Shanthi Lekha


Rita Irene Koys, better known as Shanthi Lekha, was a Sri Lankan Film actress. She played the role of mother in more films than any other actress in Sinhala cinema.

Personal life

Lekha was born in Kalutara on July 1, 1929. She received her stage name from her first husband Shanthi Viraj. They had first met while she was attending Holy Family Convent in Kalutara.
She died in France May 11, 2009.

Career

She starred in composer D. T. Fernando's play Shantha Prabha. She subsequently made a mark as a dancer in plays starring Dommie Jayawardena and Nona Subeda.
With Jayawardena, Lekha had her first film role in Sujatha. Wearing a bathing suit, she danced along with Jayawardena to the song "Pem Rella Nagi." The role came with a payment of Rs. 500 and a contract prohibiting her from doing films for other production companies. The producer K. Gunaratnam would subsequently offer her roles in Warada Kageda, Radala Piliruwa and Dostara.
Lekha first played a mother in Sandesaya. She would play this role in over 350 films.
Lekha won Best Supporting Actress Awards at the Sarasaviya Film Festival for Gamini Fonseka's Parasathu Mal and Mudalinayaka Somaratne's Binaramali. She also won Presidential Awards for Mayurige Kathawa and Ridi Nimnaya.

Filmography

YearFilmRoleRef.
1953SujathaPrema
1954Warada KagedaRupa
1954Radala PiliruwaLaviniya
1956DostharaRita
1957Jeewitha Satana
1958Salli Malli Salli
1960SandesayaExecuted man's wife
1963GamperaliyaHamine
1964Suba Sarana Sepa Sithe
1965Sepatha SoyaAccomplice Rathna
1965Allapu GedaraSepalika's mother
1966Seethala Wathura
1966Delovak AtharaAccident victim's mother
1966Parasathu MalKamala's mother
1966Oba Dutu Da
1966Senasili SuwayaWimal's mother
1967Ran SaluSarojini's mother
1967Saru Bima
1967Vasanthi
1967Ipadune Ai
1967Rena GirawDissa's mother
1967Sura Chauraya
1968Pini Bindu
1968Dehadaka DukaGamini's mother
1968Ataweni Pudumaya
1969NarilathaJean
1969Kawuda HariRita's mother
1969BinaramaliKiri Amma
1969Uthum Sthriya
1970Athma Pooja
1970Thevetha
1970Penawa Neda
1970Akkara PahaSena's mother
1970Tun Man HandiyaSirisena's mother
1971PoojithayoMrs. Batuwantalawa
1971Devena Pipasa
1971Seeye Nottuwa
1971Samanala Kumariyo
1971Sahanaya
1972NidhanayaIrene's mother
1972Edath Suraya Adath SurayaAlice
1972Hithaka Pipunu Mal
1973Aparadaya Saha Danduwama
1973ThusharaSampath's mother
1973Hondama Welawa
1973Hondata HondaiViolet
1974Ahas GauwaVijay's mother
1974Hadawath Naththo
1974Onna Babo Billo Enawa
1974Senakeliya
1974Duppathage HithawathaKanthi
1974LasandaSamadara
1975Hitha Honda MinihekJothi's mother
1975Obai MamaiSuminda's mother
1975Kohoma KiyannadaSheela's mother
1975Amaraneeya Adare
1975Lassana Kella
1975Kokilayo
1975SikuruliyaNamali's mother
1975Lassana DawasakPriyanthi's mother
1975SangeethaSangeetha's mother
1976Nayana
1976Kawuda RajaManu's mother
1976Ganga
1976Madol DuwaAnnie Perera
1976WalmathwuwoCyril's mother
1976Kolamba SanniyaAndare's sister
1976Asha
1976Hariyata HariAgnes
1976Onna Mame Kella Penapi
1976Saradielge PuthaUpasaka Amma
1976Adarei Man Adarei
1976Ran Thilaka
1977Neela
1977Sakunthala
1977Sudu ParaviyoKumari's mother
1977Hithuwoth HithuwamaiSumali's mother
1977Pembara Madhu
1977Deviyani Oba KohidaAginda
1977Chin Chin Nona
1977Rahas Kumanthranaya
1977Chandi PuthaShanthi
1977YakdayaSomey's mother
1977Eya Dan Loku MinihekSusila's mother
1977Aege Adara KathawaRuvini's mother
1978VishmayaJanaka's mother
1978Hitha MithuraCelestina
1978Sithaka SuwandaRita Samson
1978Mage Ran Putha
1978TikiraDaisy Samarasekara
1978Sally
1978Sasara
1978Ahasin Polawata
1979SarungaleSusheela's mother
1979Amal Biso
1979Ran KurulloRajesh's mother
1979Sawudan Jema
1979Visihathara PeyaSumana's mother
1980UthumaneniMother
1980Ektam GeRosalin
1980Doctor Susantha
1980ParithyagayaSeelawathie
1980Sasaraka PethumJagath's mother
1980Ganga AddaraMrs. Bunna
1980Raja Dawasak
1980SankhapaliSanka's mother
1980Api Dedena
1980Miyurige Kathawa
1981ThavalamaAngatakka
1981RangaVajira's mother
1981Sayuru TheraKathrina
1981VajiraNima's mother
1981Sagarayak MedaNurse Seneviratne
1981Bandura Mal
1982Re ManamaliLandlord
1982Sakvithi SuwayaAdo 'Akka'
1982Sudu AyyaAnanda's aunt
1982Ridee NimnayaMillie 'Nona'
1982Pradeepa
1982Sithara
1982Thakkita Tharikita
1982Chathu MadhuraSomawathie
1983Yali Pipunu Malak
1983Siwu Ranga Sena
1983ChutteKadajumma
1983Athin AthataNelum's mother
1983Thunhiri Mal
1983PasamithuroGemunu's mother
1984Mala GiraviParty well-wisher
1984KokilaW. J. Nona
1984Sasara Chethana
1984Rana Derana
1984HithawathiyaMrs. Weerasinghe
1985Puthuni Mata Samawenna
1985Du Daruwo
1986Yali HamuwennaiPrasanna's mother
1986Devduwa
1986Pooja
1987Yugayen Yugayata
1987Kele KellaRoshini's mother
1988Ko Hathuro
1990Jaya Kothanda
1991Paaradisaya
1991Salambak Handai
1998Aeya Obata BaraiKumari's mother
1999Surangana Yahana