TV Times

TV Times

Nita’s achievements on the Net
By Susitha R. Fernando
A website was launched for our internationally acclaimed actress Nita Fernando last week. The occasion had a few distinguished friends and film personalities sharing the joy of the moment.

The hub of activity was at the residence of Yolanda Weerasinghe, Nita’s manager who organised the event of taking Nita’s name to cyber space.

The website which could be logged in with two addresses www.nitafernando.com and www.padmaproductions.com has pages on Nita Fernando’s back ground, her filmography, awards won, film reviews and teledrama library which had details of Nita joining with Yolanda under the company titled ‘Padma Productions’. It also includes video clippings of films and teledramas and special moments in Nita’s life like when she received the award at the Singapore International Film Festival.

Among the local and international achievements, are the Best actress at the International Singapore Film Festival for Prasanna Vithanage’s “Pavuru Walalu” (Walls Within) in 1998 and the ‘Vishwa Kirthie’ award, Presidential award and the Critics award in 1999 and OCIC award for Best Actress in 2000 here.

Mrs. Yolanda Weerasinghe who took up the task of making the website for Nita Fernando said this was to push our talents to the international level. “Nita according to me is one of the most talented actresses in Sri Lankan cinema who had been acclaimed internationally” said Yolanda.

“The website which has a separate page dedicated to Nita’s fans which could be the nucleus for a fan club”, said Yolanda who also started a fan club for Malani Fonseka.

“This actress has knack to pick up the right role that is suitable to her and never goes after anyone for roles,” Yolanda herself a fan of Nita said in praise of this gifted actress.

Yolanda who had been in Australia said there were many Sri Lankan expatriates living overseas who are longing to know about our film world and personalities. They hardly have access to the information about our film makers and artistes and their achievements. The website was done by the former Miss world Shevani Wedanayake and her husband Chaminda Wedanayake for ‘Webs Syndicate’.

Nita at a glimpse
Born in Negombo, Nita was the eldest of three siblings and was educated at Holy Family Convent, Wennappuwa. Nita was introduced to the ‘Film World’ by her uncle at a young age and her first film was “Landaka Mahima”. This was followed by another 38 more feature films within the period of eight years.

Nita’s film “Duhulu Malak” was an outstanding achievement in her career as she won the award for best actress in 1997 (OCIC). She had also acted opposite all the leading male stars in Sri Lankan cinema including Joe Abeywickreme, Gamini Fonseka, Vijaya Kumaratunge, Tony Ranasinghe and Ravindra Randeniya.

Later in 1975 Nita left the film world and followed her late husband Aelian Perera who was a reputed lawyer to Canada where she worked as a receptionist at the Montreal General Hospital.

While on vacation in Sri Lanka in 1983 Nita and Aelian produced a feature Film “Sooriyakantha” in which she played the main female role with Vijaya Kumaratunge. In 1998 she returned to where her true passion lies and took the movie world by storm, with an International award winning film “Pavuru Walalu” (Walls Within). This film won three other International awards at the Des Aelians International film festival, France. It was also screened at the Fukoka International Film Festival in Japan, which was then purchased for the Fukoka library.

With these awards Nita helped the Sri Lankan film industry to reach world standards by being the first to win such a prestigious award, the ‘Best Actress’ at the International Singapore Film Festival.

In her native land Nita also received the ‘Vishwa Kirthie’ award, the Presidential and Critic award not to mention the OCIC all within this period. Also credited to Nita’s success is the screening of “Pavuru Walalu” in Australia television SBS and Malaysia Astro Pay Television.

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