Sirimathi Rasadari

Sirimathi Mary Fernando (born 10 May 1932 - died 3 September 1992 as සිරිමතී රසාදරී) [Sinhala]), popularly as Sirimathi Rasadari, was an actress in Sri Lankan cinema,[1][2] as well as a renowned Kathak dancer.[3][4] Considered as the first in Sri Lanka to mastered the art of dancing, acting, singing and writing at the same time, she is the pioneer to establish United Ceylon Fan Club in 1957.[5]

Sirimathi Rasadari
සිරිමතී රසාදරී
Born
Sirimathi Mary Fernando

(1932-05-10)10 May 1932
DiedSeptember 3, 1992(1992-09-03) (aged 60)
NationalitySri Lankan
EducationDummaladeniya Roman Catholic School
OccupationActress, Dancer
Years active1947–1992
Spouse(s)Rathna Dissanayake

Personal life

She was born on 10 May 1932 in Nainamadama, Dummalawarama, Wennappuwa as third of the family. She had two sisters and five brothers. She was educated at Dummaladeniya Roman Catholic School. She can write, speak and read Hindi as well as can speak Tamil and English.[6]

She was married to Rathna Dissanayake, who was a lecturer at Giragama Aesthetic University. Rasadari also served as a visiting lecturer at the University of the Visual and Performing Arts.[5]

Rasadari died on 3 September 1992 at the age of 60.

Career

In 1939 while at the school, she contested for a singing competition conducted for the All Island Health Week. She won the first place from the North Western Province. With the intentions to be a dancer, she learned Kathakali dancing from Shantha Kalayathana in Meeepura under Shanthi Viraj in 1967, Bharatha and Manipuri dances by Shanthi Kumar Seneviratne and Kandyan dancing under Heenbaba Dharmasiri for eight years. She was the first Sri Lankan graduate of Bharath Kathak Dance[7] and started a music company called Sangeetha Kendra in 1977.[6] The specialty of this institution was that it has been approved as the Colombo Center for the passage of all music examinations in Bhatkanda since 1987.[5]

She also became a singer at Radio Ceylon and sang on HMV and Odien gramophone trades as the supporting singer for Premanath Morais and Sunil Premadasa. She has sung the song A Maha Veera Budu Piya with Premanath Morais which has become a popular song. She also gained popularity as a singer by singing the song Paana Paththu Nokeruwata for the movie Daiwayogaya with Mohideen Baig.[1]

Even though she was selected for the film Prema Tharagaya, she refused to act due to a scene with partial nudity.[5] Her maiden cinema appearance came through film Puduma Leli under the supervision of Hugo Fernando at the age of 15. Then she acted in the film Dosthara where she went India for the film shooting. The she acted many popular films such as Sri 296, Surathali, Nalangana, Sansare and Samaje Sathuro.[5]

Then she acted along with Rukmani Devi in te popular film Daiwayogaya as "Sugala". She acted as Ananda Jayaratne's girlfriend in the song Siriyame Sara, which was H.R. Jothipala's first film background song. The highlight of her acting career was the role of "Maggie" in the movie Parasathumal.[6] During the period as a lecturer, she published a book on Indian dance Narthana Kala in Sinhala, which was first such in Sri Lanka.[5]

Filmography

YearFilmRoleRef.
1953Puduma LeliYasohamy 'Lilly'
1956DostharaAlice
1956SurathaliManel
1958Deyyange Rate
1958Vana Mohini
1959DaiwayogayaSugala. also as Playback Singer
1959Sri 296Natyanganawo
1960Pirimiyek NisaAlso as Playback Singer
1960Nalangana
1962Sansare
1964Heta Pramada WadiNimala
1964Kala Kala De Pala Pala De
1964Suba Sarana Sepa Sithe
1965Sepatha Soya
1966Sampatha
1966Parasathu MalMaggie[8]
1967Sath Samudura[9]
1968Amathikama
1968Hangi Hora
1969Samaje Sathuro
1980Sasaraka Pathum
1981Suriyakantha
1981Jeewanthi
1983Menik Maliga
1985Du Daruwo
1987Raja Wadakarayo
1989Badulu Kochchiya
1991Golu Muhude Kunatuwa
1992Raje Wage Puthek
1992Sakkara Suththara
1992Salli Thibunata Madi
1994Vijaya GeethaDulcie 'Missy'
1994Mawbime Veerayo
1995Inspector Geetha
2000Hansa Vilapaya

References

  1. "Sirimathi Rasadari - සිරිමතී රසාදරී (1932 - 1992) filmography". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  2. "Sirimathy Rasadari films". IMDb. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  3. "Sirimathi Rasadari remembrance". IMDb. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  4. "In reverence to the greats". Daily News. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  5. "It is Sirimathi Rasadari who scolded the producer without betraying her self-esteem". Divaina. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  6. "Sirimathi Rasadari fall asleep for long night". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  7. "'Kathak' Dancing Form Adds New Facet to Army Cultural Troupe". Sri Lanka Army. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  8. "All about "Parasathu Mal"". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  9. "All about "Sath Samudura"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2020-12-02.
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