Iranganie Serasinghe Explained

Iranganie Serasinghe
අයිරාංගනී සේරසිංහ
Birth Name:Iranganie Roxanna Meedeniya
Birth Date:9 June 1927[1]
Birth Place:Ruwanwella, British Ceylon
Nationality:Sri Lankan
Years Active:1950
Children:2
Awards:Kala Keerthi,[2] Sri Lankan of the year
Relations:J. H. Meedeniya (grandfather)
D. R. Wijewardena (uncle)
Francis Molamure (uncle)
Tissa Vitharana (brother-in-law)
Ranil Wickramasinghe (cousin son)
Occupation:Teacher (Musaeus college)
Journalist (Times, SLBC)
Film, Television and Stage actress

Iranganie Roxanna Meedeniya (born 9 June 1927),[3] popularly known as Iranganie Serasinghe, is an actress in Sri Lankan cinema, theater and television.[4] Since her debut in Rekava, Serasinghe has become recognized for playing motherly figures in various films and television serials.[5] She is the aunt of President Ranil Wickramasinghe.[6]

Early life and education

She was born on June 9, 1927, in Mudungomuwa, Ruwanwella, Sri Lanka, to Joseph Hercules Meedeniya, Rate Mahatmaya of Ratnapura and Violet Ellawela. Her paternal grandfather was J. H. Meedeniya Adigar was elected unopposed to the Ruwanwella seat in the State Council, and her uncles included D. R. Wijewardena and Sir Francis Molamure. Her mother was the sister of Nanda Ellawala's father, who was a Member of Parliament for Ratnapura. She had three siblings: Indrani Meedeniya, Kamani Vitharana, who married Professor Tissa Vitharana and Mahinda Meedeniya.

Her early touches with nature later led her to become an environmental activist. While attending Bishop's College she played in several end-of-term plays; at Girls' High School, Kandy whilst pursuing a HSC; Meedeniya took a leading role in Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion. Against her father's and Rate Mahatthaya's wishes, Meedeniya entered the University of Colombo in 1947 with the support of her cousins. He died in her first year away, at a time when Marxist ideas were the norm. She immersed herself in the Ceylon theater scene while there under the guidance of Professor E. F. C. Ludowyk; she also became a proficient dancer with lessons from Chitrasena.

She was the first student to study drama at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School under the guidance of Professor Ludowyk. She eventually graduated with an arts degree and traveled to London with letters of recommendation from Ludowyk following a marriage to Professor Dissanayake (they divorced some time later). There, with the help of actresses Flora Robson and Sybil Thorndike, Meedeniya attended Bristol Old Vic Theatre School for a year and the London School of Speech Training and Dramatic Art for two years.[7]

She was first married to a contemporary student at the university and later became a specialist dentist, Professor S. B. Dissanayake. That marriage did not last long. She was then married to fellow actor Winston Serasinghe, during playing English stage plays. There was a 17 year age gap between the two. Winston had appeared in Rekava and some other productions with her. The couple had two sons: Ravi & Ranjit. Her son Ravi died by an accident at the age of 31. Her husband Winston died in 1999.

Career

Returning to Sri Lanka, Meedeniya met up with Ludowyk and Austrian Jew director Neuman Jubal and got back into theater. The Lionel Wendt Art Centre theater portion of the center opened on 12 December 1953 with the production of Maxim Gorky's "The Lower Depths", starring Iranganie Serasinghe and produced by Neuman Jubal. Doing mainly English roles at first, she started playing in Sinhala theater in Henry Jayasena's Apata Puthe Magak Nethe and followed with roles in Damma Jagoda's Sinhala version of A Streetcar Named Desire, Ves Muhunu, and Porisadaya. The following years saw Meedeniya in constantly changing settings–teaching briefly at Musaeus College, working for The Times of Ceylon after returning from London, doing a stint at the SLBC and handling a post in the tourist trade working as a junior executive and guide of Walkers Tours and Travels (Pvt)Ltd. Accordingly, Serasinghe is the first Sri Lankan actress to have received an academic training in acting.

