Heendeniya Vidanaralalage Punya Heendeniya (born 31 July 1938: Sinhala: පුණ්යා හීන්දෙනිය), popularly as Punya Heendeniya, is a former Sri Lankancinemaactress who currently resides in England.[1][2][3]
Punya Heendeniya was born on 31 July 1938 in Mirigama, Sri Lanka as the fifth child in a family with seven siblings.[4] Her father M. A. Hindeniya was a land owner and planter in Mirigama. Her mother, D. L. Kahawitage was from Panadura. She was first educated at Mirigama Primary School (currently known as Dudley Senanayake College). She went to Mirigama Maha Vidyalaya after the age of six to study in English medium. She was also a member of the school netball team.[5]
The pirivena where the Mahanayake Thero of the Sri Lanka Ramanna Nikaya now resides was separated by a wall in front of the Mirigama Mahagedara where she lived as a child. The late Ven. Medhankara Nayaka Thero, who was the Chief Incumbent at that time, was a close relative of the Punya's father. Punya has three elder sisters: Daya, Sheela, Ramya, one elder brother, Weerawardhana and two younger brothers: Amara and Karunasinghe. Ramya Heendeniya acted in the film Kurulu Bedda with Punya, and was the mother of journalist and writer Pushkara
Wanniarachchi and teledrama editor Sameera Wanniarachchi. Weerawardhana was a music instructor. Renowned poet P. K. D. Seneviratne is also a paternal relative of Punya.[5]
She married Dr. Milroy Nanayakkara and had two children with her husband, they also have six grandchildren. After the marriage, she left the cinema and settled in England. Her son Anupama Nanayakkara is a specialist doctor. When Anupama was a child, he came to Sri Lanka in 1982 at the invitation of the Lester James Peiris and acted as the son of Nanda and Piyal in the film Kaliyugaya. Punya's daughter, Purnami is a doctor.[5]
Career
Since school times, she excelled dancing. She was lucky enough to learn dancing under renowned dancer S. Panibharatha. Then Punya got to play the lead role in the ballet Ditti Mangalika staged by Panibharatha at school. She also learned music under her school master, S. D. David Appuhamy. For her acting and musical talents, she was assisted by the college principal K. A. Pannaratne. Panibharatha was assigned to do a dance performance in Sirisena Wimalaweera's film Asoka where Punya had the opportunity to perform in that dance item.[5]
Then she went to the office of Heladiva Art Company in front of the Jethavanaramaya Temple on Armor Street, Colombo to meet the film production lawyer Somaratne who searched a fresh face for the latest film Deyyange Rate. After seeing her, Somaratne introduced Punya to Tamil director Ramachandran. At once, they selected Punya for the lead role 'Katherina' in the film. The film became highly popular and made her turning point in the cinema career. After the film, she acted in the films Sri 296 and Suneetha where the shooting was done in India. Then in 1961, she played the lead role of blockbuster film Kurulu Bedda. After Kurulu Bedda, Punya starred in the film Sikuru Tharuwa with the lead role.[5]
John Amaratunga, the producer of the Sikuru Tharuwa came in search of Punya and informed that she has been selected for the lead role in the film Gameperaliya directed by Lester James Peries.[5] She received several awards for his critics acclaimed role in the film. In 1968, she won the award for the Best Actress at 5th Sarasaviya Awards for her role in the film Ransalu.[6] Although she gave up acting in 1968, at the peak of her career, she made comeback in the film Kaliyugaya in 1983 for which she received a merit award at Presidential Film Awards. In 2013 Sumathi Awards, she was honored with U.W. Sumathipala Memorial award.[7]
1998- to Celebrate 50 years of Sri Lankan Cinema a Rs10 stamp depicting Gamperaliya was issued.
2000-Lifetime achievement, President's Golden Lion Award
2008-Gamperaliya (Changement au village) shown in Cannes Film Festival as restored Classics.[12][13]
2013-U.W.Sumathipala Lifetime Achievement Award
2015- Special Signis Salutation Award, -the highest award given by Signis Sri Lanka for a person who has contributed much for the development of media in Sri Lanka.
