Vasanthi Chathurani
Vasanthi Chathurani (Sinhala:වසන්ති චතුරානි) is a Sri Lankan film and teledrama actress. She made her debut as a teenager in Sumitra Peiris's Gehenu Lamai in 1978. Her most acclaimed role in the silver screen was that of 'Nirmala' in Ganga Addara opposite late Vijaya Kumaratunga in 1980. She was crowned Best Actress for her performance in this film, at the Sarasaviya Awards Festival that year.
Vasanthi Chathurani | |
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Born | Wasantha Doreen Peterson 18 October 1962 |
Alma mater | Holy Cross College Gampaha |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1978–Present |
Awards | Sarasaviya Best Actress Award (1980), Most Popular Actress (1997) Best Teledrama Actress (1998) |
Chathurani also made her mark as a teledrama actress, in shows such as Iti Pahan, Giraya, Kadulla and Gajaman Puwatha. She won the Sumathi Most Popular Actress Award in 1997 and the Sumathi Best Teledrama Actress Award in 1998, 2002 and 2009.
An extremely natural actress, Vasanthi Chathurani is one of the most successful personalities on Sri Lanka's silver and small screen.[1]
Early life
Vasanthi Chathurani, who was born as Wasantha Doreen Peterson schooled at Holy Cross Convent, Gampaha.[2]
Career
Chathurani was a school girl when director Sumitra Peiris chose her for a lead role in Gehenu Lamai in 1978. Thus began her acting career and she was signed up for several films including the award-winning Ganga Addara, where, she as a nineteen-year-old played the role of a mentally-ill girl.
Her career came to a temporary halt, when she got married in 1979, but was once again welcomed by her fans with her performance in Adara Hasuna. Some of her other successful films include Gehenu Lamai, Duwata Mawaka Misa and Sudu Sevanali.
She starred in the 2003 Lester James Peiris film Wekande Walauwa together with Malini Fonseka, Sanath Gunathilake and Ravindra Randeniya.
Chathurani recently got into teledrama productions, financing successful teledramas such as Aga Pipi Mal, Sedona and Ranga Soba. All three of them were directed by Premakumara Jayawardene and written by Sumitra Rahubadde. She has acted many genre television serials in Sri Lanka.[3]
Selected TV serials
- Aga Pipi Mal
- Dahas Gawdura[4]
- Dhawala Kadulla [5]
- Diya Matha Ruwa [6]
- Durganthaya
- Gajaman Nona.[7]
- Giraya
- Idorayaka Mal Pipila[8]
- Itipahan
- Kadulla
- Kulawamiya[9]
- Mano Mandira
- Pem Piyawara[10]
- Ranga Madala Samu Gani[11]
- Ranga Soba [12]
- Sedona [13]
- Senehase Geethaya [14]
- Senehase Nimnaya [15]
- Ulamage Rathriya[16]
- Uththamavi[17]
- Walakulu [18]
- Yaddehi Gedara[19]
- Yaso Mandira [20]
Filmography
- No. denotes the Number of Sri Lankan film in the Sri Lankan cinema.[21]
Year | No. | Film | Role | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
1978 | 390 | Gehenu Lamai | Kusum Liyanage | [22] |
1978 | 408 | Ahasin Polowata | Pushpa's sister | |
1979 | 415 | Amal Biso | ||
1979 | 426 | Chuda Manikya | Vajira | |
1980 | 449 | Siribo Ayya | Biso | |
1980 | 452 | Parithyaga | Rohini | |
1980 | 455 | Ganga Addara | Nirmala Atapattu | |
1980 | 463 | Para Dige | Madhu | |
1980 | 460 | Hewanali Ada Minissu | Piyawathi | |
1980 | 462 | Hansa Vilak | Samanthi Weerasinghe | |
1981 | 501 | Samawenna | Nimalka 'Nimmi' | |
1982 | 515 | Ayachana | Sarojini | |
1982 | 536 | Biththi Hathara | Mallika | |
1984 | 585 | Kakille Rajjuruwo | Daughter | |
1986 | 649 | Dinuma | Sujatha Senarath | |
1986 | 651 | Aadara Hasuna | ||
1987 | 659 | Mangala Thegga | Thilina | |
1988 | 680 | Satana | ||
1990 | 705 | Saharawe Sihinaya | ||
1990 | 710 | Madhu Sihina | Madhu | |
1990 | 715 | Himagiri | Menaka Abeydheera | |
1990 | 716 | Wana Bambara | ||
1990 | 836 | Awaragira | Vasantha | |
1991 | 717 | Uthura Dakuna | Sarojani | |
1991 | 727 | Raja Sellan | ||
1992 | 754 | Sinha Raja | ||
1992 | 755 | Kiyala Wadak Na | Kushari | |
1992 | 761 | Kula Geya | Suchithra | |
1992 | 771 | Sargant Nallathambi | Kalawathi | |
1993 | 776 | Sasara Sarisarana Thek Oba Mage | ||
1994 | 799 | Ambu Samiyo | Subhadra | |
