Nita felicitated for diamond jubilee in Cinema
View(s):
By Susitha Fernando
Internationally awarded actress and film producer Nita Fernando will be felicitated for her 60 yearlong contribution to the Sri Lankan cinema. Nita who is also producer of films “Pawuru Walalu’ and ‘Theja’ will be felicitated at the premiere of her latest movie at 3.00pm on March 7 at the Regal theatre, Dematagoda.
Having started her film career in 1965 with the film ‘Landaka Mahima’ produced and directed by W. M. S. Tampoe, the owner of the R.T. Studio, Nita rose to stardom winning both national and international accolades. During her 60 years, Nita has played a variety of roles from young innocent lover, adulterous wife and women’s activists to an elderly mother in nearly 60 films.
Nita in ascene from ‘Pawuru Walalu’
One of the major turning points in Nita’s career was meeting popular filmmaker K. A. W. Perera in 1970. She was invited to play a major role as Bhikkhuni or Buddhist nun in ‘Lasanda’ and having seen her acting filmmaker Titus Tutawatte offered her the lead role in ‘Mangala’.
Subair Markeen’s ‘Hadawath Neththo’ was another important film for Nita, who played a similar role as Bikkhuni. A devout Catholic, the gifted actress thinks it was a blessing that she got selected to play the role of Buddhist nun. ‘I was blessed to play the role of Bikkhuni twice in my acting career.
Nita’s big breakthrough came in 1975 with Wijaya Dharmasri’s ‘Duhul Malak’, which was completely different from other film stories. Nita played the role of a married woman who was caught up between the love of her husband (Tony Ranasinghe) and a lover (Ravindra Randeniya). From 1965 to 1975 Nita had played a role in more than 40 films and she was one of the most sought actresses during that era.
Nita in the film ‘Paangshu’
Blessed with both talent and beauty, Nita who went to Canada with her husband Aelian Perera returned in the late 1990s to act and produce ‘Pawuru Walalu’ (Walls within) directed by Prasanna Vithanage. The film won the biggest international recognition for Nita for her role as ‘Violet’ and she won the Best Actress Award at the 1998 Singapore International Film Festival. First it was in ‘Lasanda’ and the second was ‘Hadawath Neththo’. Religion cannot bring about divisions in art’ the veteran actress emphasised.
Searching for that next furry family member but couldn’t find one in your area? Hitad.lk has the solution with our extensive listings of dogs for sale in Sri Lanka!