dasuni is the only child born to her parents domiciled in Kadawatha.The family Dasuni defines as a typical middle class family with basic needs just able to navigate over day to day life.Dasuni had never harassed her father to buy anything she loved knowing his financial capacities. If Dasuni needed something she recalls used to secretly ask her father whether he could afford to spend for what she wanted. Dasuni had studied up to year five in Dharmadarshi primary school, up to ordinary level at Kadawatha Madhya Maha Vidyalaya thereafter up to Advanced level at Mahamaya Balika Vidyalaya in Kadwatha. She had said in a television interview that she had been given the freedom by the parental duo to do whatever she likes in school, not barred from performing in any interested events like singing and dancing had never portrayed a character in school dramas. The parents had allowed Dasuni to go in any option she adored. But she was not permitted to move about or loiter outside residential home alone. She was not permissible to even to go to a boutique in the vicinity like other children.Dasuni’s father was her absolute hero who loved her to tall elevations,she recalled that the yoghurt he was served for lunch in office he used to bring home for Dasuni though it had liquefied.
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Dasuni also emphasized the sacrifices her mother had made for her.From her grade one to her advanced level class, even for tuition classes she used to remain outside the class,Dasuni recalled that when she was attending extra tuition classes from morning to late evening about ten to twelve hours she had stood near the gate until her classes were completed.
Dasuni after leaving school she had followed HR development which she had dropped . which Dasuni had added there had been no objection from her parental duo had said it is her decision. Then had taught in an International academic school for about one and a half years had left after she was crowned ITN “Avurudu Kumari’.The mother’s practice even to date she continues accompanying Dasuni for shooting and other functions where Dasuni needs to attend. In this scenario Dasuni believes she has the best parents on the world. When she explained this at a television dialog. Dasuni added that she becomes very emotional when this spotlight is spoken about.Dasuni has been fortunate to view many old Sinhalese films with her parents from her young days particularly as her father’s paternal uncle was reputed film star Ravindra Rupasena.In this scenario Dasuni may have inherited acting skills via hereditary affiliations.
Dasuni had dreamt of three tasks in future to become an ‘Avurudu Kumari’ , to be a television telecaster cum anchor also to be an thespian. But her father was against her ambitions did not even like when this subject was spoken of.Dasuni recalls having had frequent disputes with her father saying why when girls of my age are permitted why you are making restrictions and limitations to her. But now many have conveyed to her parental duo about the mannerism and style Dasuni conduct herself.
Dasuni now deems that the parents were precise in not allowing her to move freely in society. Dasuni recollects her father telling when she her brain develops to the extent to understand good and bad he will allow her this freedom. However, at the correct age when she was found to be matured Dasuni’s father had given her the ‘nod’ with the green light.
From her younger days Dasuni had been a keen follower on television many ‘Avurudu Kumari’ competitions held each year. She also has had ambition to become a television presenter. One day in January 2021 she had read an advertisement in a newspaper inserted by the Independent Television network calling for television presenters to submit applications with two photographs. Also in the same era an advertisement was published wanting candidates to apply for ITN’s ‘Avurudu Kumari’ contest 2021. Dasuni had taken permission with difficulty had posted her application for post of television presenters. There had been no communication from the ITN authorities until late March when she gets a call from an unknown number in the ITN that the interviews for the television presenters would not take place until in a few months but asked her willingness to participate in the ITN ‘Avurudu Kumari’ competition perhaps after viewing her gorgeous photographs tendered . The call had come just one day before the first audition. Dasuni hesitantly had consented but permission from her father she knew would be a huge hurdle. Dasuni had informed her mother when she had told to ask father. Dasuni had explained to father the entire incident. Father had said no as he dislikes advised her to concentrate on studies. From that moment she had started to cry sobbing and weeping continuously until wee hours of the morning. Her best friend Anosha having got to know the situation had called her father and said to grant permission as there is no harm in partaking that she will come in her vehicle and accompany Dasuni and mother for the audition and bring the duo back safely. For her plead and responsibility father had given the green nod. The following morning Anosha who is now overseas had arrived in her vehicle and accompanied Dasuni and mother but Dasuni had just gone sans cloth and blouse, make up with her hair too not combed properly.
