Malini Fonseka

Wanniarachchige Malini Senehelatha Fonseka, popularly as Malini Fonseka (Sinhala:මාලිනී ෆොන්සේකා) (born 30 April 1947, in Kelaniya) is a Sri Lankan film actress and former member of Sri Lanka Parliament, who became known as the "Queen of Sinhalese cinema". Her cinema career that has spanned Seven decades began with Tissa Liyansooriya's Punchi Baba in 1968. She first became widely known when she won the 'Best Actress Award' at the 1969 National State Drama Festival This was followed by Sarasaviya Best Actress Awards for Hingana Kolla in 1980, Aradhana in 1982 and Yasa Isuru in 1983. In 2010, she was named by CNN as one of Asia's 25 greatest film actors of all time.

Early life

Born as the third child of eleventh siblings to Gilbert Fonseka who worked at Government Press and Seelwathie Fonseka at Peliyagoda, Kelaniya. After Malani was born, her family moved to Jambugasmulle, Nugegoda. In 1952 she started her education at St. John's College, Nugegoda until the 5th grade. After moving of the family to Wedamulle, Kelaniya she was enrolled at Gurukula Maha Vidyalaya, Kelaniya until completing her education. Her eldest brother Dayananda Fonseka died in 2012.

Family background

Three of her sisters - Sriyani, Rasadari, Damayanthi and two brothers - Dayananda and Ananda are entered to cinema. Her sister Damayanthi Fonseka entered cinema with the film Madol Duwa. She is married to filmmaker Prasanna Vithanage. Malini is also the aunt of popular actresses Samanalee Fonseka and Senali Fonseka as well as sister-in-law of Karunarathna Hangawaththa. Her nephew Ashan is also an actor. Her grand daughter Kushenya Sayumi entered cinema with the film Rookada Panchi. She is the daughter of Samanalee's brother Asanga Fonseka and Imalka Samaraweera.

Sister Sriyani has acted in popular films such as Lokuma Hinawa, Hondai Narakai, Thilaka Saha Thilakaa, Niwena Ginna and Selinage Walawwa. Rasadari Fonseka has acted in films such as Situ Kumariyo and Athin Athata. Rasadari is married to fellow actor Karunarathna Hangawaththa. Malini's elder brother Dayananda died in 2012.

Ananda Fonseka started acting with Thilaka Saha Thilakaa and continued to act in some films such as Eya Dan Loku Lamayek, Wasanthaye Dawasak, Anupama, Bamba Ketu Hati and Sasara Chethana. He also directed the film Umayangana. His daughter Samanalee is a popular film and television actress. She acted in critically acclaimed films such as Motor Bicycle, Davena Vihagun and Premaya Nam.

Her brother Upali Fonseka died on 30 May 2020 by COVID-19 complication while at London. He was the father of popular actress Senali Fonseka. Senali started acting with the blockbuster film Siri Parakum and then made popular characters in Haara Kotiya and Vijayaba Kollaya.

Political life

On April 2010, she was appointed to theSri Lanka Parliament as aNational List of United People's Freedom Alliance.

Fonseka started her acting career with stage dramas. In 1963, she made her entry to stage dramas with "Noratha Ratha". In 1968, Fonseka won the best stage drama actress national award for her performance in Akal Wessa. She has since played the lead role in 14 stage dramas. She entered the cinema industry through one of her brothers, Ananda Fonseka, who was both a film director and producer but was introduced to the cinema itself by Tissa Liyansuriya and Joe Abeywickrama.

She made her debut with Tissa Liyansuriya's Punchi Baba (The little Baby) in 1968. These films were followed by Abudasse kale, Dahasak Sithuwili and Adarawanthayo in the same year. With the critical success she gained with these, she was offered the lead role by several movie directors of the time. Fonseka has acted in over 140 movies since then, some of which were international movies.

Some of her successful films are Nidhanaya by Lester James Peiris,Siripala Saha Ranmenika by Amaranath Jayathilake,Eya Den Loku Lamayek and Bambaru Ewith by Dharmasena Pathiraja. She achieved a significant milestone in her artistic career with Sasara Chetana in 1984, where she became both its director and producer. She has directed two other films so far: Ahimsa in 1987 and Sthree in 1991.

She paired up with popular Tamil actor, Sivaji Ganeshan in Pilot Premnath in 1978.

Later on, she also worked in the television industry. Fonseka has won praise for her performance inManalada Puthe Kiri Dunne, Pitagamkarayo, Kemmura, and Ambu Daruwo teledramas. She won the Sumathi Best Teledrama Actress Awards for her roles in Pitagamkarayo and Kemmura.

She also made her mark as a teledrama director, with successful creations such as Sanasili Suwanda. She even had the honour of being the first female teledrama director in the history of Sri Lanka teledrama history, when she, both directed and acted in her first teledrama Nirupamala.

Her latest film is Uppalawanna directed by Sunil Ariyaratne.

Malini's career was enhanced with her work alongside Gamini Fonsekawho had a long journey in the history of the silver screen. Malini stated at Gamini's funeral in 2004, "His performance had appeal across the board and I had the good fortune of being associated with Gamini. The cinema of that era is slowly fading away and the passing away of Gamini is another step towards that direction".

