KALASURI SRIYANI AMARASENA AUTOGRAPHED ICONIC ACTRESS, FILM PRODUCER,DIRECTOR AT PEAK OF GLORY – by Sunil Thenabadu
Kalasuri Palamakumbura Herath Mudiyanselage Sriyani Weerakoon Kumarihami born on 14 June 1944 popularly as Sriyani Amarasena, is an acclaimed actress who began from the stage play “Nari Bana” had portrayed main roles and supporting characters in well over one hundred films and over twenty popular television dramas where she had learnt all areas of productions to become a film and a tele drama as a producer. Sriyani had appeared in several critically acclaimed movies of Lester James Pieris including ‘Golu Hadawatha’ in year 1968, ‘Desa Nisa’ and ‘Ahasin Polawata’. In fact, Sriyani had been selected to portray a role in Lester James Pieris’ ‘Delowak Athara’ but has had to decline the offer as she was pregnant. In the film ‘Gamperaliya’ Sriyani’s daughter Inoka had been one and half years old had also portrayed the role of her daughter in the film.[X]
She was born as the only child in native Meethotamulla, Kolonnawa. Her father had worked at Colombo Municipal Council. She has had her initial education the primary education from Meetotamulla Primary school, and then from Musaeus College for six years and until the advanced level at Gothami Balika Vidyalaya, Colombo. At Musaeus she was called as ‘Kumarihamy” for the name she had felt a bit shame, had excelled in her talents as a vocalist and painter too. During the tenure at both schools, she had excelled in singing had learnt what discipline was. Sriyani as the only child had been petted to unprecedented tall elevations had been breast fed until she was seven years old.She is married to former renowned journalist, then editor of the newspaper ‘Visithuru” of the ‘Dawasa’ group, also a person who had learnt all areas in the film industry ,Arthur U. Amarasena. The duo has one daughter, Inoka Amarasena and one son, Sampath Amarasena. Inoka had also acted in few films such as ‘Kristhu Charithaya’ and ‘Gehenu Lamai’.
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During school time, she had acted few stage dramas like ‘Hathara Beeri Kathawa’ and ‘Koheda Yanne Rukmani’ Then, she had met Siri Perera who happened to be her neighbour who had helped entering her to ‘Lama Mandapaya’ program in the SLBC where she excelled in singing. While still in school first appeared on stage drama “Thammanna” of PDL Perera’s. Thereafter she was introduced to the producer of ‘Nari Bena’ Dayananda Gunawardena to portray ‘Gama Duwa ,with this portrayal Sriyani as a teenager gained immense fame and admiration. Having read an advertisement about searching for an actress for “Kuweni” she had pursued her mother to apply for it, as she had been fascinated having read the ’Kuweni” novel too .At the selection among many other girls she had been asked to act , relate some dialogues which had performed to precision. But as the face of Kuweni needed to be of a bit abrasive type, she was not elected.But for her talent she was recommended to other stage plays. Some of her other stage dramas included ‘Hitha Honda Ammandi’ and ‘Ves Muhunu.’
Her maiden cinematic appearance came through a feature film ‘Wings Over Ceylon’ directed by Pagngnasoma Hettiarachchi attached to the government film unit to portray a role of a pilot’s wife which she grabbed, as she would get an opportunity to fly hitherto then, not had got an opportunity. The cameraman had been the renowned Sumitta Amerasinghe with whom she had met several times on film shooting sequences subsequently. This opening made her to come in close contact with directors like DB Nihalsinghe, Lestor James Pieris and Tissa Abeysekera which was a boost in pursuit of her impending film career. Then she acted in a minifilm ‘Keti Kathawa’ directed by DB Nihalsinghe.This film is recorded as the first cinemascope film, produced in native Sri Lanka which demarks as a massive milestone in her unblemished cinematic career.
After the marriage and birth of her two children, Sriyani entered mainstream cinema, where her maiden acting came through in the blockbuster film Golu Hadawatha in 1968. This in turn opened door to enter popular cinema industry. Some of her notable dramatic roles came through the film such as ‘Desa Nisa’, ‘Ahasin Polawata’, ‘Viragaya’ and ‘Mahagedara’. Apart from these dramatic roles, Sriyani had acted many commercial films too of many genre, such as ‘Kalyani Ganga’ and ‘Raththaran Amma’, which earned her many positive critical retorts. In 1993, she was awarded the Sarasaviya award for the film ‘Kulageya’ Later on she had won other awards at Sumathi ,Signis,OCIC.Raigam,State awards etc for the best actress, best supporting actress, the most popular actress , was also nominated several times at many awards ceremonies. .
