Anula Karunathilaka (Sinhala: අනුලා කරුණාතිලක, born 23 January 1946) is a Sri Lankan film actress and theatrical performer.[1] Her work is noted during the 1970s film and cinema history in Sri Lanka. One of the most popular actresses in Sinhala cinema in 1960s, she is best known for the popular role 'Dammi' in the blockbuster film Golu Hadawatha.
She was born on 23 January 1946 in Wellawatte, Colombo, Sri Lanka as the second of the family. Her father, Thomas Karunatilake had a shop in Wellawatte Market. Her mother Somawathi was a housewife. She has one older sister and two younger sisters. She completed education from Sri Lankadhaara Girls' School in Wellawatte.[2]
She was married to Daya Ranaweera, who worked at Dawasa Newspaper. Their wedding was celebrated in March 1968 when Anula was 22 years old. The couple had two sons. Daya died in 2001.[2]
Karunathilaka's entry into the industry in the early 1960s came about as a result of a chance meeting with senior film industry figures at a beauty contest organized by the Dawasa newspaper in 1962.[1] Having applied as a contestant at her sister's insistence, her photo was published in the newspaper among the other candidates' for the public to vote on.[1] Filmmakers Sumitra Peries and Tissa Abeysekera were among the audience of the final event and, using the photo published in the newspaper, identified Karunathilaka during the day's proceedings.[1] A week later, Sugathapala de Silva and G. W. Surendra visited the Karunathilakas' home with a message from Lester James Peries, Peries, and Abeysekera, inviting her to audition for the role of Nanda in Lester James' upcoming Gamperaliya.[1][3] Despite her interest, Lester decided her to be too young for the part, and instead gave her the role of Liza, auditioning for the part in a scene alongside Gamini Fonseka.[1] She thus made her on-screen debut at 16.[1]
Karunathilika played a role in the local film industry's efforts to produce truly local performances, moving away from highly Indianized productions and plots.[4][5][6]
Karunathilaka was an acclaimed popular and awarded actress. She is known for character acting.[7] Her style is said to derive from her nurturing under strict culture and family restrictions in the 1940s.
Golu Hadawatha made many notable contributions to Sinhala cinema, and became one of the most popular actresses in the late 1960s.[8][9][10] Her most important role was as Dhammi[11]inGolu Hadawatha (Silent Heart).[12] Karunathilka was awarded with national Sarasaviya Awards in 1969 for the role.[13] Another key role was Sugath.[14]
^Uditha Devapriya (July 28, 2008). "Getting (into) Sinhala Films". dailymirror. Retrieved December 1, 2017. The best works of Lester James Peries
^Uditha Devepriya (September 7, 2017). "The landed and the landless: "Golu Hadawatha" & "Akkara Paha"". dailymirror. Retrieved December 3, 2014. Golu Hadawatha, the first of three films that Lester James Peries directed for Ceylon Theatres, was also the greatest love story ever conceived onscreen here
^Sanath Weerasuriya (April 29, 1999). "TV Times & Entertainments". Sunday Times - Mirror. Retrieved December 3, 2017. "Golu Hadawatha" portrays teenage love
^Renuka Sachithananathan (27 May 2017). "Sumudu Sudu Muthu thalawe". colombotelegraph. Retrieved December 1, 2017. I came to worship Siri Gunesinghe and found Dhammi
^DC Ranathunga (May 24, 2006). "Lester in Perspective". Sunday Observer. Retrieved December 3, 2017. Extract from The Formidable Genius
^Channa Bandara Wijekoon (18 February 2013). "PeojectorJazz". Daily News. Retrieved November 30, 2017. Of Dhammi after Sugath
^Lanka Help Magacine (November 22, 2011). "Sumathi Tele Award 2011". Help Lanka Magazine. Retrieved December 1, 2017. Senior Actress Anula Karunathilaka awarded with UW Sumathipala Memorial Award
