Anoja Weerasinghe

Paranapalliya Guruge Anoja Kanthi Siriwardena (Sinhala:අනොජා වීරසිංහ), popularly as Anoja Weerasinghe (born January 21, 1955), is an actress in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television.[1][2] One of the most respected film actresses in Sinhala cinema, Weerasinghe won the Golden Award at New Delhi Film Festival for her critics acclaimed movie Maldeniye Simion.[3]

Anoja Weerasinghe
අනෝජා වීරසිංහ
Born
Paranapalliya Guruge Anoja Kanthi Siriwardena

(1955-01-21) January 21, 1955
Badulla, Sri Lanka
NationalitySri Lankan
EducationPrince of Wales College, Moratuwa
Occupation(s)Actress , writer
Years active1987–present
Children1

Personal life
Main article: Sri Lanka cinema family

Born on 21 January 1955 near Badulla, as the seventh of the 12 siblings in the family which includes seven daughters and five sons. Her father was Jeldeen Siriwardena and mother was Wijayasinghe Arachchige Seelavathi. Anoja had older siblings: Shanthi, Sunethra, Asoka, Sunil and Maya Damayanthi. Anura, Shiyan, Lekha, Sandhya, Sudath are younger brothers and sisters.[4]

After few years, the family moved to Monaragala due to many political disputes. Her father was a theatre actor who performed in stage dramas such as Barrister Hamu and Hingana Kolla. Her first marriage was celebrated in 1979 and lasted only for twelve years, where she married again to a plantation owner in 1991.[5]

With the failure of her second marriage, she faced a number of challenges where she went to commit suicide seven times. Once she swallowed a bunch of sleeping pills due to stress and depression.[4]

Career

Meanwhile, when Anoja was in grade 9, she acted in the play Anduren Eliyata produced by Newton Gunaratne and Yoga Balasuriya of Mahanama College, Moneragala.[4] Weerasinghe first came to the screen with a minor role in Yasapalitha Nanayakkara's film Tak Tik Tuk. Her first main role came through role Surangi of Yasapalitha's film Monarathenna.[5] She appeared in the Australian film Island in 1989.[6]

In the film Maldeniye Simieon, she played dual roles, which became her turning point. For the roles, she won the Best Supporting Actress at the 11th New Delhi International Film Festival. Then she established herself in the 1980s in Sinhala cinema, made her mark in popular cinema with the film Obata Diwura Kiyannam. Her popular role in 1980s came through Araliya Mal, Channayi Kello Dennayi, Peraḷikārayō, Mamayi Rajā, Sināsenna Raththaran and Yukthiyaṭa Væḍa. She later won Best Actress award at Sarasaviya, Presidential, OCIC and Swarnasanka awards for her performances in artistic films such as Kelimadala, Gurugedara, Surabidena, Julietge Bhumikawa, Muhudu Lihini, Seilama, Siri Medura and Janelaya.[4]

Weerasinghe rose to popularity in cinema and acclaim after winning the Silver Peacock Award for the Best Actress at the New Delhi International Film Festival in 1987 for the film Maldeniye Simion, directed by Dr. D. B. Nihalsinghe and produced by Vijaya Ramanayake for Tharanga Films. This was the first time a Sri Lankan actress won a best actress award at an international film festival.[7] Thereafter she went on to LAMDA in London to further hone her skills and won further accolades, nationally and internationally. She has been honored with the Kohinoor Award by the Governor of Tamil Nadu, Government of Sri Lanka's Kala Suri national award, the Asian Film Center tribute to her in 1994, Munich International Film Festival retrospective of her films, and the state governments of Kerala and West Bengal retrospectives of her films are among the many accolades she has received.

Apart from Sinhala films, Anoja played a leading role in the Australian film Island directed by Paul Cox. She has also acted in Pakistani Urdu films like Raththathin Rath Thame, India-Sri Lanka co-production film Hum Se Na Takrana, Agar Tum Na Hote, Suraj Bhi Tamasha, Miss Lanka, Naadani, and Do Haath. After that, she studied music, acting and voice acting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (Lamda) in London. After return to Sri Lanka, she started the 'Advanced Performing Arts Institute' on the land belonging to the Bellanwila Rajamaha Vihara adjoining temple.[4]

Stage dramas
  • Satana
  • Prashnaya
  • Age Nama Rathi
  • Manaskola
  • Trojan Kanthawo'[8]
  • Diriya Mawa Saha Age Daruwo
  • Ran Salakuna
  • Memories of Monkey boy

Awards

She is a recipient of many local, regional and international awards.[9]