1994 | 801 | Dhawala Pushpaya | Soba | |
1995 | 836 | Awaragira | Wasantha | |
1996 | 847 | Raththaran Malli | ||
1996 | 856 | Thunweni Ahe | ||
1997 | 870 | Duwata Mawaka Misa | ||
1997 | 874 | Punaruthpaththiya | ||
1997 | 887 | Visidela | Police Inspector's Daughter | [23] |
1998 | 902 | Julietge Bhumikawa | Saroja | |
1999 | 912 | Bahu Bharya | Navoda | [24] |
2001 | 953 | Kinihiriya Mal | Renuka | [25] |
2001 | 960 | Poronduwa | Pooja | [26] |
2002 | 975 | Sansara Prarthana | ||
2002 | 980 | Sudu Sewaneli | Podi Menika | |
2003 | 1020 | Wekande Walauwa | Sita | |
2003 | 1023 | Sakman Maluwa | ||
2004 | 1029 | Sumedha | Sumedha | [27] |
2007 | 1097 | Yahaluvo | Burgher music teacher. Also as playback singer | |
2011 | 1154 | Challenges | Ranuk's mother | |
2018 | 1302 | Vaishnavee | ||
2019 | 1320 | Sangile | Lady monk | |
TBD | Kondadeniye Hamuduruwo[28] | |||
TBD | Gunananda Himi Migettuwatte |
Awards
1980 - Sarasaviya Best Actress Award for Ganga Addara
1997 - Sumathi Most Popular Actress Award
1998 - Sumathi Best Teledrama Actress Award for Durganthaya.
2002 - Sumathi Best Teledrama Actress Award for Kulawamiya.
2005 - Raigam Best Tele Actress Award for Sedona.
2006 - Sumathi Best Teledrama Actress Award for Aga Pipi Mal.
2006 - Raigam Best Tele Actress Award for Aga Pipi Mal.
References
- Vasanthi - Reaching Even Greater Heights
- What's in a name?
- "Tale of Vasanthi Chathurani". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
- "'Dahas Gawdura': a formulaic telefilm". Sunday Times. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
- "'Dhawala Kadulla' captures dramatic era of history". Sunday Times. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
- "'Diya Matha Ruwa' now on the go". Sunday Times. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
- "The story of Gajaman Nona". Sunday times. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
- "'Idorayaka Mal Pipila': A tragic story". Sunday Times. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
- "'Kulawamiya' relates a story of nobility". Sunday Times. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
- "'Pem-Piya-Wara': Depicts a father". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
- "'Rangamadala Samugani': Ranwala's last act". Sunday Times. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
- "'Ranga Soba' depicts the life of an actress". Sunday Times. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
- "'Sedona' : Wasanthi in a dual role". Sunday Times. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
- "'Senehase Geethaya': Courage of a woman". Sunday Times. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
- "'Senehase Nimnaya': Tale of an adopted son". Sunday Times. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
- "'Ulamage Rathriya' reveals the country's past". Sunday times. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
- "'Uththamavi': Travails of a village damsel". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
- "'Walakulu' make a move on Rupavahini". Sunday Times. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
- "'Yaddehi Gedara' shows how a walawwa falls". Sunday Times. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- "'Yaso Mandira': The tale of a mother's courage..." Sunday Times. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
- "Sri Lankan Cinema History". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
- "Lester-Sumithra cinema on mini-screen". Sunday Times. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
- "බිඳුණා දැහැන් බිඳුණා වීසි දැල". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
- ""Bahu Bhariya" cleared for adults". Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
- "Kinihiriya Mal - කිනිහිරියා මල්". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
- "'Poronduwa':Ratnam on correct track again". Sunday Times. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
- "'Sumedha' to go on screen". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
- "Siritunga gives life to Kondadeniye Hamuduruwo". Daily News. Retrieved 23 May 2015.