Out of over a thousand girl participants Dasuni had triumphed in the first round. When the result was conveyed to her father the toughness he possessed had lessened. She had participated in the second and third rounds and was selected for the final round with five finalised. Before the final result was announced Dasuni was asked to comment. She had said she is happy if the crowned is won by any finalist. .After a strenuous final round it was announced that Dasuni is elected the ITN ‘Avurudu Kumari’ in year 2021 at the tender age of twenty one years by which her entire career was transformed. Once she returned home with the crown the person who was most pleased was her father.He had embraced her mother had cried expressing his gladness and delight. The news had been conveyed over the phone.Father had ordered a cake and meals to celebrate.All her neighbours in the dead night had grouped together to applaud Dasuni.Following her triumph the corona epidemic had arrived which had made her to remain at home for about eight months. After which the final twenty four contestants twelve males and females of the ‘Avurudu Kumari’ were called for interviews for the posts of four vacancies for presenters at ITN.Dasuni proudly reminisces her first ‘guru’ in announcing was legendary stalwart Dharmasiri Wickremasinghe. Dasuni after was appointed as one presenter she had continued gaining experience for about two years.She had wisely commenced a diploma in Mass Communication and Public Relations at the Kelaniya University as an external scholar. Her ambition is to initially complete the Diploma, thereafter Higher Diploma thereafter Post Graduate followed by her Masters Degree. Dasuni claims she was very fortunate as a novice to presenting she was elected on two occasions to present at the Sumathi Tele Awards ceremonies a rare opportunity for a person like Dasuni still a very young raw novice in the field for presenting. .As a presenter at the ITN she had presented many programs like sports. ‘Avurudu’ programs etc.
It was while she was presenting programs she recalls been received a call from producer of films and mainly teledramas Lalith Wasantha to portray a minor role in his mega teledrama ‘Neela Pabalu” directed Saman Rajakaruna.However when Dasuni was in front of a camera she had thought acting is not easy unlike presenting. After two scenes she had told her mother ‘crying’ acting is tough she will remain in her presenting career.However after she remained silent she gets a call one evening from a director named Lal Vijithakumara to portray a ‘blind’ character to which she had consented when she had to work along side with Bimal Jayakody, Madani Malwattage as parents and Shameera Liyanage as her lover.Dasuni had visited the deaf and blind school had vocalised and stayed with them to study to portray the role of a ‘blind’ girl in the tele drama ‘Dawala Degirawa’ which was to telecast later. Almost simultaneously she had received a call from TV Derana to portray a role in ‘Rosa Sudu Adare’ to portray a role of a doctor. Dasuni loves to depict vivid roles in her portrayals hence had accepted the role with delight. She recollects the role of ‘Doctor Nithya’ which was her first teledrama that was telecast. After a few months producer Saddha Mangala Sooriyabandara calls her to portray a role ‘Anuki’ in the teledrama ‘Circus Karayo”..By this role of ‘Anuki’ for her daring acts she became very popular among all audiences. After this role of ‘Anuki’ she was called for the teledramas ‘Meemessa’ ,’Rocky’, ‘Ron’.’Six Pack’, ‘Uda Thattuwa’ at frequent intervals. As somewhat of a novice Dasuni added that changing from one character to another diverse charisma is grim to get adopted.
The Teledrama ‘Rocky’ is telecast in the Sirasa TV portrays the character of Shiyara where she for the first time had to fight for which she has had to study and train. Dasuni has added that after portraying a given role she watches the other actors and actresses perform to extract whatever from their aptitudes which she believes is the hallmark and symbol of her success to date.In the Raigam Tele Awards this year 2025 Dasuni was nominated for the best up and coming actresses’ award for her role ‘Baghya’ in the teledrama “Meemessa”.This nomination made was a huge boost for her future of young actress Dasuni with only a brief tenure of only two years or less in this field..