2016 - Sarasaviya Abhimani (Legendary) Award.
References
^"Punya Heendeniya (de Silva), the evergreen silver screen star". Sunday Observer. 17 August 2008. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
^""Gamperaliya, changement au village" : Un grand cinéaste est né... En 1963". Le Monde.fr. 5 May 2009.
punya, heendeniya, heendeniya, vidanaralalage, born, july, 1938, sinhala, popularly, former, lankan, cinema, actress, currently, resides, england, යbornheendeniya, vidanaralalage, 1938, july, 1938, gampaha, lankanationalitysri, lankaneducationmirigama, central. Heendeniya Vidanaralalage Punya Heendeniya born 31 July 1938 Sinhala ප ණ ය හ න ද න ය popularly as Punya Heendeniya is a former Sri Lankan cinema actress who currently resides in England 1 2 3 Punya Heendeniya ප ණ ය හ න ද න යBornHeendeniya Vidanaralalage Punya Heendeniya 1938 07 31 31 July 1938 age 84 Gampaha Sri LankaNationalitySri LankanEducationMirigama Central CollegeOccupation s Film actor singer screenwriterYears active1955 1983SpouseDr Milroy NanayakkaraChildrenDr Anupama De Silva Nanayakkara Dr Purnami De Silva Nanayakkara Contents 1 Personal life 2 Career 3 Filmography 4 Awards 5 References 6 External linksPersonal life EditPunya Heendeniya was born on 31 July 1938 in Mirigama Sri Lanka as the fifth child in a family with seven siblings 4 Her father M A Hindeniya was a land owner and planter in Mirigama Her mother D L Kahawitage was from Panadura She was first educated at Mirigama Primary School currently known as Dudley Senanayake College She went to Mirigama Maha Vidyalaya after the age of six to study in English medium She was also a member of the school netball team 5 The pirivena where the Mahanayake Thero of the Sri Lanka Ramanna Nikaya now resides was separated by a wall in front of the Mirigama Mahagedara where she lived as a child The late Ven Medhankara Nayaka Thero who was the Chief Incumbent at that time was a close relative of the Punya s father Punya has three elder sisters Daya Sheela Ramya one elder brother Weerawardhana and two younger brothers Amara and Karunasinghe Ramya Heendeniya acted in the film Kurulu Bedda with Punya and was the mother of journalist and writer Pushkara Wanniarachchi and teledrama editor Sameera Wanniarachchi Weerawardhana was a music instructor Renowned poet P K D Seneviratne is also a paternal relative of Punya 5 She married Dr Milroy Nanayakkara and had two children with her husband they also have six grandchildren After the marriage she left the cinema and settled in England Her son Anupama Nanayakkara is a specialist doctor When Anupama was a child he came to Sri Lanka in 1982 at the invitation of the Lester James Peiris and acted as the son of Nanda and Piyal in the film Kaliyugaya Punya s daughter Purnami is a doctor 5 Career EditSince school times she excelled dancing She was lucky enough to learn dancing under renowned dancer S Panibharatha Then Punya got to play the lead role in the ballet Ditti Mangalika staged by Panibharatha at school She also learned music under her school master S D David Appuhamy For her acting and musical talents she was assisted by the college principal K A Pannaratne Panibharatha was assigned to do a dance performance in Sirisena Wimalaweera s film Asoka where Punya had the opportunity to perform in that dance item 5 Then she went to the office of Heladiva Art Company in front of the Jethavanaramaya Temple on Armor Street Colombo to meet the film production lawyer Somaratne who searched a fresh face for the latest film Deyyange Rate After seeing her Somaratne introduced Punya to Tamil director Ramachandran At once they selected Punya for the lead role Katherina in the film The film became highly popular and made her turning point in the cinema career