Mary Felicia Perera[1] (born June 7, 1944, සෝනියා දිසා) [Sinhala]), popularly as Sonia Dissanayake or known professionally as Sonia Disa, is a former actress in Sri Lankan cinema.[2] Starting her career in 1962, Disa became one of the most popular film actresses in Sri Lanka in the 1970s and 1980s. Apart from acting, she also produced 17 films and worked as a costume designer.[3]

Sonia Disa
සෝනියා දිසා
Born
Mary Felicia Perera

(1944-06-07) June 7, 1944 (age 80)
NationalitySri Lankan
Other namesSonia Dissanayake
Occupation(s)Actress, Producer, Costume designer
Years active1962–2009
SpouseKaru Dissanayake (m. 1964)
Children2

Personal life

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Disa was born on 7 June 1944 in Kotahena, Colombo as Mary Felicia Perera.[3] She was married to Karu Dissanayake, who was also a film actor and made his film debut with Soorayangeth Sooraya, later acting in popular films including Weli Kathara, Thushara and Janaka Saha Manju. He died on 17 November 2009.[4] Disa lives in Australia with her two children, Udaya and Harshani, and her three grandchildren.[3]

In 2017, Sonia was hospitalized due to a sudden heart attack. She recovered successfully after surgery.[5]

Career

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Disa was introduced to cinema by Anthony C. Perera at the age of 19.[6] He brought Sonia into Titus Thotawatte and she acted as "club girl" in his 1962 film Chandiya.[7] Her major cinematic breakthrough came through a supporting role in the 1964 film Heta Pramada Wadi, directed by Shantha Kumar Senevirathna.[8] Some of her most popular films are Soorayangeth Sooraya, Thusara, Sadahatama Oba Magai and Janaka Saha Manju.[9]

During the shooting of 1976 film Nedeyo, Sonia was severely injured when acting a scene in a car. She was admitted to the hospital in a comatose state and relieved after seven days. One of her eyes was severely damaged and the vision was lost in that eye. It took one year and six months for her to recover completely.[6] Disa won the Best Supporting Actress award for her role in Obata Divura Kiyannam at Sarasavi Film Festival and Best Supporting Actress award for her role in Devduwa at the Presidential award festival.[10]

Disa acted with Gamini Fonseka in 15 films, which enabled her to play in different levels in Sinhalese cinema. She acted in many villainous roles opposite Malini Fonseka. She then started to act in more dramatic roles which commenced with Jeewana Ganga directed by Dayananda Rodrigo. Finally, she was acted in many motherly roles in blockbuster movies such as Thaththai Puthai, Raja Wadakarayo, Hitha Honda Chandiya and Mamai Raja. With many western roles, her name was transferred to stage name Sonia Disa by Tissa Abeysekara.[6]

In 1986, she produced her maiden cinema production Jaya Apatai along with Sunil T. Fernando.[11]

In 2004, Disa celebrated 40 years of her cinema career with a grand ceremony at the BMICH.[12] After 20 years, she acted in Dayaratne Ratagedara's poya day single episode teledrama Mudukku.[13]

Arrest

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16 February 2015, Disa was arrested by the Slave Island police for trespassing on the Nava Sama Samaja Party office premises at Barrack road Colombo 2. She charged that her house was unlawfully acquired by Wickramabahu Karunaratne. She also stated that the building was given to former minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara twenty years ago. However, six people including Disa, were produced before the Fort Magistrate Court.[14] She was released on bail by the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court on 18 February 2015.[15]

