Shanthi Lekha

Rita Irene Koys (July 1, 1929 – May 11, 2009),^[1] better known as Shanthi Lekha, was a Sri Lankan Film actress. She played the role of mother in more films than any other actress in Sinhala cinema.

Shanthi Lekha
Born	Rita Irene Koys (1929-07-01)July 1, 1929 Kalutara Sri Lanka
Died	June 11, 2009(2009-06-11) (aged 79) Monte Carlo Monaco
Nationality	Sri Lankan
Known for	Film Actress
Spouse	Shanthi Viraj

Personal life

Lekha was born in Kalutara on July 1, 1929. She received her stage name from her first husband Shanthi Viraj. They had first met while she was attending Holy Family Convent in Kalutara.

She died in France May 11, 2009.^[2]

Career

She starred in composer D. T. Fernando's play Shantha Prabha (1942). She subsequently made a mark as a dancer in plays starring Dommie Jayawardena and Nona Subeda.^[3]

With Jayawardena, Lekha had her first film role in Sujatha (1953). Wearing a bathing suit, she danced along with Jayawardena to the song "Pem Rella Nagi." The role came with a payment of Rs. 500 and a contract prohibiting her from doing films for other production companies. The producer K. Gunaratnam would subsequently offer her roles in Warada Kageda, Radala Piliruwa and Dosthara.^[3]

Lekha first played a mother in Sandesaya (1960). She would play this role in over 350 films.^[3]

Lekha won Best Supporting Actress Awards at the Sarasaviya Film Festival for Gamini Fonseka's Parasathu Mal (1968) and Mudalinayaka Somaratne's Binaramali (1969). She also won Presidential Awards for Mayurige Kathawa and Ridi Nimnaya.^[3]