Meedeniya started her career in cinema in Lester James Peries "Be Safe or Be Sorry" for the Government Film Unit. Peries subsequently cast her in his debut feature film Rekava as a mother, 'Kathirinahamy'.[8] In 1956, she won the Deepashikha Award for Best Actress for her debut performance in the film. With the new surname, Iranganie Serasinghe achieved fame as an actress appearing in many of Peries' early works.[9] Later she won the Sarasaviya Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the film Sagarayak Meda in 1982. Her next notable character came through the film Sudu Sewaneli directed by Sunil Ariyaratne where she played the character of a poor old mother. In 2000, she won the Presidential Award for Best Supporting Actress for this role. In 2021, she was honored with lifetime achievement award during the ceremony held for 21 artists who made an invaluable contribution to Sinhala cinema in the early decades of Sinhala Cinema.[10]

Beyond Drama

Prior to entering the film industry, she was the editor-in-chief of the Times of Ceylon. As a revolutionary political figure, Iranganie was a communist militant at university. As a result, Peter Kehnemann, Bernard Zoysa, and Doric de Souza became active in politics at a time when Colvin R. De Silva has repeatedly invited her to contest a seat from the Lanka Sama Samaja Party.

National Awards

Biography

Filmography

Film

Year[15] ShowRoleNotes
1956Rekava Karthina
1960Sandesaya Female Spy
1966Delovak AtharaNissanka's mother
1967The Yellow Dress
1969Bakmaha Deege Kumarihami
1969Romeo Juliet Kathawak [16]
1970Thewatha
1970Priyanga
1974The God King Varuni
1981Sagarayak Meda
1982Deveni Gamana Saman's mother
1984Indiana Jones and the Temple of DoomVillage Woman
1984DadayamaBrothel owner[17]
1984AvurududaMalani's Mother
1985Adara Kathawa)Kanthi's mother
1990Awaragira Dingiri Menike
1996Loku DuwaPunna's Mother [18]
1998Iqbal (Italy) Nonna
2001Poronduwa Mrs. Rambukwella [19]
2001Kinihiriya Mal Sylvia Madam[20]
2002Sudu Sevanali
2002Mansion by the Lake Aunt Catherine
2003Sakman Maluwa Tissa;s mother
2003IrasmaIma's granny
2005Pawana Ralu Viya Mrs. Weerasinghe
2005Sudu Kalu Saha Alu Nogo Nonna
2005 Water Mother in Law
2007Nisala Gira Radha's mother-in-law
2007Samaara Indu's paternal granny[21]
2008Heart FMShakya's granny
2008Rosa Kale Akalanka's granny
2013Abhinikmana Buddhadasa's mother
2013It’s a Matter of Love[22] Chathuri's granny
2014Kalpanthe SihinayakMenu's elder mother
2016Tradition (film)Grand Ma
2017Paha Samath[23] Vinura's granny
2018VaishnaveeOsanda's granny
2018Kalu Hima[24] Chunda's granny
2019Sulanga Apa Ragena Yavi[25] Granny
2022CineMa [26]
2023Guththila[27]
2022Gaadi Bulathgama Disawe's mother
TBDTheja [28]
TBDMinnu [29]

Television

YearShowRole
1980sYashorawaya (යශෝරාවය)Suduhamine
1990–1995Doo Daruwo (දූ දරුවෝ)Dulsey/Sudu aachchi
1988Village by the Sea-Gamperaliya
1996–1997Nadayo
1997Ammai Thaththai (අම්මයි තාත්තයි)
1999–2001Sathpuravesiyo (සත්පුරවැසියෝ)
2000Smarana Samapthi [30]
2001Suseta Mayam [31]
2003/04Paaradeesaya [32]
2004Vihanga Geethaya [33]
2004Jeewithayata Idadenna[34]
2004Nonimi Yathra [35]
2005Dangayanta Pamanai [36]
2006Mage Kaviya Mata Denna[37]
2006Veeduru Mal[38]
2007Samanala Wasanthaya [39]
2007Weten Eha [40]
2009Sudu Hansayo [41]
2008–2009Muthu Kirilli
2010Doratu Rakinno [42]
2010–2011Amanda granny
2012Duwaru [43]
2018ThaththaPrison officer's step mother
2020Sihini A rich bed-ridden old lady - isolated by her children

