Shanthi Lekha

Rita Irene Koys (July 1, 1929 – May 11, 2009),[1] better known as Shanthi Lekha, was a Sri Lankan Film actress. She played the role of mother in more films than any other actress in Sinhala cinema.

Shanthi Lekha
Born
Rita Irene Koys

(1929-07-01)July 1, 1929
Kalutara Sri Lanka
DiedJune 11, 2009(2009-06-11) (aged 79)
Monte Carlo Monaco
NationalitySri Lankan
Known forFilm Actress
SpouseShanthi Viraj

Personal life

Lekha was born in Kalutara on July 1, 1929. She received her stage name from her first husband Shanthi Viraj. They had first met while she was attending Holy Family Convent in Kalutara.

She died in France May 11, 2009.[2]

Career

She starred in composer D. T. Fernando's play Shantha Prabha (1942). She subsequently made a mark as a dancer in plays starring Dommie Jayawardena and Nona Subeda.[3]

With Jayawardena, Lekha had her first film role in Sujatha (1953). Wearing a bathing suit, she danced along with Jayawardena to the song "Pem Rella Nagi." The role came with a payment of Rs. 500 and a contract prohibiting her from doing films for other production companies. The producer K. Gunaratnam would subsequently offer her roles in Warada Kageda, Radala Piliruwa and Dosthara.[3]

Lekha first played a mother in Sandesaya (1960). She would play this role in over 350 films.[3]

Lekha won Best Supporting Actress Awards at the Sarasaviya Film Festival for Gamini Fonseka's Parasathu Mal (1968) and Mudalinayaka Somaratne's Binaramali (1969). She also won Presidential Awards for Mayurige Kathawa and Ridi Nimnaya.[3]

