Nilmini Tennakoon

Thennakoon Pathiranalage Nilmini (born January 23, 1965 as නිල්මිණි තෙන්නකෝන්) [Sinhala]), popularly as Nilmini Thennakoon, is an actress in Sri Lankan cinema[1] and television.[2] Highly versatile actress particularly active in television, she is a recipient of Best Actress award multiple times in many local award festivals.[3] She is often referred to as the "tear drop" in Sinhala small screen and also Sri Lankan Madhuri Dixit.[4]

Nilmini Thennakoon
නිල්මිණි තෙන්නකෝන්
Born (1965-01-23) January 23, 1965
Moratuwa
NationalitySri Lankan
EducationPrincess of Wales' College
OccupationActress
Years active1987–present
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1996)​
ChildrenSwetha Mandakini
Awards
  • Best Actress
  • Most Popular Actress (12 awards)
  • Best Supporting Actress

Personal life

She was born on 23 January 1965 to Piyadasa Thennakoon and Shriyani Thennakoon in Moratuwa. She has two siblings, one elder brother (Late Deleepa Thennakoon) and one younger sister.[5] Her father was a businessman. He died when she was 13 year of age.[6] She completed education from Princess of Wales' College.

She was married to popular singer Madhumadhawa Aravinda, and they have one daughter Swetha Mandakini.[7] She met Madhumadhawa Aravinda during the teledrama Pini Bindu in 1992. They got married on May 5 in 1996.[8] They divorced in early 2000s.[9]

She faced a horrible car accident in 2007. She was sustained grievous bodily injuries from the accident and rushed to the Ragama hospital's ICU. The accident occurred at Balummahara on March 14 when she was rushing to Kurunegala from Colombo for a Television filming event. Her car was reduced to matchwood although the chauffeur miraculously escaped with minor injuries.

Career

In 1980s, she started to act in school stage when she was in grade 7 and studied dancing under Mrs. Vajira Chitrasena. Then she attended "Low Country" and Kandyan dancing under a radio artist Mrs. Chitra Kumari Kalubowila at Moratuwa. Under Chithra's guidance, she performed in a ballet Sasara staged in Rupavahini.[2]

She was introduced into the cinema by popular director Roy de Silva and actress Sumana Amarasinghe.[4] She played in the film Hitha Honda Chandiya in a dancing scene with Bandu Samarasinghe. At the same time, D. B. Nihalsinghe used Thennakoon for his TV Commercials and then for the role "Amaravathi" in the play Dimithu Muthu and then in 1991 film Keli Madala.[8] Her major television acting came through Passe Gena Manamali directed by Nalan Mendis.[2] The she acted in famous tele series Doo Daruwo which was telecast many years on the Rupavahini on Sundays at 8.30 p.m. Her character '"Deepthi" in television serial Doo Daruwo was the major success in her career.[4]

Her maiden cinematic experience came through 1985 film Mawubima Naththam Maranaya, directed by Louie Vanderstraeten with a minor role. Her first major role in cinema came through 1990 film Yukthiyata Wada directed by Sunil Soma Peiris.[10] Some of her popular films are Keli Madala, Nagaran and Le Kiri Kandulu.[11]

In 1992, she won the Sarasaviya award for the Best Upcoming actress for her role in Suranimala. She won the Sarasaviya Award for the Best Actress for the role "Veena" in the film Le Kiri Kandulu.[4] Then she won the Most Popular Teledrama Actress Award for a record six years continuously.[2] In 2008 Raigam Tele'es, Tennakoon won the award for the Best Actress for the role "Tikiri Menika" in serials Handewa directed by Sherly P. Delankawala.[12] In 2016, she won the Sumathi award for the Best Actress for the title role in Amma.[13]

She also participated to the reality program Hiru Mega Stars as the leader of group Shakyans.[14][15] She also hosted the psychology television program Sith Giman Hala telecast by TV Derana.[4]

She currently has a beauty salon at Nugegoda.

Selected television serials
  • 1990
  • Abhisamaya as Anupama[16]
  • Adaraneeya Amma [17]
  • Akwessa
  • Amma as Amma (Punna)[18]
  • Anduru Sewaneli
  • Aswenna[19]
  • Blackmail
  • Bodima as Nilmini
  • Deveni Kamatha as Nirmala
  • Diya Ginisilu [20]
  • Diya Sithuvam [21]
  • Diya Suliya as Sarojini Liyanaarachchi [22]
  • Diya Yata Gini[23]
  • Doo Daruwo as Deepthi
  • Galaboda Hasthiya
  • Ganaga Saha Nishshanka as Nadee
  • Gimanata Pavana
  • Giravi
  • Girikula as Dingiri Amma
  • Handewa as Tikiri Menika [24]
  • Himagira
  • Hima Varusa [25]
  • Hiru Dahasak Yata[26]
  • Hiru Sadu Hamuwee
  • Hiruta Muwawen
  • Indikadolla[27]
  • Isi Daasi
  • Isuru Pawura [28]
  • Iti Pahan as Some[29]
  • Kulavilokanaya as Pabasara Biso[30]
  • Kumarayaneni
  • Mansala as Devi[31]
  • Maya Ranaga as Biula [32]
  • Mayavi [33]
  • Nethranjali as Nethra[34]
  • Nidi Kumari
  • Nidikumba Mal[35]
  • Parami Pooja
  • Pas Mal Pethi
  • Passe Gena Manamali[36]
  • Pata Sarungal[36]
  • Pata Veeduru[37]
  • Pinketha as Giravi
  • Piyabana Ashwaya
  • Raena
  • Daam
  • Ranagala Watta
  • Sagaraya Parada
  • Sanda Mediyama
  • Sanda Pini Wassa as Maya[38]
  • Sasara Saranee
  • Susima [39]
  • Thuru Kadauru
  • Udawediya Mal
  • Uththamavi[40]
  • Vishwanthari [41]
  • Visirunu Renu [42]
  • Chess
  • Ralla weralata Adarei
  • ' ' 1990 Love Born in the Heart ' '