External links

Notes and References

  1. "Irangani As Told to Kumar de Silva", Kumar de Silva, Samaranayake Publishers, 2013
  2. Web site: The Sunday Times News and Comments. www.sundaytimes.lk. 2019-02-28. 2019-08-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20190804202010/http://www.sundaytimes.lk/980405/news2.html. live.
  3. "Irangani As Told to Kumar de Silva", Kumar de Silva, Samaranayake Publishers, 2013
  4. Web site: 2021-09-01 . Love the environment The environment protects you . 2021-09-03 . Sarasaviya . 2021-09-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210903152650/http://www.sarasaviya.lk/interviews/2021/09/02/20957/%E0%B6%B4%E0%B6%BB%E0%B7%92%E0%B7%83%E0%B6%BB%E0%B6%BA%E0%B6%A7-%E0%B6%86%E0%B6%AF%E0%B6%BB%E0%B7%9A-%E0%B6%9A%E0%B6%BB%E0%B6%B1%E0%B7%8A%E0%B6%B1-%E0%B6%B4%E0%B6%BB%E0%B7%92%E0%B7%83%E0%B6%BB%E0%B6%BA-%E0%B6%94%E0%B6%B6-%E0%B6%BB%E0%B7%90%E0%B6%9A%E0%B6%9C%E0%B6%B1%E0%B7%93 . live .
  5. News: A Shining Star striving to protect Planet Earth. Daily News(Sri Lanka). 23 May 2007. 3 March 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20110604115434/http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/05/23/fea12.asp. 4 June 2011. dead.
  6. Web site: Beloved mother of Sinhala cinema: Irangani Serasinghe . 2021-06-07 . Silumina . 2021-06-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210609070309/http://www.silumina.lk/2020/12/19/%E0%B6%AD%E0%B6%BB%E0%B6%82%E0%B6%9C/%E0%B7%83%E0%B7%92%E0%B6%82%E0%B7%84%E0%B6%BD-%E0%B7%83%E0%B7%92%E0%B6%B1%C2%AD%E0%B6%B8%E0%B7%8F%E0%B7%80%E0%B7%9A-%E0%B6%86%E0%B6%AF%C2%AD%E0%B6%BB%C2%AD%E0%B6%AB%E0%B7%93%C2%AD%E0%B6%BA-%E0%B6%85%E0%B6%B8%E0%B7%8A%E0%B6%B8%E0%B7%8F-%E0%B6%85%E0%B6%BA%E0%B7%92%E0%B6%BB%E0%B7%8F%E0%B6%82%E0%B6%9C%E0%B6%B1%E0%B7%93-%E0%B7%83%E0%B7%9A%E0%B6%BB%E0%B7%83%E0%B7%92%E0%B6%82%E0%B7%84 . live .
  7. News: Iranganie Serasinghe: Mischievous young girl who turned a brilliant actress. Daily News (Sri Lanka). 29 April 2006. 3 March 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080316090318/http://www.dailynews.lk/2006/04/29/spice03.asp. 16 March 2008. dead.
  8. Web site: Love the world ... the world will return and love you infinitely . 2021-06-05 . Silumina . 2021-06-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210606161356/http://www.silumina.lk/2021/03/06/%E0%B6%BB%E0%B7%83%E0%B6%B3%E0%B7%94%E0%B6%B1/%E0%B6%BD%E0%B7%9D%E0%B6%9A%C2%AD%E0%B6%BA%E0%B6%A7-%E0%B6%86%E0%B6%AF%C2%AD%E0%B6%BB%E0%B6%BA-%E0%B6%9A%E0%B6%BB%E0%B6%B1%E0%B7%8A%E0%B6%B1-%E0%B6%BD%E0%B7%9D%E0%B6%9A%E0%B6%BA-%E0%B6%B4%E0%B7%99%E0%B6%BB%E0%B7%85%E0%B7%8F-%E0%B6%85%E0%B7%83%E0%B7%93%C2%AD%E0%B6%B8%E0%B7%92%C2%AD%E0%B6%AD%E0%B7%80-%E0%B6%94%E0%B6%B6%E0%B6%A7-%E0%B6%86%E0%B6%AF%C2%AD%E0%B6%BB%E0%B6%BA-%E0%B6%9A%E0%B6%BB%E0%B7%8F%E0%B7%80%E0%B7%92 . live .
  9. News: Fascinating facet of genuine original art. Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka). 16 December 2007. 3 March 2008. 19 December 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20071219172740/http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2007/12/16/spe05.asp. live.
  10. Web site: An award for pioneering artists in cinema . Sarasaviya . 30 December 2019 . 30 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211230140149/https://www.sarasaviya.lk/news/2021/12/30/22112/%E0%B7%83%E0%B7%92%E0%B6%B1%E0%B6%B8%E0%B7%8F%E0%B7%80%E0%B7%9A-%E0%B6%B4%E0%B7%94%E0%B6%BB%E0%B7%9D%E0%B6%9C%E0%B7%8F%E0%B6%B8%E0%B7%93-%E0%B6%9A%E0%B6%BD%E0%B7%8F%E0%B6%9A%E0%B6%BB%E0%B7%94%E0%B7%80%E0%B6%B1%E0%B7%8A%E0%B6%A7-%E0%B7%83%E0%B6%B8%E0%B7%8A%E0%B6%B8%E0%B7%8F%E0%B6%B1-%E0%B6%B4%E0%B7%92%E0%B6%AF%E0%B7%94%E0%B6%B8%E0%B6%9A%E0%B7%8A . live .
  11. Web site: Ada Derana Sri Lankan of the Year 2017 - award winners. www.adaderana.lk. 2017-10-01. 2023-04-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20230418065329/http://www.adaderana.lk/news.php?nid=43262. live.