In her role of ‘Baghya’ in “Meemessa’ with name Sevwandi Jayasinghe where the character to portray the role of Bhagya who is not the person who people think of hence to develop the character was tough. As it was at the same time, she portrayed the role of ‘Anuki’ in “Circuskarayo’ directed by Jayaprakash Sivagurunathan and produced by Saddha Mangala Sooriyabandara to the duo Dasuni is extremely indebted as she had become very popular via the portrayal of ‘Anuki’ In the teledrama
In ‘Meemessa’ in order to penetrate into the role proper she added it was the director Dilshan Pathiratne who buoyed her as ‘Baghya’ who had to be dissimilar at home, in office , as a media personnel, in front of a friend and her father, Dasuni also commended the cameraman Adams in guiding and assisting her.Dasuni also commended the backing of Bimal, Sujani, Charith and Wimal Ketapearachchi all senior artistes who facilitated her to complete her protagonist magnificently.
The role in ’Ron’ teledrama Dasuni reminisces it as a very innocent character . How it emanated about was when Pradeep Dharmadasa came to the Judge Board when Dasuni was entrusted in the task of announcing.in a subsequent ITN ‘Avurudu Kumari’ competition. Pradeep had said’ you are now acting’ had absorbed to his ‘Ron’ teledrama. In her character ,Amalea in “Ron’ she reminisces has had to weep and shed tears a lot. The role in ‘Rocky’ teledrama it is a family story, she is the sister with three elder brothers sans a father. She recollects she has had to be innocent, violent , animated etc. Her mother was portrayed by Wasanthi Ranwela, the others in the cast were Randika, Sachin, Shan, as her friend was Dilruckshi all elder to her in age as stalwarts in acting which was directed by Sameera Piyarathna. Incidentally the three teledramas “Meemessa’,( Baghya) “Ron’ (Amalea) and “Rocky’( Siyara); were telecast concurrently in our television channels which is indeed a feather in the cap of novice actress Dasuni.:Among them ‘Rocky’ is categorized as a ‘Mega’ teledrama. Though after becoming the “Avurudu Kumari’ she was invited to act in films she had not accepted any offers as she believes she must learn a lot to accept as they are gigantic challenges. It is pertinent to mention that Dasuni had learnt on acting initially from Prasanna Mahagamage, hopes to develop her knowledge from other competent personnel when she could accept t portray roles in films.Dasuni had suggested that she likes to portray characters like a psychiatric patient, a ‘Bikkuni’’ or as a malicious individual..Dasuni had got many invitations to portray roles in cinema but had refused as she was still a novice. But lately she had portrayed a role in a film produced by Dr Kapila Sooriyarachchi father of Mega Sooriyarachchi also in the field.When Dasuni was reluctant The producer had said do not worry to make her confidence. Shooting has commenced in another film and a few teledramas too.
Dasuni is a person who is able to get along with any person with care.She has had small love affairs when young. Her father always had told her to respect others not to allow anyone to speak against her even to adopt to accept this when she marries and lives with in laws be attached to them as you were attached to her parents. She of course for her attractiveness and mannerism many have made marriage proposals within her field. However sans hurting them she had given valid excuses had moved with them sans getting annoyed.Dasuni had stated in a media dialog that a person who does wrong doings will be used to perform injustices whether one in in the temple, home or outside.Dasuni added that she leaves home early morning for shooting and returns late night , she or another could perform immoral activities.She reminisced a saying of her father, ‘Puthe’ develop to be an extremely faultless person possessing a charisma to be emulated by others.
Her father recently having observed her journey had astonished Dasuni by saying ‘Puthe’ now as you have successfully navigated to be at this intersection which is very creditable, hence it is up to you to continue in the same disposition as your climbing to higher altitudes is certain and on cards.Father had advised Dasuni to go towards for her targets and goals without looking back.
Dasuni’s family now obviously lives a happier life sans financial difficulties.Father and Mother do not allow Dasuni to spend on family matters at least to pay an electricity bill as father is financially sound engaged in his business activities. Dasuni however has had got the opportunity to celebrate the birthdays of the parental duo spending lavishly.Dasuni has a melting heart always believes in helping the impoverished poor people also is an animal lover maintains about ten cats and dogs sans any hostilities from her parents.
In such a very short tenure as an actress Dasuni has dominated in the field which is attributed for her innate talent, mannerism cum her traditions which she has vouched to remain same. All her fans and followers would no doubt wish her astonishing success for an overwhelming imminent future.
Sunil Thenabadu in Brisbane
e mail sthenabadu@hotmail.com
WhatsApp 0061444533242.