Filmography
YearFilmRoleRef.
1985Mawubima Naththam Maranaya
1990Yukthiyata WadaKunchu
1990Pem Rajadahana
1991Keli MadalaSharika[43]
1992Suraniamala
1993Wali SulangaNilmini Ranasinghe
1994Ekada Wahi
1995Ayoma
1999NagaranSoma
2003Le Kiri KanduluVeena Jayaweera[44]
2016Madhura CharikaGuest role[45]
2016Hero NeroPriya Senarathne
2017BandhanayaNandawathi[46]
2019President Super Star[47]
2023Kadira Divyaraja[48]
TBDAkasa Palama[49]
TBDSanda Dadayama[50]
TBDThaththa[51]

Awards

Sarasaviya Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
1992SuranimalaBest Upcoming ActressWon
2003Le Kiri KanduluBest ActressNominated

Sumathi Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2000IsidasiBest ActressWon
1995Peoples' VoteMost Popular Actress[52]Won
2015GirikulaBest Supporting Actress[53]Won
2016AmmaBest Actress[54]Won

Raigam Tele'es
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2009HendewaBest ActressWon

References
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  2. "Dedication led to my success - Nilmini". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  3. "Nilmini's tough talk on teledramas". lankahitgossip. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  4. "'I regret my past decisions' – Nilmini Tennakoon". magazine.lankahelp.com. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  5. "Unforgettable incidents in life". Silumina. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  6. "Others Jealous about our Marriage Life". lkactress. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  7. "We can be close again". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  8. "Nilmini Thennakoon Talk About Marriage Life". telelk. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  9. "Nilmini Thennakoon With Her Daughter". Lanka Help. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  10. "Nilmini Thennakoon - නිලිමිනි තෙන්නකෝන් filmography". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  11. "Nilmini Tennakoon films". Rate Your Music. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  12. "After curtains fell on Raigam Tele Awards 2008." Daily News. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  13. "Gossip Chat With Nilmini Thennakoon". gossiplankahotnews. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  14. "Popular actress Nilmini Tennakoon celebrates her b'day". Hiru FM. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  15. "Popular actress Nilmini Tennakoon - නිල්මිණි තෙන්නකෝන්". Hiru TV. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
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  17. "Tale of two mothers one, child". Sunday Times. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  18. "Nilmini in Amma". Lankadeepa. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
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  20. "Of love and old Friendship". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  21. "'Diya Sithuwam': Story of a painter". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  22. "Diya Suliya". Torana Video. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
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  24. "'Handewa' pictures a tragedy in a colony". Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  25. "Hima Varusa covered in mystery". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  26. "'Hiru Dahasak Yata' - A story of lost and found". Sunday Times. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  27. "'Indikadolla' depicts village values". Sunday Times. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
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  29. "Itipahan (Burly Lamp) Chapter - 17". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  30. "Treble teledrama treat from Swarnavahini". Sunday Times. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  31. "මමම නැති කර ගත්ත දෙයක් තමයි ඒ". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  32. "'Maya Ranga' deals with mystery and vice". Sunday Times. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  33. "'Mayavi' moves with mysteries". Sunday Times. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  34. "'Nethranjali': a modern day tragedy". Sunday Times. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  35. "Nidikumba Mal". paradisaya. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  36. "Nalan Mendis teledramas". Nalan Mendis official page. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  37. "'Pata Veeduru': Drama off the beaten track". Sunday Times. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
  38. "She knows my sensitive points". rasagossip. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  39. "'Susima' on DVD format". Sunday Times. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  40. "'Uththamavi': Travails of a village damsel". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  41. "'Vishwanthari': World Class literature on miniscreen". Sunday Times. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  42. "'Visirinu Renu' shows the worlds of six women". Sunday Times. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
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  45. "Trip on Present towards the Journey in Past". Sarasaviya. Archived from the original on 6 October 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  46. "Udayakantha on 'Bandhanaya'". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  47. "The presidential stage where four people are competing". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  48. "Kadira Divyaraja who appears all deities". Dinamina. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  49. "Tale of Jack and Magical Beans in Sri Lankan way". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  50. "රක්තා හැදූ ගාමිණී සඳ දඩයම රූ ගන්වයි". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  51. "නොපෙන්වන ආදරයේ සුසුම් කන්ද". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  52. "Sumathi Award winners in each year". www.sumathiawards.lk.
  53. "Sumathi Tele awards held under President's patronage". ITN News.
  54. "Sumathi Awards 2016". Ceylon Today.
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