The screen queen of the Sri Lankan cinema added yet another feather to her cap crowning herself with ‘Best Actress’ award at the recently concluded 7th Levente International Film Festival in Italy.
Malani won this award for her lead role of a fallen movie star, ‘Sandya Rani’ in Prasanna Vithanage’s ‘Akasa Kusum’ (Flowers of the Sky).
‘This is not an award for me but for this little island,’ Malani who returned from Italy told at the Airport.
She was welcomed by a group of actresses including Nadeeka Gunasekara, Yashoda Wimaladharma, Damitha Abeyratne and advisor of National Film Corporation, T. M. Sangadasa.
Earlier Malani also won the coveted Silver Peacock Award at the 39th Indian International Film Festival in Goa for the same role together with a number of critical acclaims at various international festivals.
Together with Malani, the others in the stellar cast of ‘Akasa Kusum’ included Nimmi Harasgama, Dilhani Ekanayake, Samanalee Fonseka, Kaushalya Fernando, Jayani Senanayake, Sanduni Fonseka, Mohamed Adamally, Pubudu Prabath, Kuma Attanayake and Kumara Thirimadura.
‘Akasa Kusum’ is a Sri Lanka-India co-production with H. D. Premasiri producing for Sarasavi Cineru and A. Sreekar Prasad for Film Freaks.
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