Nilmini Tennakoon

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Nilmini Thennakoon
නිල්මිණි තෙන්නකෝන්
Born (1965-01-23) January 23, 1965 (age 60)
Moratuwa
NationalitySri Lankan
EducationPrincess of Wales' College
OccupationActress
Years active1987–present
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1996; div. 2000)​
ChildrenSwetha Mandakini
Awards
  • Best Actress
  • Most Popular Actress (12 awards)
  • Best Supporting Actress

Thennakoon Pathiranalage Nilmini (born January 23, 1965, as නිල්මිණි තෙන්නකෝන්) [Sinhala]), popularly as Nilmini Thennakoon, is an actress in Sri Lankan cinema[1] and television.[2] A highly versatile actress particularly active in television, she is a recipient of the Best Actress award multiple times in many local award festivals.[3] She is often referred to as the "tear drop" of the Sinhala small screen, and also the Sri Lankan Madhuri Dixit.[4]

Personal life

[edit]

She was born on 23 January 1965 to Piyadasa Thennakoon and Shriyani Thennakoon in Moratuwa. She has two siblings, one elder brother (L=the late Deleepa Thennakoon) and one younger sister.[5] Her father was a businessman. He died when she was 13 years old.[6] She completed her education from Princess of Wales' College.

Tennakoon was married to popular singer Madhumadhawa Aravinda, and they have one daughter, Swetha Mandakini.[7] She met Madhumadhawa during the teledrama Pini Bindu in 1992. They got married on May 5 in 1996.[8] They divorced in the early 2000s.[9]

In 2007, Tennakoon sustained grievous bodily injuries in a car accident and was taken to the Ragama hospital's ICU. The accident occurred at Balummahara on March 14 when she was rushing to Kurunegala from Colombo for a television filming event. Her car was reduced to matchwood although the chauffeur escaped with minor injuries.

Career

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In the 1980s, Tennakoon started to act on the school stage when she was in grade 7 and studied dancing under Vajira Chitrasena. Then she attended "Low Country" and Kandyan dancing under radio artist Chitra Kumari Kalubowila at Moratuwa. Under Chithra's guidance, she performed in the ballet Sasara staged in Rupavahini.[2]

Tennakoon was introduced to the cinema by popular director Roy de Silva and actress Sumana Amarasinghe.[4] She appeared in the film Hitha Honda Chandiya in a dancing scene with Bandu Samarasinghe. At the same time, D. B. Nihalsinghe used Thennakoon for his TV Commercials and then for the role "Amaravathi" in the play Dimithu Muthu and then in the 1991 film Keli Madala.[8] Her major television acting came through Passe Gena Manamali, directed by Nalan Mendis.[2] Then she acted in famous tele series Doo Daruwo which was telecast many years on the Rupavahini on Sundays at 8.30 p.m. Her character '"Deepthi" in the television serial Doo Daruwo was a major success in her career.[4]

Her maiden cinematic experience came through the 1985 film Mawubima Naththam Maranaya, directed by Louie Vanderstraeten with a minor role. Her first major role in cinema came through the 1990 film Yukthiyata Wada directed by Sunil Soma Peiris.[10] Some of her popular films are Keli Madala, Nagaran and Le Kiri Kandulu.[11]

In 1992, Tennakoon won the Sarasaviya award for the Best Upcoming actress for her role in Suranimala. She won the Sarasaviya Award for the Best Actress for the role "Veena" in the film Le Kiri Kandulu.[4] Then she won the Most Popular Teledrama Actress Award for a record six years continuously.[2] In 2008 Raigam Tele'es, Tennakoon won the award for the Best Actress for the role "Tikiri Menika" in serials Handewa directed by Sherly P. Delankawala.[12] In 2016, she won the Sumathi award for the Best Actress for the title role in Amma.[13]

She participated in the reality program Hiru Mega Stars as the leader of the group "Shakyans".[14][15] She also hosted the psychology television program Sith Giman Hala, telecast by TV Derana.[4]

She currently has a beauty salon at Nugegoda.

