Nadeeka Gunasekara

Nadeeka Gunasekara
නදීකා ගුණසේකර
Born
Dissanayake Wijesuriyage Sandhya Darshani Gunasekara

(1958-05-13) May 13, 1958 (age 66)
Kandy, Sri Lanka
EducationPushpadana Girls' College, Kandy
Mahamaya Girls' College, Kandy
Alma materUniversity of Kelaniya
OccupationActress Producer
Years active1980–present
SpouseSuren Hapuarachchi
ChildrenThenuki Hapuarachchi
Parent(s)Thalatha Gunasekara
Stanley Gunasekara
AwardsBest Supporting Actress
WebsiteNadeeka Gunasekara on Facebook

Dissanayake Wijesuriyage Sandhya Darshani Gunasekara (born May 13, 1958 as නදීකා ගුණසේකර) [Sinhala]), popularly as Nadeeka Gunasekara, is an actress in Sri Lankan cinema and television.[1] Gunasekara is best known for the character as Dan Chooty in film Chanchala Rekha by Sena Samarasinghe.[2]

She is one of the five jury panel in 2018 Derana Film Awards.[3]

Personal life

Nadeeka Gunasekara was born on 13 May 1958 in Kandy. Her father Stanley Gunasekara worked at Nawalapitiya post office.[4] Her mother Thalatha Gunasekara was a school teacher and a popular film actress. When she was 3 year old, they moved to Charle's de Silva flats, Nawalapitiya. She started school with Udugoda Vidyalaya, then Uduheenthanna Senadhikara Vidyalaya. Due to her father being a post officer, they had to move to several cities, where Gunasekara then studied in Gampola. In 1973, she attended to Pushpadana Girls' College, Kandy and then to Vishaka Balika Vidyalaya, Bandarawela. She completed A/L from art stream in Mahamaya Girls' College, Kandy.[4] She is a graduate of BA in Arts from the University of Kelaniya.[2]

She is married to businessman Suren Hapuarachchi and in 2004, the couple had one daughter, Thenuki Sehansa.

Acting career

Her maiden cinematic experience came through 1980 film Kanchana directed by M.A. Sangadasa while doing A/Ls.[5] Her most popular films include Kanchana, Chanchala Rekha, Biththi Hathara and Thani Tharuwa.[6] She acted as leading actress in 19 films and has produced 2 films - Ahinsa and Aya Obata Barai. Her stage name, Nadeeka was given by Siri Kularatne.[2]

Selected television serials

  • Ada Sihinaya[7]
  • Chanchala Rekha[8]
  • Ganga Addara Kele[9]
  • Himi Ahimi
  • Parasathu Malak[10]
  • Sandali Saha Radika [11]
  • Paba

Filmography

Year Film Role Ref.
1980 Kanchana Kanchana
1980 Sinhabahu Sinha Sivali
1981 Baddegama Hinnihami [12]
1981 Vajira Gajasinghe Arachige Vajira Laxmi Priyadarshani 'Sheela' 'Manike'
1981 Chanchala Rekha Dan Chuti
1982 Adhistana Mangalika
1982 Ridee Nimnaya Kusalawathie
1982 Sithaara
1982 Yahalu Yeheliyo Madhum
1982 Thani Tharuwa
1982 Biththi Hathara Nandani [13]
1983 Samanala Sihina
1983 Siwu Ranga Sena Kamani
1984 Batti
1985 Doringe Sayanaya
1985 Wathsala Akka
1985 Kirimaduwal
1987 Yugayen Yugayata
1987 Ahinsa Kalpana
1989 Okkoma Rajawaru
1989 Waradata Danduwama
1990 Hondin Naththam Narakin
1990 Pem Rajadahana
1991 Ran Hadawatha Antony's wife
1991 Cheriyo Doctor Madhu
1992 Yasasa
1992 Oba Mata Wiswasai Vasanthi / Samanthi [14]
1993 Chaya Selli
1995 Rodaya
1996 Sihina Vimane Kumariya Nimeshika Rajapakse
1996 Loku Duwa [15]
1997 Yasoma Yasoma
1998 Aya Obata Barai Kumari
1999 Rathu Aluyama Emilia [16]
2000 Danduwama
2001 Wasanthaye Kunatuwak [17]
2003 Madre Teresa Architect's companion
2003 Sundarai Adare Madhura 'Madhu' Weearsinghe [18]
2004 Premawanthayo [19]
2008 Hathara Denama Soorayo Mrs. Samarasinghe [20]
2010 Viyapath Bambara [21]
2011 Nidi Yahana Kelabei [22]
2011 Angara Dangara Janaki Wikramasinghe [23]
2012 Senasuru Maruwa Anuththara's mother [24]
2012 Daruwane Vishaka, Vaijrasena's wife [25]
2014 Ahelepola Kumarihami Pusselle Kumarihami [26]
2015 Maharaja Ajasath Kakawalli [27]
2015 Sinahawa Atharin Cameo role [28]
2016 Sinhaya Professor [29]
2016 Ran Dedunnak Shiva's mother [30]
2018 Adarei Man [31]
2023 Guththila cameo [32]
2023 Yugathra Mrs.Suryabandara

