Sonia Disa
සෝනියා දිසා
Born
Mary Felicia Perera

(1944-06-07) June 7, 1944
Kotahena, Colombo
NationalitySri Lankan
Other namesSonia Dissanayake
Occupation(s)Actress, Producer, Costume designer
Years active1962–2009
SpouseKaru Dissanayake (m. 1964)
Children2

Mary Felicia Perera[1] (born June 7, 1944, සෝනියා දිසා) [Sinhala]), popularly as Sonia Dissanayake or known professionally as Sonia Disa, is a former actress in Sri Lankan cinema.[2] Starting her career in 1962, Disa became one of the most popular film actresses in Sri Lanka in the 1970s and 1980s. Apart from acting, she also produced 17 films and worked as a costume designer.[3]

Personal life

Disa was born on 7 June 1944 in Kotahena, Colombo as Mary Felicia Perera.[3] She was married to Karu Dissanayake, who was also a film actor and made his film debut with Soorayangeth Sooraya, later acting in popular films including Weli Kathara, Thushara and Janaka Saha Manju. He died on 17 November 2009.[4] Disa lives in Australia with her two children, Udaya and Harshani, and her three grandchildren.[3]

In 2017, Sonia was hospitalized due to a sudden heart attack. She recovered successfully after surgery.[5]

Career

Disa was introduced to cinema by Anthony C. Perera at the age of 19.[6] He brought Sonia into Titus Thotawatte and she acted as "club girl" in his 1962 film Chandiya.[7] Her major cinematic breakthrough came through a supporting role in the 1964 film Heta Pramada Wadi, directed by Shantha Kumar Senevirathna.[8] Some of her most popular films are Soorayangeth Sooraya, Thusara, Sadahatama Oba Magai and Janaka Saha Manju.[9]

During the shooting of 1976 film Nedeyo, Sonia was severely injured when acting a scene in a car. She was admitted to the hospital in a comatose state and relieved after seven days. One of her eyes was severely damaged and the vision was lost in that eye. It took one year and six months for her to recover completely.[6] Disa won the Best Supporting Actress award for her role in Obata Divura Kiyannam at Sarasavi Film Festival and Best Supporting Actress award for her role in Devduwa at the Presidential award festival.[10]

Disa acted with Gamini Fonseka in 15 films, which enabled her to play in different levels in Sinhalese cinema. She acted in many villainous roles opposite Malini Fonseka. She then started to act in more dramatic roles which commenced with Jeewana Ganga directed by Dayananda Rodrigo. Finally, she was acted in many motherly roles in blockbuster movies such as Thaththai Puthai, Raja Wadakarayo, Hitha Honda Chandiya and Mamai Raja. With many western roles, her name was transferred to stage name Sonia Disa by Tissa Abeysekara.[6]

In 1986, she produced her maiden cinema production Jaya Apatai along with Sunil T. Fernando.[11]

In 2004, Disa celebrated 40 years of her cinema career with a grand ceremony at the BMICH.[12] After 20 years, she acted in Dayaratne Ratagedara's poya day single episode teledrama Mudukku.[13]

Arrest

16 February 2015, Disa was arrested by the Slave Island police for trespassing on the Nava Sama Samaja Party office premises at Barrack road Colombo 2. She charged that her house was unlawfully acquired by Wickramabahu Karunaratne. She also stated that the building was given to former minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara twenty years ago. However, six people including Disa, were produced before the Fort Magistrate Court.[14] She was released on bail by the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court on 18 February 2015.[15]