Filmography

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As actress

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Year Film Role Ref.
1964 Heta Pramada Wadi Garjana Kumara's Daughter
1965 Chandiya [16]
1966 Oba Dutu Da [17]
1968 Bicycle Hora
1969 Kohomada Wede
1969 Mee Masso
1969 Prawesamwanna Sonia
1969 Paara Walalu
1969 Hari Maga Samanthi
1969 Soorayangeth Sooraya
1970 Ohoma Hondada Kanthi [18]
1970 Suli Sulan
1971 Poojithayo Item song
1971 Abirahasa Opening bargoer
1971 Sahanaya [19]
1972 Miriguwa
1972 Edath Sooraya Adath Sooraya Jiggie
1973 Sadahatama Oba Mage [20]
1973 Hondai Narakai
1973 Hondata Hondai Ramani
1973 Thushara Sonia [21]
1973 Hondama Welawa
1974 Sahayata Danny
1974 Mehema Harida
1974 Jeewana Ganga
1974 Onna Babo Billo Enawa Joe's lover
1975 Hitha Honda Minihek Sriya
1975 Amaraneeya Adare
1975 Gijulihiniyo
1976 Pradeepe Ma Wewa
1976 Harima Badu Thunak Monica Kulatilaka
1976 Hariyata Hari Punchi Nona
1976 Nedeyo Kumuduni
1976 Kawuda Raja Sudha [22]
1977 Deviyani Oba Kohida? Mother in Urban Area [23]
1977 Chin Chin Nona [24]
1977 Aege Adara Kathawa Sudu Manike
1978 Janaka Saha Manju Champika Nandadeva [25]
1978 Sasara Kanthi
1978 Sandawata Ran Tharu
1979 Monarathenna Sriya [26]
1979 Sawudan Jema Nokki
1979 Geheniyak Sirimali 'Mali'
1979 Hingana Kolla Marian Samarasinghe [27]
1979 Subhani
1980 Uthumaneni Siripala's lover [28]
1980 Tak Tik Tuk Nilanthi
1980 Anuhasa
1980 Adara Rathne Nirmala
1980 Doctor Susantha
1980 Raktha Thara
1980 Miyurige Kathawa
1981 Bangali Walalu
1981 Sathweni Dawasa Wanrakka
1981 Amme Mata Samawenna Sheela
1981 Jeewanthi Priyanga
1982 Wathura Karaththaya Mother
1982 Thakkita Tharikita
1982 Miss Mallika
1982 Rail Paara Rail Guard's wife
1982 Rahasak Nathi Rahasak
1982 Kele Mal
1982 Kadawunu Poronduwa Tekla
1983 Ran Mini Muthu
1983 Monarathenna 2
1983 Chuttey Sumana
1983 Senehasaka Kandulu Selli
1983 Loku Thaththa
1983 Mal Madhu
1983 Sister Mary Sister Mary
1984 Ammai Duwai
1984 Thaththai Puthai Saliya's mother
1984 Hadawathaka Wedana
1985 Channai Kello Dennai
1985 Raththaran Kanda
1985 Aeya Waradida Oba Kiyanna
1985 Obata Diwura Kiyannam Silawathie
1986 Dushyanthi Seeta Kumari
1986 Devduwa
1986 Jaya Apatai
1987 Raja Wadakarayo Ramesh's mother
1987 Hitha Honda Chandiya Jinney's mother
1987 Ahinsa Party guest
1988 Amme Oba Nisa
1988 Ko Hathuro
1989 Mamai Raja Nanda Ranatunga
1989 Obata Rahasak Kiyannam
1989 Sinasenna Raththaran
1989 Randenigala Sinhaya Raju's mother
1990 Yukthiyata Wada Sujatha
1990 Veera Udara
1990 Chandi Raja
1991 Raja Sellan
1991 Esala Sanda
1991 Uthura Dakuna
1991 Raja Kello
1991 Ran Hadawatha
1991 Alibaba Saha Horu 40
1991 Bambara Kalapaya
1992 Ranabime Veeraya
1992 Oba Mata Wiswasai Veerabahu's wife
1992 Sakwithi Raja
1992 Chandi Rejina
1993 Ottui Beruwata
1993 Lassanai Balanna
1993 Lassanai Balanna
1995 Wasana Wewa
1995 Chandiyage Putha Manamperiyage Silawathie Perera
1995 Aege Wairaya
1995 Edath Chandiya Adath Chandiya
1995 Dalulana Gini
1995 Inspector Geetha Nalika
1995 Dewiyani Sathya Surakinna Shanthi
1996 Raththaran Malli
1997 Aege Wairaya 2
1998 Aege Wairaya 3
1998 Sexy Girl
1999 Unusum Rathriya
1999 Koti Sana Koti Sana's mother [29]
2000 Aege Wairaya 4
2000 Salupata Ahasata
2000 Kauda Bole Alice Hilda Nona [30]
2001 Hai Baby Hai
2002 Sansara Prarthana
2009 Thushara Sampath's mother [31]

As producer

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Year Film
1986 Jaya Apatai
1988 Ko Hathuro
1989 Mamai Raja
1990 Chandi Raja
1992 Chandi Rejina
1992 Sakwithi Raja
1993 Lassanai Balanna
1995 Wasana Wewa
1995 Chandiyage Putha
1995 Edath Chandiya Adath Chandiya
1995 Dalulana Gini
1996 Raththaran Malli
1997 Aege Wairaya 2
1997 Aege Wairaya 3
1998 Sexy Girl
1999 Koti Sana
1999 Unusum Rathriya

As costume designer

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Year Film
1996 Raththaran Malli

References

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  1. ^ "Actresses in Sri Lankan cinema - Sonia Disa". Rate Your Music. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  2. ^ "Actresses in Sri Lankan cinema - Semini Iddamalgoda". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
  3. ^ a b c "SONIA Dissa SO NEAR TO OUR HEARTS". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  4. ^ "Karu Dissanayake". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  5. ^ "Sonia speaks about Sunil T." Neth Gossip. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  6. ^ a b c "Sonia Disa brought me luck". Saaraviya. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  7. ^ "They never helped me". Dinamina. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  8. ^ "Sonia Disa filmography". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  9. ^ "Soniya Disanayaka filmography". IMDb. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  10. ^ "Sonia Dissa's colleagues fete her". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  11. ^ "No child's play!". Daily News. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  12. ^ "A colourful career of four decades". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  13. ^ "Chat with Sonia". Hiru FM. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  14. ^ "Actress Sonia Disa arrested". News First. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  15. ^ "Actress Sonia Disa released on bail". News First. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  16. ^ "All about "Chandiya"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-04-04.
  17. ^ "Sri Lankan film maker Siva Sivanandan talks about his lost film 'Oba Dutu Da'". News Trails. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  18. ^ "All about the film "Ohoma Hondada"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  19. ^ "All about Sahanaya". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  20. ^ "Rise of the director-actor". The Nation. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  21. ^ "All about the film "Thushara"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  22. ^ "All about the film "Kawuda Raja"". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
  23. ^ "Deviyani Oba Koheda". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  24. ^ "Chin Chin Nona, who came before Tom Pachaya". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-03-05.
  25. ^ "Intriguing K.A.W. Perera And the roads he took us through". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  26. ^ "All about Monarathanna". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  27. ^ "All about the film "Hingana Kolla"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  28. ^ "All about 'Uthumaneni'". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  29. ^ "කොටි සනා Koti Sana". Rate Your Music. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  30. ^ "'Kauda Bole Alice': a rip-roaring comedy". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  31. ^ "Old wine in new bottle". Daily News. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
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