Thennakoon Pathiranalage Nilmini, popularly as Nilmini Thennakoon, is an actress in Sri Lankan cinema and television. Highly versatile actress particularly active in television, she is a recipient of Best Actress award multiple times in many local award festivals. She is often referred to as the "tear drop" in Sinhala teledrama.
Personal life
She was born on 23 January 1965 in Moratuwa. She has two siblings, one elder brother and one younger sister. Her father was a businessman. He died when she was 13 year of age. She completed education from Princess of Wales' College. She was married to popular singerMadhumadhawa Aravinda, and they have one daughter Swetha Mandakini. She met Madhumadhawa Aravinda during the teledrama Pini Bindu in 1992. They got married on May 5 in 1996. They divorced in early 2000s. She faced a horrible car accident in 2007. She was sustained grievous bodily injuries from the accident and rushed 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 miraculously escaped with minor injuries.
Career
In 1980s, she started to act in school stage when she was in grade 7 and studied dancing under Mrs. Vajira Chitrasena. Then she attended "Low Country" and Kandyan dancing under a radio artist Mrs. Chitra Kumari Kalubowila at Moratuwa. Under Chithra's guidance, she performed in a ballet Sasara staged in Rupavahini. She was introduced into the cinema by popular director Roy de Silva and actress Sumana Amarasinghe. She played in the film Hitha Honda Chandiya in a dancing scene. At the same time, D. B. Nihalsinghe used Thennakoon for his TV Commercials and then for the role "Amaravathi" in the playDimithu Muthu and then in 1991 filmKeli Madala. Her major television acting came through Passe Gena Manamali directed by Nalan Mendis. The 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 television serialDoo Daruwo was the major success in her career. Her maiden cinematic experience came through 1985 filmMawubima Naththam Maranaya, directed by Louie Vanderstraeten with a minor role. Her first major role in cinema came through 1990 filmYukthiyata Wada directed by Sunil Soma Peiris. Some of her popular films are Keli Madala, Nagaran and Le Kiri Kandulu. In 1992, she 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. Then she won the Most Popular Teledrama Actress Award for a record six years continuously. 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. In 2016, she won the Sumathi award for the Best Actress for the title role in Amma. She also participated to the reality programHiru Mega Stars as the leader of group Shakyans. She also hosted the psychology television programSith Giman Hala telecast by TV Derana. She currently has a beauty salon at Nugegoda.
