Shalani Tharaka

Shalani Tharaka
ශලනි තාරකා
Born
Gonakumbura Pangukarage Shalani Tharaka Wijayabandara

Balangoda, Sri Lanka
NationalitySri Lankan
EducationNewstead Girls College
Occupation(s)Actress, model, dancer, presenter, lyricist
Years active2007-Present
SpouseNihatha Salgado
Parents
  • Susantha Wijayabandara (father)
  • Suraji Fernando (mother)
WebsiteOfficial Website

Shalani Tharaka is a Sri Lankan actress and model.[1] One of the most popular television actresses in Sri Lanka, Tharaka holds the title for the Sri Lankan beauty pageant Sirasa Kumariya which she won in 2007.[2] Apart from acting, she is also a dancer, lyricist and author.

Career

In 2007, when she was seventeen years old, she won the beauty pageant Sirasa Kumariya organized by Sirasa TV which brought her into mainstream popularity. Her maiden acting came through the television serial Poojasanaya directed by Sherly P. Delankawala. Her co-star in Poojasanaya was Suraj Mapa. Later she acted in many television serials in several genre such as Isuru Bawana, Hansi, Giridevi, Api Api Wage (I & II), Ganga Addara and Sanda Sanda Wage which gained popularity.[3][4]

Apart from teledramas she has also contributed in the TV commercials for Hero Honda, Raino[5] and Janet. She has also played parts in music videos such as Oya Dese by Prinyan, Mata Oya by D n S, Wasthuwe by Shafee ft. Delon.

In 2012, Tharaka made her maiden cinema appearance in the movie Selvam. She played the role of "Medhavi".[6] Later she appeared in lead role in the horror film Spandana. She also contested in the second season of Sirasa Dancing Stars as well as Hiru Super Dancer.[7]

On 19 September 2020, she was awarded both Best teledrama actress and Most popular teledrama actress at 16th Raigam Tele'es ceremony. It was the first time in 24 years where one actress won both awards at the same time.[8] In 2021, she appeared in the Raffealla Fernando Celebrity Calendar along with many other Sri Lankan celebrities which is considered as one of the highest civilian honours awarded to an individual.[9]

Selected television serials

Year Teledrama Roles Ref.
2008 Poojasanaya Subha
2008-09 Isuru Bhawana Amali [10]
2009 Hansi Hansi
Api Api Wage Nikini [11]
2010 Samanali Samanali
2011 Ganga Addara Nimali / Nirmala [12]
Sanda Sanda Wage Sandu [13]
Sath Rala Pela Minduri [14]
Sihina Piyapath Mandakini [15]
2012 Thuru Ahasata Adarei Thuru [14]
Arundati Arundati [16]
Sihinayaki Jeewithe Sonali [17]
Aluth Gedara Kaveesha
Haduna Gatthoth Oba Ma Bhawana
Sanda Pini Bidak Uthpala
Namal Arana Kamalini
2014 Punchi Walawwa Vihara Eknaligoda [18]
Doowili Mal Lakeesha [19]
Dadakeli Arana [20]
2015 Diyaniyo Minduli [21]
Thaara Nandita
A/L Iwarai
Kutu Kutu Mama Kumari
2015-16 Wassanaye Premaya Astha [22]
2016 Mage Adara Awanaduwa Dula
Sikka Team Shana
2017 Batahira Ahasa Hashini [23]
Gemunu Maharaja Princess Kathika
Muthu Mali Muthu
Sooriya Nayo Bhawana
Lokantharayo Siri
2018 Mithu Mithu
Sooriya Wachchasa Wachee
Haras Para Nimmi
2018-19 Kotipathiyo Parami Caldera
Sanda Hangila Prabha
2019-20 Ado Kamani [24]
Queen Imesha [25]
2020 Giridevi Asha [26]
Can You Hear Me Sakuntala
Haidi Haidi
2020-21 Agni Piyapath Trishi [27]
Sihina Genena Kumariye Sathsarani
2021–2023 Kiya Denna Adare Tharam (KDAT) Sneha [28]
Chalo Chalo [29][30]
2022–present We Radha
Thathparayak Denna Doctor Nithya
Meenu Asheka
2023 Akshi
Heenayaki Me Adare
4chun Residencies

