Denawaka Hamine

Kalasuri Dona Meraya Denawaka, (20 February 1906 – 9 December 2002 as දෙනවක හාමිනේ), popularly known as Denawaka Hamine, was an award-winning actress in Sri Lankan cinema and television. Known as "The grand old lady" of Sinhala cinema, she appeared more than 300 films and teledramas in a career spanned more than four decades.

Denawaka Hamine දෙනවක හාමිනේ
Born	Dona Georgiana Meraya Denawaka (1906-02-20)20 February 1906 Imbulgoda, Gampaha, Sri Lanka
Died	9 December 2002(2002-12-09) (aged 96) Colombo
Nationality	Sri Lankan
Occupation	Actress, Dramatist
Years active	1962–2002

Personal life

Denawaka Hamine was born 20 February 1906 in Imbulgoda, Gampaha.[1]

Career

She was by profession a school teacher until a chance encounter with G. D. L. Perera when she accompanied a young actress to a theatrical audition, led to her winning the role of an elderly mother in Perera's play Kandulu. Due to her masterful performance in the role, Perera brought Hamine into his drama group Kala Pela; she would play in Kala Pela productions like Manamalayo, Sakkarawattang and Sama (as Nonnohamy) and was honored with a merit award at the 1964 Arts Council Drama Festival for her role in Totupola.[2]

Hamine's debut film role was in the film adaption of Sama (1965) by Perera reprising the role she had popularized in the play.[1] In Sath Samudura (1968) she played the mother of two fishermen to much critical rave. She was presented a Best Character Actress Award for the role by a special government council. It was delivered on stage by the then Sri Lankan prime minister Dudley Senanayake.[2]

In the 1970s, Hamine had major roles in Tun Man Handiya, Desa Nisa Kolomba Sanniya and Matara Achchi. She continued to perform the elderly woman character. She played to Western audiences with a small role in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom as a weeping mother in 1984. In 1987, she was awarded the Kalasuri title.[1]

Hamine did work in television with roles in teledramas like Kopi Kade. In 1998 she received an honorary award for her contributions to Sinhala Cinema from the Sri Lankan president Chandrika Kumaratunga.[2]

Filmography

Year	Film	Role	Ref.
1965	Saama	Nonnohamy
1966	Sihina Hathak	Isabella	[3]
1966	Kinkini Paada
1967	Sath Samudura	Gunadasa's mother
1967	Saru Bima
1967	Sadol Kandulu	Servant
1967	Iwasana Danaa
1967	Raena Giraw	Dissa's granny
1968	London Hamu
1968	Wanasara
1968	Hangi Hora
1968	Dahasak Sithuvili	Lalith's mother	[4]
1969	Hari Maga	Banda caretaker
1969	Kawuda Hari	Mother
1969	Romeo Juliet Kathawak
1969	Hanthane Kathawa
1970	Thun Man Handiya	Sirisena's granny
1970	Lakseta Kodiya	Pinsiri's mother
1970	Nim Walalla
1971	Poojithayo	Ango
1971	Seeye Nottuwa
1971	Bindunu Hadawath
1971	Samanala Kumariyo
1971	Sahanaya
1972	Wehilihini
1972	Lokuma Hinawa	Kabi 'Hami'
1972	Miringuwa
1973	Matara Achchi	Matara Achchi
1974	Hadawath Naththo
1974	Sheela	Prospective Voter Achchi
1974	Sagarika
1974	Lasanda	Parakrama's granny
1974	Wasthuwa
1974	Rodi Gama
1975	Pem Kurullo
1975	Raththaran Amma	Granny
1975	Kohoma Kiyannada	Sudu Nanda
1975	Cyril Malli
1975	Kokilayo
1975	Ranwan Rekha
1975	Jeewana Geethaya
1975	Sikuruliya	Namali's aunt
1975	Hadawathaka Wasanthaya
1975	Desa Nisa	Nirukada's mother
1976	Kolamba Sanniya	Sister
1976	Madol Duwa	Net trapped homeowner	[5]
1976	Walmathwuwo	Maggie
1976	Loka Horu
1976	Hulawali	Villager	[6]
1977	Sudu Paraviyo	Chandi's mother
1977	Pembara Madhu
1977	Yakadaya	Granny	[7]
1977	Sikuru Dasawa
1977	Maruwa Samaga Wase	Granny
1978	Janaka Saha Manju	Granny
1978	Vishmaya	Janaka's granny
1978	Selinage Walawwa	Granny
1978	Kumara Kumariyo	Granny
1979	Palagetiyo	Sarath's mother
1979	Eka Hitha'
1979	Sawudan Jema	Sawdan's granny
1979	Podi Malli	Siri's mother
1979	Wisihathara Peya
1980	Anuhasa
1980	Parithyagaya	Jayathilaka's mother
1980	Bamvara Pahasa
1980	Raja Dawasak
1980	Paara Dige
1980	Hansa Vilak	Granny
1980	Kinduru Kumari	Elsie Nona	[8]
1981	Mihidum Sihina
1981	Ridee Thella
1981	Geethika
1981	Sathara Diganthaya
1982	Bambara Geethaya
1982	Adhishtana
1982	Pethi Gomara	Dhansukha's mother
1982	Anuradha
1982	Majora Sir
1983	Chutte	Nanda
1983	Sister Mary	Sumedha's mother
1984	Deweni Gamana
1984	Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom	Villager
1984	Wadula	Sovida's mother
1984	Arunata Pera
1984	Ranmalige Wasanawa	Granny
1985	Adara Kathawa
1986	Soora Saradiyel	Pinchohamy
1986	Dinuma	Granny
1987	Sathyagrahanaya	Cartoonist's mother	[9]
1987	Mangala Thegga
1987	Kawuluwa
1987	Ahinsa	Party guest
1988	Sandakada Pahana	Hospital resident
1988	Angulimala
1988	Sagara Jalaya Madi Handuwa Oba Sanda	Upasika aunty
1990	Jaya Kothanada
1991	Dolosmahe Pahana
1991	Salambak Handai
1991	Golu Muhude Kunatuwa
1992	Viyaru Minisa
1993	Ordinary Magic	Vani
1993	Lagin Giyoth Aehek Na
1994	Abhiyogaya
1994	Nohadan Landune
1994	Ahas Maliga
1994	150 Mulleriyawa	Kiri Amma
1994	Anoma
1994	Mee Haraka	Granny
1997	Apaye Thappara 8400k
1998	Channa Kinnari
2002	Seethala Gini Kandu

References

1. "End of an illustrious era". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
2. "Golden memories of grand old lady of the silver screen". Wijeya Newspapers. 2002. Retrieved 30 April 2008.
3. "All about Sihina Sathak". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
4. "All about Dahasak Sithuvili". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
5. "All about Madol Duwa". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
6. "All about Hulavali". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
7. "All about Yakadaya". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
8. "පෙම් සිහින තොටින් 'කිඳුරු කුමාරි'". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
9. "All about Sathyagrahanaya". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 28 February 2017.

External links

Denawaka Hamine on IMDb