Popular child singer Natasha Perera proved that she is capable not only of singing but of acting too. She won the best actress award in the open section of the State Children Drama Festival held recently.

Natasha bagged the best actress award for her lead role as Elizabeth Allen-the naughty girl in “Danga Malla Saha Amuthu Iskole”, an adaptation from Enid Blyton’s ‘The Naughtiest Girl in the school’ (Children’s Drama Festival) staged at John De Silva Memorial theatre in September this year. She got the opportunity to act when Nalaka Swarnathilake a radio programmer realised her potential while she was presenting a children’s programme on ‘Lakhanda radio’.
Speaking to the TV Times on his first stage production which won the second place out of thirteen dramas staged at the Festival. Nalaka said “I owe my success to little Natasha”.

“When I read Enid Blyton’s ‘The Naughtiest Girl in the School’ I realised that there was a good message for our educators in it and I did a radio programme based on the story.” “It was for this that I first took Natasha. Her voice captured the mischievous character-quality in the play,” Nalaka reminisced at length. “I decided to extend my direction in another medium-the stage”.

“I detected the talented, lonely character which is similar to Elizabeth Allen in Natasha. This too was an assert to the characterisation of the play” telling why he choose Natasha for the play. ‘I was bit nervous at first as Natasha had not acted in any play earlier but later I was much satisfied about her performance once she mastered the art of acting on stage.

Natasha who spoke about her acting said “At first I was rather nervous as I have never acted before but gradually I got over my stage fright and really enjoyed the role of Elizabeth Allen at its first public performance on March 30 at the Tower Hall”.

Though an award winning actress now, it was her singing that first brought her to the limelight. Her “Sulangakwee Mang Enawa” in which she sings with Visharadha Edward Jayakody is in great demand and is frequently heard over the radio and TV stations.

Twelve-year old Natasha’s ability to sing also came as a discovery. Singing at a relative’s wedding she was praised and acclaimed by many including popular composer and singer Jagath Wickremasinghe who backed her on the organ. Her paternal grandmother decided to encourage Natasha by producing a cassette “Sulangakwee” with the help of Graction Ananda, Jagath Wickremasinghe, Samantha Liyanage and Edward Jayakody which comes out under the Torana label.

Natasha’s cassette comes at a time when the focus is on children but the difference being that here a child has produced a cassette for children.
This grade eight student of Holy Family Convent, Bambalapitiya who had no dreams of becoming a popular singer or an actress said, “I have no intention of continuing my career as a singer or actress,” while adding “I want to be a doctor like my Nenda who is working in England and my favourite subject is science”.

Natasha is presently studying music under Visharadha Nanda Malani and in addition she is studying it as the aesthetic subject at her school. She is also learning to play the organ and Sitar on her own and most of her time is spent with music when she has free time from her studies.

This young girl’s talent is not limited to singing and acting. She also participated as a TV presenter in the popular children’s programmes ‘Samanala Uyana’. Natasha says “I have many friends at school and I want to thank my teachers and our superiors at the school who helped me and encouraged me to carry on my singing and acting activities”.

“I hope to produce another cassette soon and probably next year” said Natasha speaking of her future plans and went on to shyly to say “I get a lot of fan mail which makes me happy. While thanking my fans sincerely, I’m sorry I am unable to reply personally.” Natasha’s birthday is on January 22, and her address is No 231, High Level Road, Kirulupana, Colombo-5.

Back to Top

Back to TV Times

Copyright © 2001 Wijeya Newspapers Ltd. All rights reserved.