  12. Web site: Award-winning artiste Malaka Dewapriya decries censorship. dailymirror. 16 October 2019. 25 June 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210625001511/https://www.dailymirror.lk/News-Features/Award-winning-artiste-Malaka-Dewapriya-decries-censorship/131-163965. live.
  13. Web site: Soaring in the waves. dailynews . 16 October 2019.
  14. Web site: සිනමාවේ අද්විතීය මාතාව අයිරාංගනීගේ ජීවිත කතාව එළි දකී . Sarasaviya . 11 March 2017 . 3 October 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171003190311/http://www.sarasaviya.lk/2015/09/10/?fn=sa1509103 . live .
  15. Web site: Iranganie Serasinghe. IMDb. 2013-10-16. 2014-02-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20140219084722/http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0784854/?. live.
  16. Web site: Romeo Juliet Kathawak . 2021-01-10 . Sarasaviya . 2021-08-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210806160857/http://archives.sarasaviya.lk/2018/09/20/?fn=sa18092022 . live .
  17. Web site: Dadayama: The hunt that was a hunt . 2021-01-12 . Sarasaviya . 2021-01-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210123025118/http://www.sarasaviya.lk/films/2018/12/06/1299/%E0%B6%AF%E0%B6%A9%E0%B6%BA%E0%B6%B8%E0%B6%9A%E0%B7%8A-%E0%B7%80%E0%B7%96-%E0%B6%AF%E0%B6%A9%E0%B6%BA%E0%B6%B8 . live .
  18. Web site: Loku Duwa appears on Rupavahini . Sunday Times . 8 December 2019 . 15 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230715075548/https://www.sundaytimes.lk/061231/TV/013tv.html . live .
  19. Web site: 'Poronduwa':Ratnam on correct track again . The Sunday Times . 3 December 2019 . 6 March 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190306202940/http://www.sundaytimes.lk/010722/tv.html#6 . live .
  20. Web site: Kinihiriya Mal - කිනිහිරියා මල් . Sinhala Cinema Database . 29 October 2019 . 24 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191024204118/http://www.films.lk/kinihiriya-mal-sinhala-film-1674.html . live .
  21. Web site: Sanjaya enters cinema with 'Samara' . Sunday Times . 3 December 2019 . 15 July 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170715210019/http://www.sundaytimes.lk/050213/tv/8.html . live .
  22. Web site: ඉට්ස් අ මැටර් ඔෆ් ලව් . Sarasaviya . 1 November 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131113102947/http://www.sarasaviya.lk/2013/05/16/?fn=sa13051622 . 13 November 2013 . dead .
  23. Web site: Tear falling cinema about a village boy . Sarasaviya . 26 August 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170826194211/http://www.sarasaviya.lk/2017/08/24/?fn=sa1708241 . 26 August 2017 . dead .
  24. Web site: කළුහිම . Sarasaviya . 24 August 2018 . 25 August 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180825002406/http://www.sarasaviya.lk/2018/08/23/?fn=sa18082318 . live .
  25. Web site: A fresh wind for cinema . The Sunday Times . 23 March 2019 . 19 March 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190319020931/http://www.sundaytimes.lk/161016/magazine/a-fresh-wind-for-cinema-212010.html . live .
  26. Web site: CineMa from April 22nd . 2022-04-03 . Sarasaviya . 2023-07-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230715075542/https://www.sarasaviya.lk/news/2022/04/07/23102/%E0%B7%83%E0%B7%92%E0%B6%B1%E0%B7%9A%E0%B6%B8%E0%B7%8F-%E0%B6%85%E0%B6%B4%E0%B7%8A%E2%80%8D%E0%B6%BB%E0%B7%9A%E0%B6%BD%E0%B7%8A-22-%E0%B7%80%E0%B7%90%E0%B6%B1%E0%B7%92%E0%B6%AF%E0%B7%8F-%E0%B7%83%E0%B7%92%E0%B6%A7 . live .
  27. Web site: Tale of Guththila becomes a cinema . Sarasaviya . 10 November 2018 . 8 November 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191108230723/http://www.sarasaviya.lk/films-local/2019/11/07/11901/%E0%B6%AF%E0%B6%B1%E0%B6%B1%E0%B7%8A-%E0%B6%AD%E0%B7%94%E0%B6%A9-%E0%B6%BB%E0%B7%90%E0%B7%80%E0%B7%8A-%E0%B6%AF%E0%B7%94%E0%B6%B1%E0%B7%8A-%E0%B6%9C%E0%B7%94%E0%B6%AD%E0%B7%8A%E0%B6%AD%E0%B7%92%E0%B6%BD . live .
