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Chitra Dhanawalavithana (23 December 1936 – 31 May 2019 as චිත්‍රා වාකිෂ්ඨ) ), popularly as Chitra Wakishta, was an actress in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television. She is best known for her role as Somi Nona in the teledrama Kopi Kade.

Personal life

She was born on 23 December 1936 in Punchi Borella. She completed her education from Buddhist Girls' School, Maradana, which is later known as Sri Sangamiththa Balika Vidyalaya, Colombo 10. She was married to Lloyd Wakisha. Lloyd was also a popular actor in his generation, who acted in stage drama Wes Muhunu and then in films such as Sihina Hathak, Kinkini Paada, Rena Giraw, Baduth Ekka Horu, Mee Masso, Gehenu Lamai, Adhishtana, Thani Tharuwa and Wadula. Lloyd was born in 1930 and died in 1981 at the age of 51. The couple has three sons - Ranjan, Shammi, Pran - and one daughter. Her granddaughter Senuri is also a child artist, who acted in the teledrama Appachchi. Senuri won many awards at local award festivals for her role in that drama.

She died on 31 May 2019 at the age of 82.

Theatre career

Wakishta joined Radio Ceylon in 1945 for Lama Pitiya program. She was involved in singing poems and raban poem in Lama Pitiya at that time. While in Lama Pitiya, she started stage career with A. M. L. Zoysa's drama, Bahirawaya in 1953. Then she acted in many stage productions, such as Deepa, Piligath Warada, Pancha Kalyani and Sargent Weerasinha. In the stage drama Kalagola, she sang the song “Rasadara Siriya Paradana”, which is still a popular theatre song.

Television career

Wakishta is one of the earliest pillars in Sri Lankan television drama history. Her television career started with Sri Lanka's first teledrama Dimuthumuthu. She was a prominent figure in the South Asia's longest running single-episode television serial, Kopi Kade. Her role Somi Nona gained popularity among the public. She continued to perform in Kopi Kade for 26 years, finally she retired due to illness. She also acted in television serials including Vajira, Mal Kekulak Iki Binda and Himagiri Arana.

Selected serials

• Dimuthumuthu
• Himagiri Arana
• Kawya
• Kopi Kade
• Kula Kumariya
• Mal Kekulak Iki Binda
• Me Suramya Paradisaya
• Mila
• Sihina Sithuvam
• Sisila Ima
• Sudu Hansayo
• Sulangata Medivee
• Suwanda Obai Amme
• Vajira

Death

According to her son Pran, she suffered from cancer since October 2014. She continued to take medication from Cancer Hospital, Maharagama. On 31 May 2019, Wakishta died while receiving treatments at National Hospital, Colombo. Her remains were laid at a Borella private parlour on 1 June 2019 and final rites were carried out on 2 June at the Borella General Cemetery.

Filmography

Wakishta started her film career with Sirisena Wimalaweera's 1955 film Podi Putha. Then she acted in more than 75 films. Some of her popular films include, Golu Hadawatha, Ahas Gawwa, Gehenu Lamai and Yuganthaya. In 1979, she won Best Supporting Actress award for the role in Gehenu Lamai at Presidential Film Festival and then in OCIC Signis Festival.

• No. denotes the Number of Sri Lankan film in the Sri Lankan cinema.

Awards

Presidential Film Festival

References

1. "Chithra Vakishta - චිත්‍රා වාකිෂ්ඨ films". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
2. "Veteran actress Chithra Wakishta passes away". Ada Derana. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
3. "Veteran actress Chithra Wakishta no more: Funeral today". The Island. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
4. ^ "Career of Chitra Wakishta". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
5. "'Kopi Kade Somi Nona' passes away". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
6. "'Kawya': Drama with Indian consultants". Sunday Times. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
7. "'Jane Eyre' on miniscreen". Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
8. "Me Suramya Paradisaya by Sahan". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
9. "'Sihina Sithuvam' shows dreams of youth". Sunday Times. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
10. "'Sisila Ima': tale of two doctors". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
11. "'Sisila Ima': Tale of a woman". Sunday Times. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
12. "'Sudu Hansayo', Discusses problems in marriage". Sunday Times. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
13. "Sulangata Medivee Tele-Drama Serie". vodtv. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
14. "'Sulangata Mediwi': Friendship misused". Sunday Times. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
15. "Teledrama questions motherhood". Sunday Times. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
16. "Son talks about mother". Hiru FM. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
17. "Chat with Chithra Wakishta". lankanews. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
18. ^ "Veteran actress Chithra Wakishta dies at the age of 83". News First. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
19. "Final rites of Chithra Wakishta to be performed on June 2nd". News First. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
20. "Chithra Wakishta". worldbnews. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
21. "Chithra Vakishta filmography". IMDb. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
22. "Chitra Wakishta no more". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
23. "Sri Lankan Cinema History". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 23 August 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
24. "Golu Hadawatha".
25. "All about Suhada Pathuma". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
26. "සදා මේ සංසාරේ අපේ හමුවීම නොවේ: ගැහැනු ළමයි". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
27. "Monara Thanna 2". Torana Video. Archived from the original on 8 April 2019. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
28. "Achievements- 1981–2000". Lester James Peries. 2004. Retrieved 2007-04-17.
29. "Sri Lankan Screened Films". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
30. "Sinhala screened films". Sarasaviya. Archived from the original on 25 March 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
31. "Julietge Boomikawa - ජුලියට්ගේ භූමිකාව". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
32. "Reviving Thushara". Daily News. Retrieved 11 March 2017.

External links

• Chitra Wakishta on Sinhala Cinema Database
• Visiting celebrities add spice to Sri Lankan I-Day celebrations
• Memories of Sri lanken Drama Actor Asela Jayakody's Funeral
• Twenty teledramas:Tribute to writers

• Sri Lankan film actresses
• 1936 births
• 2019 deaths