Filmography
YearFilmRoleRef.
1953SujathaPrema
1954Warada KagedaRupa
1954Radala PiliruwaLaviniya
1956DostharaRita[4]
1957Jeewitha Satana
1958Salli Malli Salli
1960SandesayaExecuted man's wife
1963GamperaliyaHamine[5]
1964Suba Sarana Sepa Sithe
1965Sepatha SoyaAccomplice Rathna
1965Allapu GedaraSepalika's mother
1966Seethala Wathura
1966Delovak AtharaAccident victim's mother
1966Parasathu MalKamala's mother[6]
1966Oba Dutu Da
1966Senasili SuwayaWimal's mother
1967Ran SaluSarojini's mother
1967Saru Bima
1967Vasanthi
1967Ipadune Ai
1967Rena GirawDissa's mother[7]
1967Sura Chauraya
1968Pini Bindu
1968Dehadaka DukaGamini's mother
1968Ataweni Pudumaya
1969NarilathaJean[8]
1969Kawuda HariRita's mother
1969BinaramaleeKiri Amma[9]
1969Uthum Sthriya
1970Athma Pooja
1970Thevetha
1970Penawa Neda
1970Akkara PahaSena's mother[10]
1970Tun Man HandiyaSirisena's mother
1971PoojithayoMrs. Batuwantalawa
1971Devena Pipasa
1971Seeye Nottuwa
1971Samanala Kumariyo
1971Sahanaya[11]
1972NidhanayaIrene's mother[12]
1972Edath Suraya Adath SurayaAlice
1972Hithaka Pipunu Mal
1973Aparadaya Saha Danduwama
1973ThusharaSampath's mother[13]
1973Hondama Welawa
1973Hondata HondaiViolet
1974Ahas GauwaVijay's mother
1974Hadawath Naththo
1974Onna Babo Billo Enawa
1974Senakeliya
1974Duppathage HithawathaKanthi[14]
1974LasandaSamadara
1975Hitha Honda MinihekJothi's mother
1975Obai MamaiSuminda's mother
1975Kohoma KiyannadaSheela's mother
1975Amaraneeya Adare
1975Lassana Kella
1975Kokilayo
1975SikuruliyaNamali's mother[15]
1975Lassana DawasakPriyanthi's mother
1975SangeethaSangeetha's mother[16]
1976Nayana
1976Kawuda RajaManu's mother[17]
1976Ganga
1976Madol DuwaAnnie Perera[18]
1976WalmathwuwoCyril's mother
1976Kolamba SanniyaAndare's sister
1976Asha
1976Hariyata HariAgnes
1976Onna Mame Kella Penapi
1976Saradielge PuthaUpasaka Amma
1976Adarei Man Adarei
1976Ran Thilaka
1977Neela
1977Sakunthala
1977Sudu ParaviyoKumari's mother
1977Hithuwoth HithuwamaiSumali's mother[19]
1977Pembara Madhu
1977Deviyani Oba KohidaAginda[20]
1977Chin Chin Nona[21]
1977Siripala Saha Ranmenika[22]
1977Rahas Kumanthranaya
1977Chandi PuthaShanthi[23]
1977YakdayaSomey's mother[24]
1977Eya Dan Loku MinihekSusila's mother
1977Aege Adara KathawaRuvini's mother
1978VishmayaJanaka's mother
1978Hitha MithuraCelestina
1978Sithaka SuwandaRita Samson
1978Mage Ran Putha
1978TikiraDaisy Samarasekara
1978Sally
1978Sasara
1978Ahasin Polawata
1979SarungaleSusheela's mother[25]
1979Amal Biso
1979Ran KurulloRajesh's mother
1979Sawudan Jema
1979Visihathara PeyaSumana's mother
1980UthumaneniMother[26]
1980Ektam GeRosalin[27]
1980Doctor Susantha
1980ParithyagayaSeelawathie
1980Sasaraka PethumJagath's mother
1980Ganga AddaraMrs. Bunna
1980Raja Dawasak
1980SankhapaliSanka's mother
1980Api Dedena
1980Miyurige Kathawa
1981ThavalamaAngatakka
1981RangaVajira's mother
1981Sayuru TheraKathrina
1981VajiraNima's mother
1981Sagarayak MedaNurse Seneviratne
1981Bandura Mal
1982Re ManamaliLandlord
1982Sakvithi SuwayaAdo 'Akka'
1982Sudu AyyaAnanda's aunt
1982Ridee NimnayaMillie 'Nona'
1982Pradeepa
1982Sithara
1982Thakkita Tharikita
1982Chathu MadhuraSomawathie
1983Yali Pipunu Malak
1983Siwu Ranga Sena
1983ChutteKadajumma
1983Athin AthataNelum's mother[28]
1983Thunhiri Mal
1983PasamithuroGemunu's mother
1984Mala GiraviParty well-wisher
1984KokilaW. J. Nona
1984Sasara Chethana
1984Rana Derana
1984HithawathiyaMrs. Weerasinghe
1985Puthuni Mata Samawenna
1985Du Daruwo
1986Yali HamuwennaiPrasanna's mother
1986Devduwa
1986Pooja
1987Yugayen Yugayata
1987Kele KellaRoshini's mother
1988Ko Hathuro
1990Jaya Kothanda
1991Paaradisaya
1991Salambak Handai
1998Aeya Obata BaraiKumari's mother
1999Surangana Yahana

References
  1. "Sri Lanka, 5 - 11 - 2009: Renowned Sri Lankan actress Shanthi Lekha passes away". www.colombopage.com. Archived from the original on 2009-05-15.
  2. Renowned Sri Lankan actress Shanthi Lekha passes away ColomboPage Retrieved on 2009-05-12
  3. "Most popular screen mother". The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. 2004. Archived from the original on 2009-05-15. Retrieved 2008-05-01.
  4. "Gunaratnam–Meyyappan–Dosthara". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  5. "All about the blockbuster film "Gamperaliya"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  6. "All about "Parasathu Mal"". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  7. "All about "Rena Giraw"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  8. "All about Narilatha". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  9. "All about Binaramalee". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  10. "All about the film "Akkara Paha"". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  11. "All about Sahanaya". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  12. "40 years for the greatest film ever produced in Sinhala cinema". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  13. "All about the film "Thushara"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  14. "All about Duppathage Hithawatha". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  15. "He left me: Sikuruliya". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  16. "All about Sangeetha". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  17. "All about the film "Kawuda Raja"". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
  18. "All about Madol Duwa". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  19. "All about "Hithuwoth Hithuwamai"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  20. "Deviyani Oba Koheda". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  21. "Chin Chin Nona, who came before Tom Pachaya". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-03-05.
  22. "Siripala and Ranmenika highlighted the poetic mind of the misguided man". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  23. "All about Chandi Putha". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  24. "All about Yakadaya". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  25. "All about Sarungale". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  26. "All about 'Uthumaneni'". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  27. "We will alone in Ektam Ge". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  28. "Full of stars and rings: Athin Athata". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
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