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| Sunday, 21 September 2003 |
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By Umangi de Mel Twinkle twinkle little star, how they wonder what you are... She was the 'Golden Butterfly' in Iran and 'Little Star' in the States...Long black hair, chubby cheeks and babyish eyes....Nityawani Kandasamy, the ten-year-old who stole the Sarasaviya award for Best Actress takes a few stepsdown memory lane to bring back glorifying moments in her 10-year-old life.
Once uncle Some (Somaratne Dissanayake) and aunty Renuka came to school looking for a Tamil girl, my age to star in their latest movie. I was among the few privileged people who were auditioned and there were 1,500 odd girls at Lumbini College, that day," she chatters non-stop. A Year-Six student at Hindu Ladies College, Bambalpitiya, Nityawani, better known as "Nitya" was only seven years, when she had to undertake a serious role in a movie that could win 'fame and name'. 'Saroja', her debut movie was a hit, thanks to some brilliant acting by the actors and actresses, a theme which exposed the racial war in Sri Lanka and its injustices. Little Saroja was capable of stealing the limelight by winning quite a few awards. I was a bit nervous on the first day among others, I got the hang of it and I didn't fret "she says, while her mother said that she was right royal mischief on the sets. She was never there when she was needed, Nithyawani can never sit in one place, always curious to see for herself and discover new things. Many were the times Mr. Dissanayake had to go in search of her because she had gone missing right when they needed her.
Speaking about the movie which was made in '99, Nitya says she was bored big time during the shoot."It was during school holidays and my parents were very helpful uncle Sam and aunty Renuka were very supportive. Uncle Mervyn Mahasen, the one who acted as my 'father' gave me enough lessons on acting," she adds. Letting her eyes do the talking, she takes a quick break to focus herself. She may have won the Best Actress award having competed against renowned actresses, but the child in her doesn't allow her to be too sophisticated, and she is not carried away. Talking about her TV programs 'Kutti Chutti' which he started soon after the movie, 'Saroja', she says that she just loves doing TV programs. "So many people called me and the response is huge. The interaction between me and the viewer is just brilliant, thanks to Ellilvendhan and Varatharaja uncle who actually gave me the break. The program is produced by Raminitharan", she says. Her mother, who is nearest and dearest to her says, Nitya is loved by all. "People love her so much, I find it difficult sometimes to continue cooking on telecast days, the phone rings incessantly because so many people keep calling to wish her." Her second movie had actually won her recognition and appreciation and was a blend of pure childish innocence.
"Punchi Suranganavi" was produced in 2000. Its a creation of uncle Some's and Aunty Renuka's. I acted with Tharuka Hettiarachchi and it was fun." Nitya did not want to elaborate and kept the description short and sweet. Her mother said Nitya was busy during the movie and never had time to attend scholarship classes. "Nevertheless, I got through the Scholarship Exam with 160 marks" and adds that she studied on her own. "For this film I had to learn to ride a bike, and Thushara, a friend taught me and now I can ride it really well," she giggles. "My family has always been there during the shoot and it helped me a lot," she said. Recalling an unforgettable incident during the film, Nitya said it was just great to ride the bike into a pool! That was an experience I will never forget and I like the scene where I meet my friend Pramodi Karunaratne in 'Saroja', she adds. Her mother adds that Nitya was the centre of attention in school and she loves going to school and the teachers care for her a lot. "It was Mrs. Sivagurunathan, our principal who encouraged me a lot and her moral support that got me the role in Saroja," Nitya says looking grateful indeed. Recalling the big night, when she got the Sarasaviya Award for Best Actress, her mother says, it was indeed a pleasant surprise, "when they announced her name along with the other nominees, we couldn't believe our ears and then when the announcement came that Nitya was the winner, it was really too much and her father and I became very emotional and began crying. Her father couldn't stop crying, she says. Nitya at this moment was not listening to the conversation her mother was having with us and seemed to be in a world of her own, fighting with her brother for the remote-control. "She was delighted to receive the award from Maniratnam who happens to be one of her favourites. she has seen all his movies although she is not into movies at all," and her mother adds that the audience at the BMICH gave her a standing ovation. Her mother adds that she has won a number of awards earlier. The 'Little Star' award was won by her in the States for the Best Child Actress in 2001. She won an award at the film festival in Iran in the same year. In 2002 she was awarded "Golden Butterfly" for her acting prowess in "Punchi Suranganavi". Taking a break from all the shobiz talk, Nitya says she loves 'Bharatha Natyam'. I like sports, western music and cartoon and watching cartoons, she babbles. So full of love and completely innocent, she is not proud about being awarded the Best Actress award at the Sarasaviya Awards. Although, it is one of the best things that could happen to any actress. Nityavani dances around like a tiny butterfly and says that she hopes to be a dancing teacher. on second thoughts she might end up being an engineer or even an actress. |
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