Vasanthi Chathurani


Vasanthi Chathurani is a Sri Lankan film and teledrama actress. She made her debut as a teenager in Sumitra Peiris's Gehenu Lamai in 1978. Her most acclaimed role in the silver screen was that of 'Nirmala' in Ganga Addara opposite late Vijaya Kumaratunga in 1980. She was crowned Best Actress for her performance in this film, at the Sarasaviya Awards Festival that year.
Chathurani also made her mark as a teledrama actress, in shows such as Iti Pahan, Giraya, Kadulla and Gajaman Puwatha. She won the Sumathi Most Popular Actress Award in 1997 and the Sumathi Best Teledrama Actress Award in 1998, 2002 and 2009.
An extremely natural actress, Vasanthi Chathurani is one of the most successful personalities on Sri Lanka's silver and small screen.

Early life

Vasanthi Chathurani, who was born as Wasantha Doreen Peterson schooled at Holy Cross Convent, Gampaha.

Career

Chathurani was a school girl when director Sumitra Peiris chose her for a lead role in Gehenu Lamai in 1978. Thus began her acting career and she was signed up for several films including the award-winning Ganga Addara, where, she as a nineteen-year-old played the role of a mentally-ill girl.
Her career came to a temporary halt, when she got married in 1979, but was once again welcomed by her fans with her performance in Adara Hasuna. Some of her other successful films include Gehenu Lamai, Duwata Mawaka Misa and Sudu Sevanali.
She starred in the 2003 Lester James Peiris film Wekande Walauwa together with Malini Fonseka, Sanath Gunathilake and Ravindra Randeniya.
Chathurani recently got into teledrama productions, financing successful teledramas such as Aga Pipi Mal, Sedona and Ranga Soba. All three of them were directed by Premakumara Jayawardene and written by Sumitra Rahubadde. She has acted many genre television serials in Sri Lanka.

Selected TV serials

YearNo.FilmRoleRef.
1978390Gehenu LamaiKusum Liyanage
1978408Ahasin PolowataPushpa's sister
1979415Amal Biso
1979426Chuda ManikyaVajira
1980449Siribo AyyaBiso
1980452ParithyagaRohini
1980455Ganga AddaraNirmala Atapattu
1980463Para DigeMadhu
1980460Hewanali Ada MinissuPiyawathi
1980462Hansa VilakSamanthi Weerasinghe
1981501SamawennaNimalka 'Nimmi'
1982515AyachanaSarojini
1982536Biththi HatharaMallika
1984585Kakille RajjuruwoDaughter
1986649DinumaSujatha Senarath
1986651Aadara Hasuna
1987659Mangala TheggaThilina
1988680Satana
1990705Saharawe Sihinaya
1990710Madhu SihinaMadhu
1990715HimagiriMenaka Abeydheera
1990716Wana Bambara
1990836AwaragiraVasantha
1991717Uthura DakunaSarojani
1991727Raja Sellan
1992754Sinha Raja
1992755Kiyala Wadak NaKushari
1992761Kula GeyaSuchithra
1992771Sargant NallathambiKalawathi
1993776Sasara Sarisarana Thek Oba Mage
1994799Ambu SamiyoSubhadra
1994801Dhawala PushpayaSoba
1995836AwaragiraWasantha
1996847Raththaran Malli
1996856Thunweni Ahe
1997870Duwata Mawaka Misa
1997874Punaruthpaththiya
1997887VisidelaPolice Inspector's Daughter
1998902Julietge BhumikawaSaroja
1999912Bahu BharyaNavoda
2001953Kinihiriya MalRenuka
2001960PoronduwaPooja
2002975Sansara Prarthana
2002980Sudu SewaneliPodi Menika
20031020Wekande Walauwa Sita
20031023Sakman Maluwa
20041029SumedhaSumedha
20071097YahaluvoBurgher music teacher. Also as playback singer
20111154ChallengesRanuk's mother
20181302Vaishnavee
20191320SangileLady monk
TBDKondadeniye Hamuduruwo
TBDGunananda Himi Migettuwatte

Awards

1980 - Sarasaviya Best Actress Award for Ganga Addara
1997 - Sumathi Most Popular Actress Award
1998 - Sumathi Best Teledrama Actress Award for Durganthaya.
2002 - Sumathi Best Teledrama Actress Award for Kulawamiya.
2005 - Raigam Best Tele Actress Award for Sedona.
2006 - Sumathi Best Teledrama Actress Award for Aga Pipi Mal.
2006 - Raigam Best Tele Actress Award for Aga Pipi Mal.