Awards and accolades

She has won several awards at the local film festivals.[4][2]

Unda Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1987 Himi Ahimi Best Actress Won

Sarasaviya Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1982 Lux Upcoming Actress Won
1985 Batti Best Performance Won
1988 Ahinsa Best Performance Won
1994 Chaya Best Supporting Actress Won

Presidential Film Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1981 Baddegama Best Supporting Actress Won
1983 Yahalu Yeheli Merit Award Won
1993 Chaya Best Supporting Actress Won

References

  1. ^ "Sri Lankan film actresses - Nadeeka Gunasekara". National Film Corporation Of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d "Nadeeka—a part of the film industry". The Island. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  3. ^ "Nadika Gunasekera". Cinema.lk. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  4. ^ a b c "Lesser Known Facts About Nadeeka Gunasekara". Lanka Help. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  5. ^ "Nadeeka Gunasekara filmography". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  6. ^ "Nadeeka Gunasekara films". Rate Your Music. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  7. ^ "Dilemma of a husband who goes astray". Sunday Times. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  8. ^ "Chanchala Rekha ready to become unspool". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  9. ^ "'Ganga Addara Kele': A kids film". Sunday Times. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  10. ^ "'Parasathu Malak':bloom of sweet love". Sunday Times. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  11. ^ "'Sandali Saha Radika' narrates rebirth story". Sunday Times. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  12. ^ "All about Beddegama". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  13. ^ "Sinhala screened films". Sarasaviya. Archived from the original on 15 June 2018. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  14. ^ "Oba Mata Wishwasai Sinhala Movie". vodtv. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  15. ^ "Loku Duwa appears on Rupavahini". Sunday Times. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  16. ^ "'Rathu Aluyama': last creation of Yasapalitha". Sunday Times. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  17. ^ "'Wasanthaye Kunatuwak': Tale of passion". Sunday Times. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  18. ^ "එදා මෙදා තිරගත වූ සිංහල චිත්‍රපට". Sarasaviya. Archived from the original on 19 December 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  19. ^ "එදා මෙදා තිරගත වූ සිංහල චිත්‍රපට". Sarasaviya. Archived from the original on 29 November 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  20. ^ "Hathara Denama Soorayo is back!". The Nation. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  21. ^ "Sri Lankan Screened Films". Sarasaviya. Archived from the original on 20 May 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  22. ^ "Sri Lankan Screened Films". Sarasaviya. Archived from the original on 24 July 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  23. ^ "'Angara Dangara' now on screen". Sunday Times. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  24. ^ "Senasuru Maruwa". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  25. ^ "Daruwane". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  26. ^ "Controversial Ehelepola episode on the silver screen". The Sunday Observer. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  27. ^ "Maharaja Ajasath". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  28. ^ "Sinahawa Atharin". Sri Lanka Cinema History. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
  29. ^ "Sri Lankan Screened Films". Sarasaviya. Archived from the original on 8 November 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  30. ^ "Count your rainbows". Daily News. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
  31. ^ "New year starts with a new director". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  32. ^ "Tale of Guththila becomes a cinema". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 10 November 2018.