Her maiden teledrama production came through ‘Dath Kekulu Pala’ when she had learnt all technical aspects involved. Then she produced three television serials, ‘Ira Bata Taruwa’, ‘Hemanthaye ‘ and ‘Hangi Muttham’ where they made partly in London for England-based Sri Lankan audiences. In 2003, she directed and produced the tele series ‘Peraliya’, which was shot in Australia. In 2005, she directed the serial ‘Thusharaye Chaya’ which was shot in USA. In 2011, she directed the serial ‘Mayura Asapuwa’. These milestones are remarkable feats of determined Sriyani’s flawless acting career..
In 2019, he was honoured with ‘Janabhimani’ Honorary Award at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall.] In 2021, She was honoured with the ‘Deshabhimani Keerthi Kalabushana’ award, the life time award.
Sriyani reminisced her school days at a television dialog how she travelled to school by bus from Battaramulla to Borella ,how she walked to school via the Campbell park with colleague students.She recollects as three boys schools viz.,Wesley,Ananda and Nalanda Colleges were in the vicinity most girls have had boy friends who exchanged letters and were used to reading when they arrived in school. Many girls had shown dissent for the attitude of Sriyani despite possessing attractive features was sans a boyfriend in that era. Sriyani had lamented that although several boys from the said schools had shown interest Sriyani had not complied. She also had affirmed a bizarre happening that on most days when she gets off the bus near the Ritz cinema two young boys with a push bike used to follow her through Campbell park but had never spoken to her.She had been wondering what the two guyswere up to.This had been a mystery to her as they had never spoken or made any proposal. She too had looked at them so that the duo could be identified later , still none of them had showed significance to speak. After alighting from the bus ,she too had expected them to be there, If not there she too felt a mild sadness.
After her school tenure she had portrayed ‘Gama Duwa” in Nari Bena had become popular. As time passed amidst busy schedules .As her marriageable age was nearing her mother had seen a marriage proposal in ‘Visithura” newspaper .The proposed party had searched for a bride with interest for art, she too had become inquisitive. Mother had replied with her photograph from her “Winds over Ceylon’ feature film. Within a week a response had come showing interest to visit them. Two handsome guys-Silva and Perera, one was tall other was handsome not that tall had arrived who were well entertained had exchanged a few words only. Later it was revealed that the duo was not Silva and Perera , one was tall and the other a stoutly built handsome young man who was happened to be the Editor at ‘Visithura’ newspaper Arthur U Amarasena other his close friend in Augustine Vinayagaratnam a lyricist and author. Later by a letter it had been informed that the proposal was from the Editor of ‘Visithura’ newspaper, coincidentally Sriyani had been a huge fan of this newspaper who never missed reading the weekly editions. When she came to know who he was, she had been overwhelmed, it was no other that her present husband Amare Aiya. Thereafter he had been a constant visitor to home. It had been known that the advertisement had been made at the request of the boss of the ‘Dawasa” newspaper group to gauge the retorts from an advertisement not with the real intention of finding a bride. There had been 300 responses may be Sriyani’s mother’s response with the photo acquired from her feature film could not have been discarded. After one year of association the duo had tied the nuptial knot. Sriyani had refrained from acting until she was twenty four years old having given birth to her daughter and son giving preference to domestic chaos. Her first invitation was to portray a role in ‘Delowak Athara’ ,as she was pregnant had not been able to accept the role. Then the subsequent invite was to act in ‘Golu Hadawatha’ film in 1968 when daughter Inoka was 1 ½ years old she too had acted as her daughter.
Sriyani recollects, she wanted to meet lyricist Ajantha Ranasinghe to compose lyrics for a song .When she arrived at his residence and conveyed her requirement Ajantha had affirmed that the song has already been written for her, had asked if she could reminisce the two guys who were near the Ritz cinema who stayed for her arrival and trailed her through the Campbell park stretch. Ajantha added it was he and his friend. Sriyani was simply bewildered, Ajantha had beckoned his wife and said Sriyani was a very proud girl then. The song composed was ”Kiri kawadi sina nodeka ege adare’’.This story had astounded Sriyani to incomparable incredible elevations.