Filmography

Year	Film	Role	Ref.
1953	Sujatha	Prema
1954	Warada Kageda	Rupa
1954	Radala Piliruwa	Laviniya
1956	Dosthara	Rita	[4]
1957	Jeewitha Satana
1958	Salli Malli Salli
1960	Sandesaya	Executed man's wife
1963	Gamperaliya	Hamine	[5]
1964	Suba Sarana Sepa Sithe
1965	Sepatha Soya	Accomplice Rathna
1965	Allapu Gedara	Sepalika's mother
1966	Seethala Wathura
1966	Delovak Athara	Accident victim's mother
1966	Parasathu Mal	Kamala's mother	[6]
1966	Oba Dutu Da
1966	Senasili Suwaya	Wimal's mother
1967	Ran Salu	Sarojini's mother
1967	Saru Bima
1967	Vasanthi
1967	Ipadune Ai
1967	Rena Giraw	Dissa's mother	[7]
1967	Sura Chauraya
1968	Pini Bindu
1968	Dehadaka Duka	Gamini's mother
1968	Ataweni Pudumaya
1969	Narilatha	Jean	[8]
1969	Kawuda Hari	Rita's mother
1969	Binaramalee	Kiri Amma	[9]
1969	Uthum Sthriya
1970	Athma Pooja
1970	Thevetha
1970	Penawa Neda
1970	Akkara Paha	Sena's mother	[10]
1970	Tun Man Handiya	Sirisena's mother
1971	Poojithayo	Mrs. Batuwantalawa
1971	Devena Pipasa
1971	Seeye Nottuwa
1971	Samanala Kumariyo
1971	Sahanaya		[11]
1972	Nidhanaya	Irene's mother	[12]
1972	Edath Suraya Adath Suraya	Alice
1972	Hithaka Pipunu Mal
1973	Aparadaya Saha Danduwama
1973	Thushara	Sampath's mother	[13]
1973	Hondama Welawa
1973	Hondata Hondai	Violet
1974	Ahas Gauwa	Vijay's mother
1974	Hadawath Naththo
1974	Onna Babo Billo Enawa
1974	Senakeliya
1974	Duppathage Hithawatha	Kanthi	[14]
1974	Lasanda	Samadara
1975	Hitha Honda Minihek	Jothi's mother
1975	Obai Mamai	Suminda's mother
1975	Kohoma Kiyannada	Sheela's mother
1975	Amaraneeya Adare
1975	Lassana Kella
1975	Kokilayo
1975	Sikuruliya	Namali's mother	[15]
1975	Lassana Dawasak	Priyanthi's mother
1975	Sangeetha	Sangeetha's mother	[16]
1976	Nayana
1976	Kawuda Raja	Manu's mother	[17]
1976	Ganga
1976	Madol Duwa	Annie Perera	[18]
1976	Walmathwuwo	Cyril's mother
1976	Kolamba Sanniya	Andare's sister
1976	Asha
1976	Hariyata Hari	Agnes
1976	Onna Mame Kella Penapi
1976	Saradielge Putha	Upasaka Amma
1976	Adarei Man Adarei
1976	Ran Thilaka
1977	Neela
1977	Sakunthala
1977	Sudu Paraviyo	Kumari's mother
1977	Hithuwoth Hithuwamai	Sumali's mother	[19]
1977	Pembara Madhu
1977	Deviyani Oba Kohida	Aginda	[20]
1977	Chin Chin Nona		[21]
1977	Siripala Saha Ranmenika		[22]
1977	Rahas Kumanthranaya
1977	Chandi Putha	Shanthi	[23]
1977	Yakdaya	Somey's mother	[24]
1977	Eya Dan Loku Minihek	Susila's mother
1977	Aege Adara Kathawa	Ruvini's mother
1978	Vishmaya	Janaka's mother
1978	Hitha Mithura	Celestina
1978	Sithaka Suwanda	Rita Samson
1978	Mage Ran Putha
1978	Tikira	Daisy Samarasekara
1978	Sally
1978	Sasara
1978	Ahasin Polawata
1979	Sarungale	Susheela's mother	[25]
1979	Amal Biso
1979	Ran Kurullo	Rajesh's mother
1979	Sawudan Jema
1979	Visihathara Peya	Sumana's mother
1980	Uthumaneni	Mother	[26]
1980	Ektam Ge	Rosalin	[27]
1980	Doctor Susantha
1980	Parithyagaya	Seelawathie
1980	Sasaraka Pethum	Jagath's mother
1980	Ganga Addara	Mrs. Bunna
1980	Raja Dawasak
1980	Sankhapali	Sanka's mother
1980	Api Dedena
1980	Miyurige Kathawa
1981	Thavalama	Angatakka
1981	Ranga	Vajira's mother
1981	Sayuru Thera	Kathrina
1981	Vajira	Nima's mother
1981	Sagarayak Meda	Nurse Seneviratne
1981	Bandura Mal
1982	Re Manamali	Landlord
1982	Sakvithi Suwaya	Ado 'Akka'
1982	Sudu Ayya	Ananda's aunt
1982	Ridee Nimnaya	Millie 'Nona'
1982	Pradeepa
1982	Sithara
1982	Thakkita Tharikita
1982	Chathu Madhura	Somawathie
1983	Yali Pipunu Malak
1983	Siwu Ranga Sena
1983	Chutte	Kadajumma
1983	Athin Athata	Nelum's mother	[28]
1983	Thunhiri Mal
1983	Pasamithuro	Gemunu's mother
1984	Mala Giravi	Party well-wisher
1984	Kokila	W. J. Nona
1984	Sasara Chethana
1984	Rana Derana
1984	Hithawathiya	Mrs. Weerasinghe
1985	Puthuni Mata Samawenna
1985	Du Daruwo
1986	Yali Hamuwennai	Prasanna's mother
1986	Devduwa
1986	Pooja
1987	Yugayen Yugayata
1987	Kele Kella	Roshini's mother
1988	Ko Hathuro
1990	Jaya Kothanda
1991	Paaradisaya
1991	Salambak Handai
1998	Aeya Obata Barai	Kumari's mother
1999	Surangana Yahana