Ruby de Mel

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Ruby Jasmine de Mel
රූබි ද මැල්
Born
Ruby Jasmine de Mel

(1917-12-04)4 December 1917
Died8 November 2004(2004-11-08) (aged 86)
NationalitySri Lankan
Other namesVinodha Rasanjali
EducationPrincess of Wales' College
Newstead Girls College
OccupationActress, Dramatist, Director
Years active1955–2003

Ruby Jasmine de Mel (born 4 December 1917 – died 8 November 2004 as රූබි ද මැල්) [Sinhala]), was a Sri lankan film actress in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television.[1] One of the earliest pillars in Sri Lankan film history, de Mel is best known for her roles in films Siriyalatha, Kawata Andare, Nalangana and Granny in television serial Amba Yahaluwo. She died on 8 November 2004 by finishing a career that spanned more than six decades.

Personal life[]

De Mel was born in Moratuwa Kaldemulla area to an Anglicized Sinhala family as the youngest of a family with 12 siblings. Her father was James Perera and mother was Mary Liyanora. She attended to Princess of Wales' College, Moratuwa and Newstead Girls College, Negombo. She was an announcer for Radio Ceylon at its inception.[2] She married at the age of 17 and then divorced when she was 27 years old.[3]

Acting career[]

de Mel broke into acting with a role in the theatrical play Handahana directed by T. B. Ilangaratne. This performance drew the attention of leading playwright and filmmaker B. A. W. Jayamanne who asked her to play a part in his film Mathabedaya (1955) to be shot in India. Under the pretense of a vacation with friends (due to disapproval by her family), de Mel travelled to India and made her film debut in the film under the alias Vinodha Rasanjali. She reverted to her real name after her first few films.[2]

de Mel would go on to appear in such films as Perakadoru Baana (1955), Daiva Vipakaya (1956), Suraya, Siriyalatha, Surasena (1957), Kawata Andare, Nalangana (1960), Kala Kala De Pala Pala De, Chandali (1964), Handapana (1965), Magul Poruwa (1967), Bicycle Hora (1968), Hari Maga (1969), Penawa Neda (1970), Ihatha Athmaya (1972), Aparadaya Saha Danduwama, Sinawai Inawai (1973), Bambaru Awith (1978), Thana Giravi (1983), Mangala Thagga, Kawuluwa and Obatai Priye Adare (1987).[2] She was also one of the Sri Lankan actors picked to appear in the villager scene in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) alongside D. R. Nanayakkara, Denawaka Hamine, Iranganie Serasinghe, , and Dharmadasa Kuruppu.

de Mel branched out as a director in 1967 with Pipene Kumudu which featured the maiden role of actress Sumana Amarasinghe. de Mel made her way into television in the 1980s with roles in the television serials Pinmada Puthun, Rankahawunu and Amba Yahaluwo.[2]

Later on in her life, de Mel donated her house in Moratuwa to function as a center for handicapped children and moved to the St. Andrew’s Home for Elders at Rajagiriya. She died on November 8, 2004.[2]

Filmography[]

Wakishta started her film career with B.A.W. Jayamanne's 1955 film Mathabhedaya. Then she acted more than 75 films.[4][5] Some of his popular acting came through films such as Bambaru Awith, Akkara Paha, Sikuruliya and Ahas Maliga.[3]

Year Film Role Ref.
1955 Mathabhedaya
1955 Perakadoru Bena
1956 Dosthara Chandra's mother [6]
1957 Siriyalatha Sirimanne's mother
1957 Soorasena Shanthi
1959 Sihinaya
1959 Hadisi Vivahaya
1960 Kawata Andare Queen consort
1960 Nalangana Sunil's mother [7]
1963 Mangalika
1964 Kala Kala De Pala Pala De
1964 Dheewarayo
1964 Sithaka Mahima
1964 Chandali Saliya's mother [8]
1965 Landaka Mahima Mother
1965 Handapaana
1965 Hithata Hitha
1965 Allapu Gedara Kapila's mother
1965 Sonduru Yuwala
1966 Kapatikama Sisira's mother
1966 Sihina Hathak Mabel [9]
1967 Pipena Kumudu
1967 Magul Poruwa
1968 Abuddassa Kale
1968 Bicycle Hora
1969 Hari Maga Kusuma
1969 Pancha
1970 Akkara Paha Mrs. Perera [10]
1970 Thewatha
1970 Penawa Neda
1971 Kathuru Muwath Susil's mother
1972 Ihatha Athmaya Priyani's mother
1973 Mathara Achchi Cyril's mother
1973 Aparadaya Saha Daduwama
1973 Sinawai Inawai
1974 Hadawath Naththo
1974 Sagarika
1975 Mage Nangi Shyama
1975 Sikuruliya Balasooriya Hamu [11]
1976 Mangalaa
1977 Hithuwoth Hithuwamai Mrs. Ranaweera [12]
1978 Chandi Shyama
1978 Bambaru Avith Selestina, Helen's mother
1978 Deepanjali
1979 Savudan Jema
1980 Para Dige
1981 Samawenna Mrs. Samaranayake
1981 Ran Ethana
1982 Kadawunu Poronduwa remake Jayasena Hamine
1982 Thana Giraw Doctor
1982 Ayachana Sarojini's mother
1982 Anuradha
1982 Halo Shyama
1982 Biththi Hathara Samara's mother
1983 Sister Mary Mother Superior
1983 Monarathenna 2
1984 Valle Thanu Maliga Katherine
1984 Hitha Honda Kollek
1984 Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Villager
1984 Podi Ralahamy Ralahamy's elder sister
1985 Chalitha Rangali
1986 Mal Warusa Kumarihamy
1986 Pooja
1986 Aadara Hasuna
1987 Obatai Priye Adare Rita Madam
1987 Thaththi Man Adarei
1987 Mangala Thagga Mrs. Sivalingam
1987 Kawuluwa
1987 Ahinsa Party guest
1990 Hima Gira
1991 Keli Madala Samara's aunt
1991 Suwandena Suwandak
1992 Okkoma Kanapita
1993 Jeevan Malli
1994 Ahas Maliga
1994 Ambu Samiyo Mother
1994 Okkoma Hondatai Freddi's mother
1996 Sathi

Awards and Accolades[]

  • Honorary Degree - Given by International Open University[3]

United Lanka Fan Society Film Festival[]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1965 Dheewarayo[3] Best Supporting Actress Won

Sarasaviya Film Festival[]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1965 Dheewarayo Jury Award Won
1995 Contribution to cinema[3] Rana Thisara Award Won

References[]

  1. ^ "Ruby De Mel - රූබි ද මැල් films". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e Uvais, Ramesh (November 8, 2005). "Remembering Sinhala Cinema's Ruby". Daily Mirror.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Women that taught Sinhala to Spielberg - Ruby De Mel". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
  4. ^ "Ruby De Mel bio". Rate your music. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  5. ^ "Ruby de Mel filmography". IMDb. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  6. ^ "Gunaratnam–Meyyappan–Dosthara". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  7. ^ "All about the film "Nalangana"". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
  8. ^ "All about the film "Chandali"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  9. ^ "All about Sihina Sathak". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  10. ^ "All about the film "Akkara Paha"". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  11. ^ "He left me: Sikuruliya". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  12. ^ "All about "Hithuwoth Hithuwamai"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-23.

External links[]

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