Filmography

Year Film Roles Ref.
2012 Selvam Medhavi [31]
2016 Spandana Mayumi [32]
2018 Nela Nela [33]
2023 Viyasiduru Taniya [34]
TBD Adventures of Ricky Deen Star [35]
TBD Akarsha
TBD Maayawi

Awards

Sumathi Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2015 Peoples' vote Most Popular Actress Won
2015 Handapana Gala Best Upcoming Actress[36] Won
2018 Peoples' vote Most Popular Actress[37] Won

Raigam Tele'es

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2015 Punchi Walawwa Jury Award[38] Won
2016 Peoples' vote Most Popular Actress[39] Won
2020 Peoples' vote Most Popular Actress Won
2020 Ado Best Actress[40] Won
2022 Kiya Denna Adare Tharam Most Popular Actress Won

Derana Film Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2019 Peoples' vote Lux Glamorous Star [41] Won

SIGNIS OCIC Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2021 Giridevi Best Actress Won

References

  1. ^ "Shalani Tharaka filmography". Digital Identity of Sinhala Cinema. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  2. ^ Sirasa Kumariya 2007 Final at BMICH 05/23/2007.
  3. ^ "Giridevi who hates herself". Aruna. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  4. ^ "Shalani Tharaka is in a crazy case". Divaina. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  5. ^ "Making of the " Raino Tv commercial " - Facebook". www.facebook.com.
  6. ^ "Shalani Tharaka films". IMDb. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  7. ^ "Shalani Tharaka became a mermaid". Saaravita. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  8. ^ "Winter is coming but spring is coming". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  9. ^ "Rafaela's calendar changed by art stars". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  10. ^ "'Isuru Bawana' miniplay on Rupavahini". Sunday Times. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  11. ^ "A dramatic conflict of family, friends and lovers". Sunday Times. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  12. ^ "'Ganga Addara' released". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  13. ^ "Sanda Sanda Wage on ITN weekend". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  14. ^ a b "Sath Rala Pela on Sirasa TV". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  15. ^ "Sihina Piyapath on ITN". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  16. ^ "Siritunga with Arundathi". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  17. ^ "Sihinayaki Jeewithe on screen". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  18. ^ "Punchi Walauwwa on ITN". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  19. ^ "Doowili Mal blooms soon". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  20. ^ "දඩකෙළි අරණ ඇරඹේ". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  21. ^ "Ravindra back with Diyaniyo". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  22. ^ "Wassane Premaya reached 200 episodes". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  23. ^ "Another teledrama from Chamara Janaraj". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  24. ^ "Ado' Viewers live a big dream until it ultimately shatters". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  25. ^ "A Queen on television". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  26. ^ "Giri Devi by Indika Dharmathilake". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  27. ^ "Agni Piyapth at a new time". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  28. ^ "I'll have a fate somewhere, he's coming on time". සරසවිය. 10 November 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  29. ^ "Chalo with Shalani". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  30. ^ "Chalo is now on Swarnavahini". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  31. ^ "Sanjaya returns with 'Selvam'". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  32. ^ "Spandana on screen". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  33. ^ "Sinhala screened films". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  34. ^ "The first feature film from a university". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  35. ^ "Reflections of life's journey in a valley". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  36. ^ "Sumathi Tele awards held under President's patronage". ITN News.
  37. ^ "Sumathi Awards 2018 award winners". Sarasaviya.
  38. ^ "Raigam Tele'es 2014 award winners". Sarasaviya.
  39. ^ "Raigam Tele'es 2015 award winners". Sarasaviya.
  40. ^ "Raigam Tele'es Best Actress and Most Popular Actress: Shalani Tharaka". Silumina. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  41. ^ "Derana Lux Film Awards 2019".