  28. Web site: තේජා පූර්ව ප්‍රචාරය අරඹයි . Sarasaviya . 13 March 2020 . 14 March 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200314061813/http://www.sarasaviya.lk/news/2020/03/12/17182/%E0%B6%AD%E0%B7%9A%E0%B6%A2%E0%B7%8F-%E0%B6%B4%E0%B7%96%E0%B6%BB%E0%B7%8A%E0%B7%80-%E0%B6%B4%E0%B7%8A%E2%80%8D%E0%B6%BB%E0%B6%A0%E0%B7%8F%E0%B6%BB%E0%B6%BA-%E0%B6%85%E0%B6%BB%E0%B6%B9%E0%B6%BA%E0%B7%92 . live .
  29. News: තුන්පත් රෑනක සොඳුරු අනන්තය “මින්නු” . www.sundaytimes.lk.
  30. Web site: 'Smarana Samapthi' brings out a hidden past . Sunday times . 17 November 2017 . 22 November 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171122062702/http://www.sundaytimes.lk/000220/tv.html . live .
  31. Web site: 'Suseta Mayam' : Story of two girls in an asylum . Sunday times . 17 November 2017 . 31 August 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170831171634/http://www.sundaytimes.lk/010325/tv.html . live .
  32. Web site: Depicts social differences . Sunday Times . 11 September 2019 . 30 August 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170830223854/http://www.sundaytimes.lk/031221/tv/16.htm . live .
  33. Web site: 'Vihanga Geethaya': A tale of triangular love . Sunday times . 17 November 2017 . 11 November 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171111181843/http://www.sundaytimes.lk/040822/tv/4.html . live .
  34. Web site: 'Jeewithayata Idadenna' : Love, smiles and tears . Sunday Times . 11 September 2019 . 6 January 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180106001216/http://www.sundaytimes.lk/040905/tv/4.html . live .
  35. Web site: A voyage from here to eternity . Sunday times . 17 November 2017 . 15 July 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170715203247/http://www.sundaytimes.lk/041107/tv/3.html . live .
  36. Web site: 'Dangayanta Pamanai': For mischivous only . Sunday Times . 4 December 2019 . 15 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230715075550/https://www.sundaytimes.lk/050327/tv/5.html . live .
  37. Web site: 'Mage Kaviya Mata Denna' : Mano's filmic dream . Sunday Times . 18 August 2019 . 14 July 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170714044154/http://www.sundaytimes.lk/060319/tv/8.html . live .
  38. Web site: 'Veeduru Mal': Depicts a topsy-turvy tale . Sunday Times . 8 December 2019 . 23 January 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110123045158/http://sundaytimes.lk/061015/TV/tv20.html . live .
  39. Web site: 'Heidi'comes to TV . Sunday Times . 11 December 2019 . 23 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210623084650/https://www.sundaytimes.lk/070805/TV/tv_3.html . live .
  40. Web site: "Weten Eha", a tale of neighbours . Sunday Times . 11 December 2019 . 4 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304094453/http://www.sundaytimes.lk/071118/TV/tv-times00002.html . live .
  41. Web site: 'Sudu Hansayo', Discusses problems in marriage . Sunday Times . 16 December 2019 . 4 July 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180704030212/http://www.sundaytimes.lk/090215/Magazine/sundaytimestvtimes_03.html . live .
  42. Web site: 'Doratu Rakinno' opens for public . Sunday Times . 22 December 2019 . 28 April 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180428173501/http://www.sundaytimes.lk/100221/Magazine/sundaytimestvtimes_6.html . live .
  43. Web site: 'Duwaru' to make a difference . Sunday Times . 22 December 2019 . 27 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221127053237/https://www.sundaytimes.lk/120122/Magazine/sundaytimestvtimes_5.html . live .

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