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

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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

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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

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  • 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

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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

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Year Film Role Ref.
1960 Pirimiyek Nisa
1965 Landaka Mahima
1966 Layata Laya
1967 Segawunu Menika
1968 Ruhunu Kumari
1968 Adarayay Karunawai
1969 Mee Masso
1969 Paara Walalu
1970 Akkara Paha Sandha's mother [19]
1971 Samanala Kumariyo
1972 Sujeewa
1972 Singapore Charlie
1972 Ihatha Athmaya Nurse
1974 Lasanda Plantation worker
1975 Pem Kurullo
1975 Tharanga Mrs. Alpana
1975 Jeewana Geethaya
1975 Desa Nisa Nirukada's aunt
1976 Nayana
1976 Wasana Nurse
1976 Deviyange Theenduwa Sophie 'Hami'
1977 Pembara Madhu
1977 Niwena Ginna
1978 Janaka Saha Manju Orphanage name suggester
1978 Kumara Kumariyo Bandara aunty
1978 Sasara
1979 Wasanthaye Dawasak Heen Menike
1979 Monarathenna
1980 Parithyagaya Dhanaprema's mother
1980 Sabeetha Mrs. Silva
1981 Suriyakantha Mother
1981 Ridee Thella
1981 Sathara Diganthaya
1982 Maha Gedara Andiris's wife [20]
1982 Pethi Gomara Purnika's mother
1982 Sanasanna Ma
1982 Wathura Karaththaya
1982 Malata Noena Bambaru [21]
1983 Chutte Celestina
1983 Athin Athata Nelum's relative [22]
1983 Subodha
1983 Bonikka Mrs. Serasinghe
1984 Kiri Kawadi Basil's mother
1984 Adara Geethaya
1984 Deveni Gamana
1984 Hithawathiya Maid
1984 Wadula Dingirala's mother
1984 Hadawathaka Wedana
1984 Arunata Pera Manike
1984 Maya Maggie
1985 Wathsala Akka
1986 Mal Warusa Pillawe Kumarihamy
1997 Pavuru Valalu Maggie
1997 Duwata Mawaka Misa
1997 Tharanaya
1997 Punaruthpaththiya
2000 Sanda Yahanata
2002 Mage Wam Atha Wife's mother
2003 Sulang Kirilli Wife's mother
2004 Diya Yata Gindara Sampath's mother
2004 Premawanthayo
2004 Randiya Dahara Samantha's aunt
2005 Sulanga
2006 Hiripoda Wassa Prema 'Aayamma'
2006 Samaara
2006 Kurulu Pihatu Granny
2007 Sankranthi
2008 Machan Manoj's Grandmother
2009 Kanyavi Somawathi
2011 Sinhawalokanaya Bindu's granny
2013 Maw Senehasa [23]

References

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  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. ^ a b c d e "Feedback from the audience is like a bond from the spirit". Divaina. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  7. ^ a b "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. ^ a b c "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.