Chitra Wakishta


Chitra Dhanawalavithana, popularly as Chitra Wakishta, was an award-winning actress in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television. Wakishta is best known for her role Somi Nona in Kopi Kade teledrama and she had a career that spanned more than six decades.

Personal life

She was born on 23 December 1936 in Punchi Borella. She completed her education from Buddhist Girls' School, Maradana, which is later known as Sri Sangamiththa Balika Vidyalaya, Colombo 10. She was married to Lloyd Wakisha. Lloyd is also a popular actor in his generation, who acted in stage drama Wes Muhunu and then in films such as Sihina Hathak, Kinkini Paada, Rena Giraw, Baduth Ekka Horu, Mee Masso, Gehenu Lamai, Adhishtana, Thani Tharuwa and Wadula. Lloyd was born in 1930 and died in 1981 at the age of 51. The couple has three sons - Ranjan, Shammi, Pran - and one daughter. Her grand daughter Senuri is also a child artist, who acted in the teledrama Appachchi. Senuri won many awards at local award festivals for her role in that drama.
She died on 31 May 2019 at the age of 82.

Theatre career

Wakishta joined with Radio Ceylon in 1945 for Lama Pitiya program. She involved with singing poems and raban poem in Lama pitiya at that time. While in Lama Pitiya, she started stage career with A. M. L. Zoysa's drama, Bahirawaya in 1953. Then she acted in many stage productions, such as Deepa, Piligath Warada, Pancha Kalyani and Sargent Weerasinha. In the stage drama Kalagola, she sang the song “Rasadara Siriya Paradana”, which is still a popular theatre song.

Television career

Wakishta is one of the earliest pillars in Sri Lankan television drama history. Her television career started with Sri Lanka's first teledrama Dimuthumuthu. She was a prominent figure in the South Asia's longest running single-episode television serial, Kopi Kade. Her role Somi Nona gained popularity among the public. She continued to perform in Kopi Kade for 26 years, finally she retired due to illness. She also acted in television serials including Vajira, Mal Kekulak Iki Binda and Himagiri Arana.

Selected serials

According to her son Pran, she suffered from cancer since October 2014. She continued to take medication from Cancer Hospital, Maharagama. On 31 May 2019, Wakishta died while receiving treatments at National Hospital, Colombo. Her remains laid at a Borella private parlour on 1 June 2019 and final rites were carried out on 2 June at the Borella General Cemetery.

Filmography

Wakishta started her film career with Sirisena Wimalaweera's 1955 film Podi Putha. Then she acted more than 75 films. Some of her popular films include, Golu Hadawatha, Ahas Gawwa, Gehenu Lamai and Yuganthaya. In 1979, she won Best Supporting Actress award for the role in Gehenu Lamai at Presidential Film Festival and then in OCIC Signis Festival.
YearNo.FilmRoleRef.
195534Podi PuthaAlice
195742Sirakaruwa
1966151Parasathu MalSirisena's mother
1966139Seethala Wathura
1967175Rena GirawMaggie
1968186Golu Hadawatha
1969200Samaje Sathuro
1969207Baduth Ekka HoruAsilin
1969209Mee Masso
1969216Pancha
1973271Suhada PathumaChamila's housemaid
1973277Sinawai Inawai
1974282Ahas GauwaSilawathie
1975327Sadhana
1975328Hadawathaka WasanthayaSriyani's mother
1978390Gehenu LamaiKamalawathie Satharasinghe
1978388VishmayaRalahamy's sister
1980446Seetha
1980463Para Dige
1981485VajiraJane Nona
1981489Sathukulu PawwaNimali's mother
1982514Thani Tharuwa
1982523Ridee NimnayaTeacher
1983571Monarathenna 2
1985632Yuganthaya
1986645Jaya Apatai
1986646Koti Waligaya
1987654Hitha Honda ChandiyaKusala's Mother
1987661Yukthiyada Shakthiyada
1987668Obatai Priye AdareJosephine
1988679Durga
1989685Mamai RajaRanjith's advisor's wife
1990701Dedunnen Samanaliyak
1990705Saharawe Sihinaya
1990709Palama YataUncle's Neighbour
1992742Ranabime Veeraya
1992764Muwan Palesse Kadira
1993774Prithngyawa
1993779Chaya Maya
1993786Sandarekha
1993789Lagin Giyoth Aehek Na
1994803Sandamadala
1994804SujathaaSuranjith's mother
1995821Wasana Wewa
1995827Pudumai Eth Aththai
1995839Cheriyo CaptainParty goer
1995841ChandaniChandani's mother-in-law
1995842Ayoma
1996849Naralowa HolmanKosala's mother
1996852Veediye Veeraya
1997871Puthuni Mata Wasana
1998890Gini Avi Saha Gini KeliSoysa's wife
1998902Julietge BhumikawaGossiping dubber
20091130ThusharaWilson's fiancee's mother

Presidential Film Festival