Selected television serials

[edit]
  • 1990 Love Born in the Heart
  • Abhisamaya as Anupama[16]
  • Adaraneeya Amma[17]
  • Akwessa
  • Amma as Amma (Punna)[18]
  • Anduru Sewaneli
  • Aswenna[19]
  • Blackmail
  • Bodima as Nilmini
  • Chess
  • Daam
  • Deveni Kamatha as Nirmala
  • Dimuthu Muthu
  • Diya Ginisilu[20]
  • Diya Sithuvam[21]
  • Diya Suliya as Sarojini Liyanaarachchi[22]
  • Diya Yata Gini[23]
  • Doo Daruwo as Deepthi
  • Galaboda Hasthiya
  • Ganaga Saha Nishshanka as Nadee
  • Gimanata Pavana
  • Giravi
  • Girikula as Dingiri Amma
  • Handewa as Tikiri Menika[24]
  • Himagira
  • Hima Varusa[25]
  • Hiru Dahasak Yata[26]
  • Hiru Sadu Hamuwee
  • Hiruta Muwawen
  • Indikadolla[27]
  • Isi Daasi
  • Isuru Pawura[28]
  • Iti Pahan as Some[29]
  • Kulavilokanaya as Pabasara Biso[30]
  • Kumarayaneni
  • Mansala as Devi[31]
  • Maya Ranaga as Biula[32]
  • Mayavi[33]
  • Nethranjali as Nethra[34]
  • Nidi Kumari
  • Nidikumba Mal[35]
  • Parami Pooja
  • Pas Mal Pethi
  • Passe Gena Manamali[36]
  • Pata Sarungal[36]
  • Pata Veeduru[37]
  • Pinketha as Giravi
  • Piyabana Ashwaya
  • Raena
  • Ralla Weralata Adarei
  • Ranagala Watta
  • Sagaraya Parada
  • Sanda Mediyama
  • Sanda Pini Wassa as Maya[38]
  • Sasara Saranee
  • Sikuru Awith[39]
  • Sikuru Evith
  • Susima[40]
  • Thuru Kadauru
  • Udawediya Mal
  • Uththamavi[41]
  • Vishwanthari[42]
  • Visirunu Renu[43]

Filmography

[edit]
Key
† Denotes film or TV productions that have not yet been released
Year Film Role Ref.
1985 Mawubima Naththam Maranaya
1990 Yukthiyata Wada Kunchu
1990 Pem Rajadahana
1991 Keli Madala Sharika [44]
1992 Suraniamala
1993 Wali Sulanga Nilmini Ranasinghe
1994 Ekada Wahi
1995 Ayoma
1999 Nagaran Soma
2003 Le Kiri Kandulu Veena Jayaweera [45]
2016 Madhura Charika Guest role [46]
2016 Hero Nero Priya Senarathne
2017 Bandhanaya Nandawathi [47]
2019 President Super Star [48]
2023 Kadira Divyaraja [49]
2023 Thaththa Ruwan's mother [50]
TBA Akasa Palama † [51]
TBA Sanda Dadayama † [52]
TBA Man Hoyanne Premayak † [53]

Awards

[edit]

Sarasaviya Awards

[edit]
Year Nominee / work Award Result
1992 Suranimala Best Upcoming Actress Won
2003 Le Kiri Kandulu Best Actress Nominated

Sumathi Awards

[edit]
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2000 Isidasi Best Actress Won
1995 Peoples' Vote Most Popular Actress[54] Won
2015 Girikula Best Supporting Actress[55] Won
2016 Amma Best Actress[56] Won

Raigam Tele'es

[edit]
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2009 Hendewa Best Actress Won

