The legacy of an iconic women figure of both arts and politics, Ms.Malani Fonseka’s funeral took place today after she took her last breath a few days ago. She is renowned among the people of Sri Lanka as the “Queen of Sri Lankan Cinema” for her unparalleled contributions for the theatre arts and the big screen movies as a theatre artist, actress and a director. Her legacy began in 1963 when she stepped into the world of art as a theatre artist and it continued for six decades. The reason behind her impactful success is her rich family history who are involved in cinema and theatre with over twenty members.
Malani’s enduring contributions to Sri Lankan cinema and culture have solidified the status of hers as a national icon and an inspiration for the upcoming generations of artists and audiences. The following are some of the interesting facts the present generations must know about why she became the “Queen of Sri Lankan Cinema”.
- Malani Fonseka is the first Sri Lankan actress to receive an ‘International Jury Award’ in 1975 at Moscow International Film Festival.
- Interestingly, she had also shaped her career as a costume designer by designing the outfit of hers in several of her movies.
- Some of the available reports state that she has also contributed in the part of scripts of her few movies which wasn’t credited officially.
- Her passion to build the Sinhala Cinema Industry was so profound that she turned down the offers of Bollywood presented by some of the Indian filmmakers.
- Malani set the path for many women in the cinema and television industry by emerging as the director for both the mediums.
- During the 1970s she received the title from the fans ‘Golden Star’.
- She always set a path for her ideologies which she kept till her last breath, among which the refusal of endorsing the commercial products.
