 More honours for Malini
by Ruwini Jayawardana
The world of cinema is ever
changing. Many new faces join the scene and reach the peak of
popularity. After a temporary stint in the crest of popularity they fade
out of the screen, making way for fresh talent to take over the reel.
More than four decades have flown since Wanniarachchige Malini
Senehelatha Fonseka entered the cinema with Tissa Liyanasuriya’s ‘Punchi
Baba’ (The Little Baby), yet she remains unchallenged, true to the title
bestowed upon her as the ‘Queen of the Sri Lankan Silver Screen’.
 The renowned actress not only captured hearts of the public with her
exceptional performing skills but she also imprinted the country’s name
in global cinema. She was recently named among Asia’s 25 greatest actors
by CNNGo.
The list also includes Indian actors Amitabh Bachchan and Nargis
along with other artistes from countries such as Hong Kong, Japan,
Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Cambodia. A special concert to
felicitate the actress had been organised at the BMICH to coincide with
Malini’s 63rd birthday on April 30.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa and a number of distinguished guests will
participate. The event will comprise some entertaining items along with
a program in which the screen queen will be felicitated for her service
to the industry. Malini was the first Sri Lankan actress to reach
international heights when she won awards at the Moscow International
Film Festival in 1975 and the New Delhi Film Festival in 1977.
Later, she won the Silver Peacock award at the 39th International
Film Festival of India (IFFI) and the Best Actress Award at the Levante
International Film Festival in Italy. She portrayed roles in a number of
magnificent creations in the country’s cinema history such as ‘Nidhanaya’,
‘Bambaru Ewith’, ‘Eya Den Loku Lamayek’, ‘Siripala Saha Ranmenika’,
‘Yasa Isuru’ and others.
She has also been nominated for the Best Actress Award at the Asia
Pacific Cinema Awards organized by the Asia Pacific Ciname Academy for
the pivotal roles she portrayed in Prasanna Vithanage’s ‘Akasa Kusum’.
This award ceremony will take place in Australia on November 26 in
collaboration with UNESCO. Meanwhile the DVD version of ‘Akasa Kusum’
had been launched under the Torana label.
The DVD includes the music video, trailers, scenes which have been
eliminated before editing, a documentary on the making of the movie and
other features. The movie comprises Dolby Stereo and Dolby sound 5.1
facilities. The scrip of the movie was also launched as a Sarasavi
publication and will be given free to those who purchase the DVD.
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