After Sriyani was established having produced ,directed films had gone abroad to UK as she wanted to do something different as her ways, having had enormous experience in the film and tele drama industries. She had taken her ‘Tharanaya’ film to UK to show the Sri Lankan audiences. One of her authentic friends Sriyani Perera had told why you not consider producing a film or teledrama as there is a lot of talent accessible with so many Sri Lankans domiciled, scattered in UK.She after a few months back home, she had thought of the friend’s proposal seriously having informed her, had gone to produce tele dramas with her wide profound knowledge in the field in tele drama productions from the inception. Sriyani had produced, directing “ Hemanthie Vasanthayak”, Thereafter, “Pushparagaya” in Uk later telecast in Rupavahini back home, then another two Tele drama’s in Japan ”Sakuramal” and “Mal Rasapuwa” with booming success to be overwhelmed. She had produced another one in Italy not get off the blocks not released to date.These tele’s were shown in the Rupavahini channel too. She had recollected a few bad experiences during her stints on foreign soils like getting stuck in a lift, experiencing earthquakes and infernos during her teledrama shooting periods in overseas soils. She had produced in addition films ‘Kulageya’ and ‘Dese Mal Pipila’ films too, with her directions too.
Sriyani had acted in over 100 films and well over 20 tele dramas. Won several awards for best actress ,popular actress and nominated on several times. She likes to maintain her beauty which she believes is a must for any actress.Those good old days it was applying “ponds” powder that was applied morning and evening. In the nights Sriyani used a piece of ‘sudu handun’ that was scraped and the juice was applied on her face.Had learnt from mother to apply to the skin and face a used piece of lime which transpired to be an ideal treatment . When asked her mother the reason she had confessed that there is no better stuff than a piece of lime to wipe. Now she applies some native cream on the body to protect from sunlight while in shooting and when going out, but never applies any cream to enhance the skin to become fairer. She drinks a lot of water , after getting up a huge glass of water is consumed half an hour before breakfast. She consumes mostly cereals or Oates for breakfast never used to eating food with flour varieties. Before lunch also she is used to consume again a large glass of water, eats red ‘kekulu” red rice with many vegetables, green leaves along with fish or egg. Consumes a lots of green leaves ‘pala’ , ‘bathala’ ,’murunga’ leaves. Also grown in her home compound are many “pala’ leaves that she can pluck and eat. Drinking water in excessive proportions is her precedence. She is used to maintain her hair with coconut oil, mixed with vitamin E and olive oil , massaging her hair, whenever time permits her are not cumbersome practices She applies olive oil on her body regularly. Devotes half an hour to religion, does exercises twice a week by walking around her garden until she perspires. She reads a lot which made her an author of books having studied under Tissa Abeysekera on script writing. Her first tele script was ‘Magee’ tele drama her own production about a female fish monger.
Sriyani is very emotional, simple, down to earth entered the films only after marriage with two children when she twenty four years old hence then she did not get marriage proposals. Among the films she enjoys watching are Sandeshaya, Chithawaliya the films .The films in which she portrayed roles which still loiters in her memory are ‘Viragaya’, ‘Maha Gedera’, ‘Desa Nisa’, ‘Ahasin Polawata’,’Kulagaya’ which are her best five films in which she portrayed roles.Among the current generation of actresses she believes Tharaka Wanniarachchi , Maheshi, Anuradha Edirisinghe, Shalini Tharaka, Paboda Sandeepani, Senali Fonseka are those who could substitute for her already made portrayals.
Sriyani Amarasena, is a highly versatile actress in cinema, television and theatre. She could be labelled as the ‘Queen’ of Cinema , which is still her favourite base. To become an acclaimed actress, there are many personality characteristics are needed like charisma the most surface qualities expected. Obviously the next trait is passion, hard work and commitment, intelligence able to be articulate and well spoken, should be highly imaginative the biggest and important traits that make a great actress. Like a tree which had grown profusely Sriyani too has had proper foundation in school and course to be in this elated position. Sriyani had affirmed to stay in stardom for decades one needs to be able to be focussed continuously, willing to sacrifice and dedicate to stay hours with make ups on, staying away from home which only a few in the trade are accustomed to All fer fans and followers would wish her a good health and longevity.
Sunil Thenabadu
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