Fonseka was the first Sri Lankan actress to reach international heights, winning a special Jury award at the Moscow International Film Festival in 1975. This was to be the first of her many international awards. She also won an award at the New Delhi Film Festival in 1977.

Apart from the many Sarasaviya Awards she has won, she has also earned other honours like the Presidential Awards, OCIC Awards and also international recognition.

Her most recent awards include the "Best Actress Award" for the teledrama "Kemmura" at the Sumathi Tele Awards Ceremony, 2000 and Wishva Prasadhini Award as appreciation of her service to the cinema industry from the President in 1996.

Malini Fonseka felicitation ceremony titled Maliniye held at the BMICH on 30 April 2003 with the participation of President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga for her four decades of contribution to the Cinema of Sri Lanka in more than 150 films.

Sri Lankans living in the US gathered in large numbers at Los Angeles to honour Malini in January 2008. A special dinner was hosted by the Consular General of Sri Lanka Jaliya Wickramasuriya and Mrs. Wickramasuriya to honor her. A special ceremony was organised for her to receive an Appreciative Plaque by the Consulate General of Los Angeles Jaliya Wickramasuriya.

Local

Most Popular Actress Award Deepasikha Award Festival

• Most Popular Actress - 1972
• Most Popular Actress - 1973

Sarasavi Film Awards Festival

• Most Popular Actress - 1979
• Most Popular Actress - 1980
• Most Popular Actress - 1981
• Most Popular Actress - 1982
• Most Popular Actress - 1983
• Most Popular Actress - 1984
• Most Popular Actress - 1985

Competition for selecting Sarasavi, Janatha Popular Film Actress

• Most Popular Actress - 1974

Vanitha Viththi Award Festival

• Most Popular Lady (Film Sector) - 1991
• Most Popular Lady (Film Sector) - 1992

Navaliya Vendol Film Awards Festival Appealing Film Actress -2005 Appealing Film Actress -2006 Appealing Film Actress -2007

Best Supporting Actress Award

First Broadcasting Awards Festival

• Best Supporting Actress - Film 'Punchi Baba' - 1968

Best Actress Award

Reviewers Film Awards Festival

• Best Actress - Film 'Nidhanaya' - 1971/1972

Sarasavi Film Awards Festival

• Best Actress - Film 'Hingana Kolla' - 1979
• Best Actress - Film 'Aradhana' - 1981
• Best Actress - Film 'Yasa Isuru' 1982

Presidential Awards Festival

• Best Actress - Film 'Bambaru Awith' - 1978
• Best Actress - Film 'Wasanthaye Dawasak' - 1979
• Best Actress - Film 'Aradhana' - 1981
• Best Actress - Film 'Wekanda Walawwa' - 2003
• Best Actress - Film 'Ammavarune' - 2005

OCIC Film Awards Festival

• Creative Acting talents Award presented to Malani Fonseka for her performance in 'Eya Den Loku Lamayek' - 1977, 'Siripala saha Ranmenika' - 1977, 'Deviyani Oba Kohida' - 1977
  
• Creative Acting talents Award presented to Malani Fonseka for her performance in 'Dandu Monara' - 1980
  
• Creative Acting talents (Female) Award presented to Malani Fonseka for her performance in 'Beddegama', 'Soldadu Unnehe', 'Induta Mal Mitak' - 1980
  
• Creative Acting talents (Female) Award presented to Malani Fonseka for her performance in 'Madhu Samaya' - 1991
  

Swarna Sanka Film Award Festival

• Best Actress - Film 'Madhu Samaya' - 1991

International

9th Moscow International Film Festival - 1975

• Honorary Diploma Certificate "For Human ship on Cinema, Art and for Peace, Friendship Among Nations"

6th Indian International Film Festival (New Delhi) - 1977

• Honorary Diploma Certificate for 'Siripala saha Ranmenika' from the Indian High Commissioner

39th International Indian Film Festival (GOA) - 2008

• Silver Peacock Award and Certificate for Best Performance - Akasa Kusum

7th Levanthe International Film Festival (Italy) - 2009

• Best Actress Award for Film Akasa Kusum
  

Award for Outstanding Achievement in Film

• Kandy International film Festival - 2011

Stage plays

Best Actress Award - State Drama Festival

• Best Actress - 'Akal Wessa' - 1965

Television

Best Actress Award UNDA Abhinandana Tele Awards Festival

• Best Actress Award 'Mahamera Pamula' - 1992
• Best Actress Award 'Pitagamkarayo' - 1996

UNDA Signis Felicitation Tele Awards Festival

• Best Actress 'Sisila Ima' - 2006

Sumathi Tele Awards Festival

• Best Actress 'Pitagamkarayo' - 1997
• Best Actress 'Kemmura' - 2001

Special Awards

• Swarna Rajani Award for 40 years dedicated service to the Sinhala Cinema - Kala Lanka Foundation
• Felicitation Award for the service rendered to Stage, Cinema and Television for 4 decades Malani Fonseka Felicitation Committee
• Felicitation Award presented by the National Film Corporation for 40 years service rendered to the local cinema.
• Awards and Certificates presented by His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa and Hon. Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake
• Award Presented by Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation
• Award presented by National Film Corporation
• Award presented by Tele Creators Guide