Seetha Kumari

Seetha Kumari Ehelepola (born 9 May 1940 – died 7 August 2013 as සීතා කුමාරි ඇහැලේපොළ) [Sinhala]), was an actress in Sri Lankan cinema, theater and television.[2][3] One of the earliest pillars in Sri Lankan film history, Ehelepola had a career that spanned more than four decades.[4] She was notable to act in many motherly roles in television serials as well as films.[5]

Seetha Kumari
සීතා කුමාරි
Born
Seetha Kumari Ahelapola

(1940-05-09)9 May 1940
Ehelepola, Matale, Sri Lanka
Died7 August 2013(2013-08-07) (aged 73)
Kalubowila Hospital, Colombo
NationalitySri Lankan
OccupationActress
Years active1960–2013
Children1[1]

Personal life

Kumari was born on 9 May 1940 in Ehelepola village, Matale.[6] She has one son, Pradeep Kumara Abeyratne, who currently lives in Italy.[7]

She died on 7 August 2013 due to a sudden heart attack at the age of 73.[8] After the body being placed in the Colombo Art Gallery on 10 August 2013 from 10 am to 4 pm, funeral took place on the same day at Borella Cemetery.[6]

Career

Her elder sister was married to Matale. After the husband's sudden death, Kumari with her son stayed at elder sister's house. The son was three years old at that time. One day, Ananda Jayaratne came to the house of sister to meet sister's son. When Ananda saw her that day, he asked to act in his film. She entered the cinema industry in 1968 with Ananda Jayaratne's film Adarai Karunavai with the role as a "servant".[9] She was 25 years old at that time. She acted in more than 60 films since 1968 until her last appearance in 2011 film Sinhawalokanaya.[10] Some of her popular films include Desa Nisa, Wathsala Akka, Ran Salu, Akkara Paha and Segawunu Menika.[11]

After the cinema, Kumari started to act in Dhamma Jagoda's stage plays.[6] Some of her popular stage plays are Wes Muhuna, Weniyan Kalu Weniyan and Wessanthara.[11] Kumari learnt dancing from Shesha Palihakkara. After filmmaker A.B. Raj saw her at an exhibition, she offered a role in his film Ramyalatha. Her first lead role in films came through film Sirimalee. Then in 1960, she played the lead role opposite to Gamini Fonseka in the film Pirimiyek Nisa. However, she quit from cinema due to father's death in the following year.[7]

Her maiden television acting came through Dath Kekulu Paala directed by Sriyani Amarasena in 1990.[6] Since then, she acted in many popular serials including, Giju, Saapa Nokarav Daruwane, Girikula, Ramya Suramya, Maya, Dussaranayo and Ulamage Rathriya.[12] She continued to act in single episode poya day television serials Sansare Piya Satahan directed by Ananda Abenayake and Sitha Niwana Katha directed by Dayaratne Ratagedara for many years with the role "Granny".[11]

Selected television serials
  • Dath Kekulu Paala
  • Dooli Pinatharu[13]
  • Dussaranayo
  • Eka Iththaka Mal
  • Giju
  • Girikula
  • Maya
  • Meghayen Eha[14]
  • Monarathanna
  • Nannadunanni
  • Ramya Suramya
  • Ran Samanalayo[15]
  • Saapa Nokarav Daruwane
  • Sanda Mudunata[16]
  • Sansare Piya Satahan
  • Sitha Niwana Katha
  • Smarana Samapthi[17]
  • Ulamage Rathriya

Awards

Kumari has received many awards at local drama festivals.[6]

  • Presidential Award in 1986 for the film Wathsala Akka
  • Critics Award for the film Tharanaya in 1998
  • Best Supporting Actress at Sumathi Awards in 2000 for the serial Nannadunanni[18]
  • Presidential Award in 2005 for the film Pawuru Walalu
  • Excellence Awards at Sarasaviya Film Festival in 2008