References

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  1. ^ "Actresses in Sri Lankan cinema - Nilmini Thennakoon". IMDb. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d "Dedication led to my success - Nilmini". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  3. ^ "Nilmini's tough talk on teledramas". lankahitgossip. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  4. ^ a b c d e "'I regret my past decisions' – Nilmini Tennakoon". magazine.lankahelp.com. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  5. ^ "Unforgettable incidents in life". Silumina. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  6. ^ "Others Jealous about our Marriage Life". lkactress. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  7. ^ "We can be close again". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  8. ^ a b "Nilmini Thennakoon Talk About Marriage Life". telelk. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  9. ^ "Nilmini Thennakoon With Her Daughter". Lanka Help. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  10. ^ "Nilmini Thennakoon - නිලිමිනි තෙන්නකෝන් filmography". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  11. ^ "Nilmini Tennakoon films". Rate Your Music. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  12. ^ "After curtains fell on Raigam Tele Awards 2008." Daily News. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  13. ^ "Gossip Chat With Nilmini Thennakoon". gossiplankahotnews. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  14. ^ "Popular actress Nilmini Tennakoon celebrates her b'day". Hiru FM. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  15. ^ "Popular actress Nilmini Tennakoon - නිල්මිණි තෙන්නකෝන්". Hiru TV. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  16. ^ "'Abhisamaya' portrays tale of a widow". Sunday Times. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  17. ^ "Tale of two mothers one, child". Sunday Times. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  18. ^ "Nilmini in Amma". Lankadeepa. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  19. ^ "Aswenna comes to the small screen". Daily News. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  20. ^ "Of love and old Friendship". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  21. ^ "'Diya Sithuwam': Story of a painter". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  22. ^ "Diya Suliya". Torana Video. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  23. ^ "Diya Yata Gini Tele-Drama Series". Sunday Times. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  24. ^ "'Handewa' pictures a tragedy in a colony". Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  25. ^ "Hima Varusa covered in mystery". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  26. ^ "'Hiru Dahasak Yata' - A story of lost and found". Sunday Times. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  27. ^ "'Indikadolla' depicts village values". Sunday Times. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
  28. ^ "A millionaire dies giving rise to 'Isuru Pawura'". Sunday Times. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  29. ^ "Itipahan (Burly Lamp) Chapter - 17". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  30. ^ "Treble teledrama treat from Swarnavahini". Sunday Times. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  31. ^ "මමම නැති කර ගත්ත දෙයක් තමයි ඒ". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  32. ^ "'Maya Ranga' deals with mystery and vice". Sunday Times. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  33. ^ "'Mayavi' moves with mysteries". Sunday Times. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  34. ^ "'Nethranjali': a modern day tragedy". Sunday Times. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  35. ^ "Nidikumba Mal". paradisaya. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  36. ^ a b "Nalan Mendis teledramas". Nalan Mendis official page. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  37. ^ "'Pata Veeduru': Drama off the beaten track". Sunday Times. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
  38. ^ "She knows my sensitive points". rasagossip. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  39. ^ "මාරුවෙච්ච මනමාලයන්ට මොකද වෙන්නේ කියලා දැන ගන්න 'සිකුරු ඇවිත්' බලන්න". silumina.lk. 12 January 2025. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
  40. ^ "'Susima' on DVD format". Sunday Times. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  41. ^ "'Uththamavi': Travails of a village damsel". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  42. ^ "'Vishwanthari': World Class literature on miniscreen". Sunday Times. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  43. ^ "'Visirinu Renu' shows the worlds of six women". Sunday Times. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  44. ^ "Keli Madala Sinhala Movie". vodtv. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  45. ^ "'Le Kiri Kandulu' is now on at CEL". Daily News. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  46. ^ "Trip on Present towards the Journey in Past". Sarasaviya. Archived from the original on 6 October 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  47. ^ "Udayakantha on 'Bandhanaya'". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  48. ^ "The presidential stage where four people are competing". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  49. ^ "Kadira Divyaraja who appears all deities". Dinamina. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  50. ^ "නොපෙන්වන ආදරයේ සුසුම් කන්ද". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  51. ^ "Tale of Jack and Magical Beans in Sri Lankan way". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  52. ^ "රක්තා හැදූ ගාමිණී සඳ දඩයම රූ ගන්වයි". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  53. ^ "මං මුළා වූ ජීවිතය තුළ "මං හොයන්නේ ප්‍රේමයක්"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
  54. ^ "Sumathi Award winners in each year". www.sumathiawards.lk.
  55. ^ "Sumathi Tele awards held under President's patronage". ITN News.
  56. ^ "Sumathi Awards 2016". Ceylon Today.
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