After the film she acted in the films Sri 296 and Suneetha where the shooting was done in India Then in 1961 she played the lead role of blockbuster film Kurulu Bedda After Kurulu Bedda Punya starred in the film Sikuru Tharuwa with the lead role 5 John Amaratunga the producer of the Sikuru Tharuwa came in search of Punya and informed that she has been selected for the lead role in the film Gameperaliya directed by Lester James Peries 5 She received several awards for his critics acclaimed role in the film In 1968 she won the award for the Best Actress at 5th Sarasaviya Awards for her role in the film Ransalu 6 Although she gave up acting in 1968 at the peak of her career she made comeback in the film Kaliyugaya in 1983 for which she received a merit award at Presidential Film Awards In 2013 Sumathi Awards she was honored with U W Sumathipala Memorial award 7 Filmography EditYear Film Role Ref 1955 Asoka dance item1958 Suneetha1958 Deyyange Rate Katherina1959 Sri 296 Leela1961 Kurulu Bedda Ranmenike 8 1963 Sikuru Tharuwa Anula1963 Gamperaliya Nanda 9 1966 Parasathu Mal Kamala 10 1967 Ran Salu Sujatha Suji Ratnasooriya1968 Ranwan Karal1983 Kaliyugaya NandaAwards Edit1964 Eksath Rasika Sangamaya Best Actress Award Gamperaliya 1964 Sarasaviya Film Awards Best Actress Award Best film Gamperaliya 1964 Best Actress Proficiency Award Sikuru Tharuwa 1965 Gamperaliya won Golden Peacock Award Grand Prix International Film Festival of India New Delhi 1965 Gamperaliya won Golden Head of Palenque Resena Mundial Film Festival in Acapulco Mexico 11 1965 Punya Heendeniya represented Sri Lanka on World Human Rights Day at the United Nations Headquarters in New York 1966 Swarana Sankha Award Best Actress Award Parasathumal 1968 Sarasaviya Film AwardsSarasaviya Best Actress Award Best Actress Award Ran Salu 1985 Presidential Award Kaliyugaya 1998 to Celebrate 50 years of Sri Lankan Cinema a Rs10 stamp depicting Gamperaliya was issued 2000 Lifetime achievement President s Golden Lion Award 2008 Gamperaliya Changement au village shown in Cannes Film Festival as restored Classics 12 13 2013 U W Sumathipala Lifetime Achievement Award 2015 Special Signis Salutation Award the highest award given by Signis Sri Lanka for a person who has contributed much for the development of media in Sri Lanka 2016 Sarasaviya Abhimani Legendary Award References Edit Punya Heendeniya de Silva the evergreen silver screen star Sunday Observer 17 August 2008 Retrieved 6 May 2011 Gamperaliya changement au village Un grand cineaste est ne En 1963 Le Monde fr 5 May 2009 Our Heritage Punya Heendeniya career Sarasaviya Retrieved 17 November 2017 a b c d e f Mirigama Beauty Punya Heendeniya who polished Sinhala cinema Silumina Retrieved 2021 06 07 Road to Prestige 1964 2018 Sarasaviya Retrieved 2021 01 10 ITN bags highest number of Awards at Sumathi Awards Nite ITN News Archived from the original on 2017 09 25 Retrieved 2021 06 09 All about urulu Bedda Sarasaviya Retrieved 22 February 2020 All about the blockbuster film Gamperaliya Sarasaviya Retrieved 2021 01 23 All about Parasathu Mal sarasaviya Retrieved 2021 01 23 Artscope Archived from the original on 2012 10 19 Retrieved 2011 05 06 http www festival cannes com assets Pdf General pdf 9135 pdf dead link Spectrum Sundayobserver lk Sri Lanka Archived from the original on 2011 06 05 Retrieved 2009 03 28 External links Edithttp www films lk ArtistDetails php id 1139 Punya Heendeniya on Sinhala Cinema Database http www sundaytimes lk 090405 Magazine sundaytimesmagazine 00 html http www sundaytimes lk 120624 plus lesters films the hallmark of a humanist 4055 html Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Punya Heendeniya amp oldid 1112385842, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