Filmography
YearFilmRoleRef.
1960Pirimiyek Nisa
1965Landaka Mahima
1966Layata Laya
1967Segawunu Menika
1968Ruhunu Kumari
1968Adarayay Karunawai
1969Mee Masso
1969Paara Walalu
1970Akkara PahaSandha's mother[19]
1971Samanala Kumariyo
1972Sujeewa
1972Singapore Charlie
1972Ihatha AthmayaNurse
1974LasandaPlantation worker
1975Pem Kurullo
1975TharangaMrs. Alpana
1975Jeewana Geethaya
1975Desa NisaNirukada's aunt
1976Nayana
1976WasanaNurse
1976Deviyange TheenduwaSophie 'Hami'
1977Pembara Madhu
1977Niwena Ginna
1978Janaka Saha ManjuOrphanage name suggester
1978Kumara KumariyoBandara aunty
1978Sasara
1979Wasanthaye DawasakHeen Menike
1979Monarathenna
1980ParithyagayaDhanaprema's mother
1980SabeethaMrs. Silva
1981SuriyakanthaMother
1981Ridee Thella
1981Sathara Diganthaya
1982Maha GedaraAndiris's wife[20]
1982Pethi GomaraPurnika's mother
1982Sanasanna Ma
1982Wathura Karaththaya
1982Malata Noena Bambaru[21]
1983ChutteCelestina
1983Athin AthataNelum's relative[22]
1983Subodha
1983BonikkaMrs. Serasinghe
1984Kiri KawadiBasil's mother
1984Adara Geethaya
1984Deveni Gamana
1984HithawathiyaMaid
1984WadulaDingirala's mother
1984Hadawathaka Wedana
1984Arunata PeraManike
1984MayaMaggie
1985Wathsala Akka
1986Mal WarusaPillawe Kumarihamy
1997Pavuru ValaluMaggie
1997Duwata Mawaka Misa
1997Tharanaya
1997Punaruthpaththiya
2000Sanda Yahanata
2002Mage Wam AthaWife's mother
2003Sulang KirilliWife's mother
2004Diya Yata GindaraSampath's mother
2004Premawanthayo
2004Randiya DaharaSamantha's aunt
2005Sulanga
2006Hiripoda WassaPrema 'Aayamma'
2006Samaara
2006Kurulu PihatuGranny
2007Sankranthi
2008MachanManoj's Grandmother
2009KanyaviSomawathi
2011SinhawalokanayaBindu's granny
2013Maw Senehasa[23]

References
  1. "Grandma says goodbye to television screen". Lankadeepa. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  2. "Seetha Kumari Ehalepola - සීතා කුමාරි ඇහැලේපොල filmography". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  3. "Seetha Kumari Ehalepola filmography". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  4. "Actress Seetha Kumari has passed away". Divaina. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  5. "Sitha Aunty on a journey she will never return". cinema.lk. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  6. "Feedback from the audience is like a bond from the spirit". Divaina. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  7. "I was nervous initially". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  8. "Veteran actress Seetha Kumari dies". Dinamina. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  9. "Actress Seetha Kumarihami has passed away". lankatruth. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  10. "Seetha Kumari Ehalepola (1940–2013)". IMDb. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  11. "Grandma's departure". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  12. "Moms and grandparents leaving the screen". lifie.lk. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  13. "Doowili Pinatharu". Divaina. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  14. "Grandma has gone". gossiplankahotnews. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  15. "Chat with Seetha Kumari". hothotlanka. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  16. "Sanda Mudunata: Pavel's TV venture". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  17. "Smarana Samapthi special screening". The Colombo Post. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  18. "Stars that shape our telly screen and say goodbye to us". aniwa.lk. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  19. "All about the film "Akkara Paha"". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  20. "All about Maha Gedara". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  21. "All about the film "Malata Noena Bambaru"". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  22. "Full of stars and rings: Athin Athata". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  23. "Maw Senehasa unspools in London". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
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