Nita Fernando

Kala Suri Nita Fernando (born September 5, 1947, නීටා ප්‍රනාන්දු) in Negombo, Sri Lanka, is an actress in the Sri Lankan cinema. She has starred in films like Duhulu Malak and Pavuru Walalu.^[1]

Nita Fernando
නීටා ප්‍රනාන්දු
Born	(1947-09-05) September 5, 1947 (age 77) Negombo, Sri Lanka
Occupation	Film actress / film producer
Years active	1965-1975 1995–Present
Spouse	Elian Perera
Awards	Best Actress Award at the 1998 Singapore International Film Festival, Vishwa Kirthie Award, Presidential Award, Critics Award in 1999, OCIC Award for Best Actress in 2000

Biography

Early life

Nita Fernando was the eldest of four children. She studied at Holy Family Convent Wennappuwa.

Personal life

Fernando gave up acting after her marriage to lawyer Elian Perera in 1975 and moved to Canada, where she worked as a receptionist at the Montreal General Hospital.

Career

Nita Fernando made her screen debut in Landaka Mahima alongside Joe Abeywickrama in 1965. Over the next eight years, she made over 40 films, e.g., Duhulu Malak, Lasanda, Hadawath Neththo, Mangala, Wasana, and Shanthi.^[2]

Fernando obtained her first film role in Gamini Fonseka's Parasathu Mal. She was unable to appear in the film, however, because her parents didn't approve. Discouraged, she toyed with the idea of becoming a teacher before she returned to acting after finishing school. Her interest in film was supported by her uncle.^[2]

In 1983, she briefly returned to film, producing and starring in Sooriyakantha. She kept a low profile subsequently until 1998, when she played Violet in the Prasanna Vithanage film Pavuru Walalu.^[3]

The role won her international acclaim, netting her a Best Actress Award at the 1998 International Singapore Film Festival.^[4] the Vishwa Kirthie award, the Presidential Award, the Critics Award in 1999, and the OCIC Award for Best Actress in 2000 in Sri Lanka.^[3][5][6][7]

In 2020, she won the Best Actress award at the 2019 Nice International Film Festival in France.^[8]

Filmography

Key

†	Denotes films that have not yet been released

Year	Film	Role	Ref.
1965	Landaka Mahima	Latha
1965	Sathutai Kandului
1966	Layata Laya
1968	Ruhunu Kumari
1969	Pickpocket	Menika
1969	Hari Maga	Daya
1969	Mee Masso
1970	Geetha	Champa
1971	Ran Onchilla		[9]
1971	Kesara Sinhayo	Shyama
1971	Bindunu Hadawath
1971	Samanala Kumariyo
1972	Sujeewa	Suramya	[10]
1973	Matara Achchi	Kanthi
1973	Sunethra	Samanthi
1974	Hadawath Naththo
1974	Shanthi
1974	Duppathage Hithawatha	Doctor Rupa	[11]
1974	Lasanda	Lasanda
1974	Wasthuwa
1974	Sagarika
1975	Hitha Honda Minihek	Film actress
1975	Raththaran Amma	Charitha's girlfriend
1975	Kaliyudga Kale
1975	Kohoma Kiyannada	Sheela
1975	Cyril Malli
1975	Lassana Kella	Chitra
1975	Kokilayo
1975	Rajagedara Paraviyo
1975	Jeewana Geethaya
1976	Wasana	Sudam's sister
1976	Duhulu Malak	Nilupa Suraweera
1976	Asha
1976	Haaratha Hathara
1976	Hariyata Hari	Kusuma
1976	Onna Mame Kella Panapi
1976	Deviyange Theenduwa	Shanthi Ranatunga
1976	Mangala
1977	Hithuwakkarayo
1979	Visihathara Peya	Sumana
1981	Sooriyakantha	Soba
1997	Pavuru Valalu	Violet
2000	Saroja	Varuni's mother
2003	Bheeshanaye Athuru Kathawak	Mrs. Somadasa
2006	Samaara
2007	Nisala Gira	Radha
2010	Bambara Walalla	Podi Eka's mother
2014	Rassa Kale
2014	Que Sera
2014	Thanha Rathi Ranga	Chandare's mother
2014	Swaroopa
2014	Parapura	Kanthi
2016	Paththini	Chithrapathi
2016	Sakkarang
2017	Kaala	Henchman's mother
2020	Paangshu	Babanona
2022	Praana	Nun	[12]
2023	Swara
2024	Kambili	Lalitha Amma
TBA	Theja †		[13]
TBA	Magam Soli †		[14]

Awards

• Vishwa Kirthie Award - Sri Lanka Government
• Kala Suri Award- Sri Lanka Government
• 1998 - Best Actress - International Singapore Film Festival
• 2018 - Sumathi Life time Award
• 2020 - Best Actress Nice Film Festival France
• 2020 - Best Actress - Indus Valley International Awards
• 2019 - Life time Achievement Award 19th Presidential Awards
• 2019 - Best Actress - 20th Presidential Awards
• 2019 - Best Actress - 35th Sarasaviya Awards

References

1. "I learnt many more from all directors". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
2. "Unfading Star of the Silver Screen". Daily News. 2006. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2007.
3. "Nita's achievements on the Net". Sunday Times. 2001. Retrieved 19 May 2007.
4. "Sri Lankan stars shined at international level". Sarasaviya. Archived from the original on 21 November 2017. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
5. "Nita Fernando : Returns to cinema after a sojourn". Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka). 7 October 2007. Archived from the original on 21 August 2010. Retrieved 14 February 2008.
6. "Boost for Sinhala cinema". The Sunday Times(Sri Lanka). 7 June 1998. ISSN 1391-0531.
7. "Stars in jail shocker as Nisala Gira takes to the screen". Daily News(Sri Lanka). 5 September 2007.
8. "Our mother also had the experience of Babanona". Sarasaviya. 29 August 2020.
9. "All about Ran Onchilla". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
10. "All about Sujeewa". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
11. "All about Duppathage Hithawatha". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
12. "Praana comes in early August". සරසවිය. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
13. "තේජා පූර්ව ප්‍රචාරය අරඹයි". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
14. "සසර මඟ දිගු කළ මාගම්සෝලි". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 20 January 2024.

External links

• Nita Fernando at IMDb
• Nita Fernando's Biography in Sinhala Cinema Database
• Official Website - National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka
• Infolanka.com: Spotlight - Nita Fernando
• පේමක්කා මගේ හිතේ ඉහළම තැනක රැඳී ඉන්නවා