  • Presidential Special Award 1984 - Muhudu Lihini
  • Sarasaviya Awards 1985 - Hithwathiya
  • Presidential Award 1985 Merit Award - Hithawathiya
  • Sarasawiya Award 1986 Merit Award - Mihidum Salu
  • Best Actress in 1986 State Awards
  • Best Costume Design in 1986 State Awards
  • Sarasaviya Awards 1986 Best Film - Obata Diwura Kiyannam
  • Best Actress in 1987 Sarasaviya Awards - Maldeniye Simion
  • Best Actress in 1987 OCIC Awards - Maldeniye Simion
  • Best Actress in 1987 Presidential Awards - Maldeniye Simion
  • Rajatha Mayura Award for Best Actress in 1987
  • Best Actress in 11th Indian International Film Festival - Maldeniye Simion
  • Best Television Actress in 1987 - Thaara Devi
  • Rana Thisara Award in 1987
  • Kalsuri Award in 1987
  • Honor Award in 1987
  • Woman of the Year 1987 - Vanitha Award at Rotary International Club
  • Best Actress in 1990 Sarasaviya Awards - Sirimedura
  • Best Actress in 1987 OCIC Awards - Sirimedura
  • Koinor Rathna Award 1990
  • Most Popular Actress in 1991 Vanitha Award
  • Best Actress in 1992 Sarasaviya Awards - Kelimadala
  • Best Actress in 1992 OCIC Awards - Kelimadala
  • Best Producer in 1992 Sarasaviya Awards - Kelimadala
  • Best Actress in 1994 Sarasaviya Awards - Surabidena
  • Best Actress in 1994 Presidential Awards - Gurugedara
  • Best Actress in 1994 Swarna Sankha Award - Surabidena
  • Fringee First Award at Edinburg Drama Festival 2005 - Children of the Sea producer
  • Tap Water Award at Edinburg Drama Festival 2005 - Children of the Sea producer
  • Best Actress in 2006 State Awards - Diriya Mawa Saha Age Daruwa

Filmography
  • No. denotes the Number of Sri Lankan film in the Sri Lankan cinema.[10]
YearNo.FilmRoleRef.
1979423MonarathennaSuranji[11]
1980440Tak Tik Tuk
1980465Sinhabahu
1981487Amme Mata SamawennaDulcy
1981492Dayabara Nilu
1981493GeethikaNaalika
1981499Aradhana[12]
1981504Saaranga
1982534Kale MalPushpalatha
1983548Kaliyugaya
1983560Hasthi Viyaruwa
1983562Pasa Mithuro
1983564Menik Maliga
1983571Monarathenna 2
1984574Muhudu Lihini
1984583Niwan Dakna Jathi Dakwa
1984584Thaththai PuthaiAnoja
1984590Hithawathiya
1984601Batti
1985612Mihidum Salu
1985613Mawubima Nathnam Maranaya
1985616Araliya Mal
1985620Channai Kello Dennai
1985621Aeya Waradida Oba Kiyanna
1985624Obata Diwura Kiyanna
1985629Varsity Kella
1985608Miss Lanka
1986636Mal WarusaSoma
1986640Peralikarayo
1986643Maldeniye SimionJane / Somawathi[13]
1987644Devuduwa
1987654Hitha Honda Chandiya
1987655JanelayaMrs. Weerasinghe
1987656Sathyagrahanaya[14]
1987662Kale Kella
1988670Ahinsa
1988673Chandingeth Chandiya
1988682Ko Hathuro
1988681Nawatha Api Ekwemu
1989685Mamai RajaNisha
1989689Obata Rahasak Kiyannam
1989692Sinasenna Raththaran
1989694Randenigala Sinhaya
1989696Sirimadura
1990700Yukthiyata Wada
1990702Weera Udara
1990707Pem Raja DahanaRekha Gajasinghe
1991714Hitha Honda Puthek
1991721Sihina Ahase Wasanthaya
1991722Kelimadala
1991724Hithata Dukak Nathi MinihaYasawathi
1991729Asala Sanda
1991732Ran Hadawatha
1991741Ma Obe Hithawatha
1992742Ranabime Veeraya
1992746Rajadaruwo
1992757Me Ware Mage
1993770Guru Gedara
1993772SurabidenaSoma[15]
1993775Wali Sulanga
1994817Shakthi
1995822Vijay Saha Ajay
1995824SeilamaSiriya
1998891Aya Obata Barai
1998902Julietge BhumikawaAnjali Senanayake
1999921Aduru Sewanali
2002983Thahanam GahaSeetha[16]
20031001Pura SakmanaGunawathi
20031016Yakada PihatuManuja
20141213Thanha Rathi RangaWimal's Mother
1989-The Island
2014-Human Touch

References
  1. "Healing wounded minds". Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka). 19 March 2006. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 24 February 2008.
  2. "Drama group aids tsunami victim". BBC News. 11 August 2005.
  3. "What good is hair to me when I have lost everything I loved: Veteran actress Anoja Weerasinghe". Sarasaviya. 9 August 2022.
  4. "The Iron Lady of Sinhala Cinema: Anoja Weerasinghe". Silumina. Retrieved 2021-06-05.
  5. "Its 60 years to Anoja". Sarasaviya. 11 August 2016. Archived from the original on 21 January 2015. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  6. "Lankan film stars shy away from poll campaign". Hindustan Times. 4 November 2006. Archived from the original on 31 May 2012.
  7. "Sri Lankan stars shined at international level". Sarasaviya. Archived from the original on 21 November 2017. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  8. "The Trojan Women". Sunday times. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  9. "Anoja Weerasinghe awards". Sarasaviya. Archived from the original on 21 January 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  10. "Sri Lankan Cinema History". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  11. "All about Monarathanna". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  12. "'Aradhana': A tale of love, separation and reconciliation". Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  13. "'Maldeniye Simeon' back after 20 years". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  14. "All about Sathyagrahanaya". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  15. "සිතූ පැතූ සම්පත් දුන් සුරබි දෙන‍". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  16. "'Thahanam Gaha': A film with a political flavour". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
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