fiction.wikisort.org - Actor

Sirimathi Mary Fernando (born 10 May 1932 - died 3 September 1992 as සිරිමතී රසාදරී) [Sinhala]), popularly as Sirimathi Rasadari, was an actress in Sri Lankan cinema,[1][2] as well as a renowned Kathak dancer.[3][4] Considered as the first in Sri Lanka to mastered the art of dancing, acting, singing and writing at the same time, she is the pioneer to establish United Ceylon Fan Club in 1957.[5]

Sirimathi Rasadari සිරිමතී රසාදරී
Born	Sirimathi Mary Fernando (1932-05-10)10 May 1932 Wennappuwa, Sri Lanka
Died	September 3, 1992(1992-09-03) (aged 60) Colombo
Nationality	Sri Lankan
Education	Dummaladeniya Roman Catholic School
Occupation	Actress, Dancer
Years active	1947–1992
Spouse	Rathna Dissanayake

Personal life

She was born on 10 May 1932 in Nainamadama, Dummalawarama, Wennappuwa as third of the family. She had two sisters and five brothers. She was educated at Dummaladeniya Roman Catholic School. She can write, speak and read Hindi as well as can speak Tamil and English.[6]

She was married to Rathna Dissanayake, who was a lecturer at Giragama Aesthetic University. Rasadari also served as a visiting lecturer at the University of the Visual and Performing Arts.[5]

Rasadari died on 3 September 1992 at the age of 60.

Career

In 1939 while at the school, she contested for a singing competition conducted for the All Island Health Week. She won the first place from the North Western Province. With the intentions to be a dancer, she learned Kathakali dancing from Shantha Kalayathana in Meeepura under Shanthi Viraj in 1967, Bharatha and Manipuri dances by Shanthi Kumar Seneviratne and Kandyan dancing under Heenbaba Dharmasiri for eight years. She was the first Sri Lankan graduate of Bharath Kathak Dance[7] and started a music company called Sangeetha Kendra in 1977.[6] The specialty of this institution was that it has been approved as the Colombo Center for the passage of all music examinations in Bhatkanda since 1987.[5]

She also became a singer at Radio Ceylon and sang on HMV and Odien gramophone trades as the supporting singer for Premanath Morais and Sunil Premadasa. She has sung the song A Maha Veera Budu Piya with Premanath Morais which has become a popular song. She also gained popularity as a singer by singing the song Paana Paththu Nokeruwata for the movie Daiwayogaya with Mohideen Baig.[1]

Even though she was selected for the film Prema Tharagaya, she refused to act due to a scene with partial nudity.[5] Her maiden cinema appearance came through film Puduma Leli under the supervision of Hugo Fernando at the age of 15. Then she acted in the film Dosthara where she went India for the film shooting. The she acted many popular films such as Sri 296, Surathali, Nalangana, Sansare and Samaje Sathuro.[5]

Then she acted along with Rukmani Devi in te popular film Daiwayogaya as "Sugala". She acted as Ananda Jayaratne's girlfriend in the song Siriyame Sara, which was H.R. Jothipala's first film background song. The highlight of her acting career was the role of "Maggie" in the movie Parasathumal.[6] During the period as a lecturer, she published a book on Indian dance Narthana Kala in Sinhala, which was first such in Sri Lanka.[5]

Filmography

Year	Film	Role	Ref.
1953	Puduma Leli	Yasohamy 'Lilly'
1956	Dosthara	Alice	[8]
1956	Surathali	Manel
1958	Deyyange Rate
1958	Vana Mohini
1959	Daiwayogaya	Sugala. also as Playback Singer
1959	Sri 296	Natyanganawo
1960	Pirimiyek Nisa	Also as Playback Singer
1960	Nalangana
1962	Sansare
1964	Heta Pramada Wadi	Nimala
1964	Kala Kala De Pala Pala De
1964	Suba Sarana Sepa Sithe
1965	Sepatha Soya
1966	Sampatha
1966	Parasathu Mal	Maggie	[9]
1967	Sath Samudura		[10]
1968	Amathikama
1968	Hangi Hora
1969	Samaje Sathuro
1980	Sasaraka Pathum
1981	Suriyakantha
1981	Jeewanthi
1983	Menik Maliga
1985	Du Daruwo
1987	Raja Wadakarayo
1989	Badulu Kochchiya
1991	Golu Muhude Kunatuwa
1992	Raje Wage Puthek
1992	Sakkara Suththara
1992	Salli Thibunata Madi
1994	Vijaya Geetha	Dulcie 'Missy'
1994	Mawbime Veerayo
1995	Inspector Geetha
2000	Hansa Vilapaya

References

External links

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