Filmography

As actress

YearFilmRoleRef.
1964Heta Pramada WadiGarjana Kumara's Daughter
1965Chandiya[16]
1966Oba Dutu Da[17]
1968Bicycle Hora
1969Kohomada Wede
1969Mee Masso
1969PrawesamwannaSonia
1969Paara Walalu
1969Hari MagaSamanthi
1969Soorayangeth Sooraya
1970Ohoma HondadaKanthi[18]
1970Suli Sulan
1971PoojithayoItem song
1971AbirahasaOpening bargoer
1971Sahanaya[19]
1972Miriguwa
1972Edath Sooraya Adath SoorayaJiggie
1973Sadahatama Oba Mage[20]
1973Hondai Narakai
1973Hondata HondaiRamani
1973ThusharaSonia[21]
1973Hondama Welawa
1974Sahayata Danny
1974Mehema Harida
1974Jeewana Ganga
1974Onna Babo Billo EnawaJoe's lover
1975Hitha Honda MinihekSriya
1975Amaraneeya Adare
1975Gijulihiniyo
1976Pradeepe Ma Wewa
1976Harima Badu ThunakMonica Kulatilaka
1976Hariyata HariPunchi Nona
1976NedeyoKumuduni
1976Kawuda RajaSudha[22]
1977Deviyani Oba Kohida?Mother in Urban Area[23]
1977Chin Chin Nona[24]
1977Aege Adara KathawaSudu Manike
1978Janaka Saha ManjuChampika Nandadeva[25]
1978SasaraKanthi
1978Sandawata Ran Tharu
1979MonarathennaSriya[26]
1979Sawudan JemaNokki
1979GeheniyakSirimali 'Mali'
1979Hingana KollaMarian Samarasinghe[27]
1979Subhani
1980UthumaneniSiripala's lover[28]
1980Tak Tik TukNilanthi
1980Anuhasa
1980Adara RathneNirmala
1980Doctor Susantha
1980RakthaThara
1980Miyurige Kathawa
1981Bangali Walalu
1981Sathweni DawasaWanrakka
1981Amme Mata SamawennaSheela
1981JeewanthiPriyanga
1982Wathura KaraththayaMother
1982Thakkita Tharikita
1982Miss Mallika
1982Rail PaaraRail Guard's wife
1982Rahasak Nathi Rahasak
1982Kele Mal
1982Kadawunu PoronduwaTekla
1983Ran Mini Muthu
1983Monarathenna 2
1983ChutteySumana
1983Senehasaka KanduluSelli
1983Loku Thaththa
1983Mal Madhu
1983Sister MarySister Mary
1984Ammai Duwai
1984Thaththai PuthaiSaliya's mother
1984Hadawathaka Wedana
1985Channai Kello Dennai
1985Raththaran Kanda
1985Aeya Waradida Oba Kiyanna
1985Obata Diwura KiyannamSilawathie
1986DushyanthiSeeta Kumari
1986Devduwa
1986Jaya Apatai
1987Raja WadakarayoRamesh's mother
1987Hitha Honda ChandiyaJinney's mother
1987AhinsaParty guest
1988Amme Oba Nisa
1988Ko Hathuro
1989Mamai RajaNanda Ranatunga
1989Obata Rahasak Kiyannam
1989Sinasenna Raththaran
1989Randenigala SinhayaRaju's mother
1990Yukthiyata WadaSujatha
1990Veera Udara
1990Chandi Raja
1991Raja Sellan
1991Esala Sanda
1991Uthura Dakuna
1991Raja Kello
1991Ran Hadawatha
1991Alibaba Saha Horu 40
1991Bambara Kalapaya
1992Ranabime Veeraya
1992Oba Mata WiswasaiVeerabahu's wife
1992Sakwithi Raja
1992Chandi Rejina
1993Ottui Beruwata
1993Lassanai Balanna
1993Lassanai Balanna
1995Wasana Wewa
1995Chandiyage PuthaManamperiyage Silawathie Perera
1995Aege Wairaya
1995Edath Chandiya Adath Chandiya
1995Dalulana Gini
1995Inspector GeethaNalika
1995Dewiyani Sathya SurakinnaShanthi
1996Raththaran Malli
1997Aege Wairaya 2
1998Aege Wairaya 3
1998Sexy Girl
1999Unusum Rathriya
1999Koti SanaKoti Sana's mother[29]
2000Aege Wairaya 4
2000Salupata Ahasata
2000Kauda Bole AliceHilda Nona[30]
2001Hai Baby Hai
2002Sansara Prarthana
2009ThusharaSampath's mother[31]

As producer

YearFilm
1986Jaya Apatai
1988Ko Hathuro
1989Mamai Raja
1990Chandi Raja
1992Chandi Rejina
1992Sakwithi Raja
1993Lassanai Balanna
1995Wasana Wewa
1995Chandiyage Putha
1995Edath Chandiya Adath Chandiya
1995Dalulana Gini
1996Raththaran Malli
1997Aege Wairaya 2
1997Aege Wairaya 3
1998Sexy Girl
1999Koti Sana
1999Unusum Rathriya

As costume designer

YearFilm
1996Raththaran Malli

References

  1. ↑ "Actresses in Sri Lankan cinema - Sonia Disa". Rate Your Music. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  2. ↑ "Actresses in Sri Lankan cinema - Semini Iddamalgoda". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 "SONIA Dissa SO NEAR TO OUR HEARTS". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  4. ↑ "Karu Dissanayake". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  5. ↑ "Sonia speaks about Sunil T." Neth Gossip. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  6. 1 2 3 "Sonia Disa brought me luck". Saaraviya. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  7. ↑ "They never helped me". Dinamina. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  8. ↑ "Sonia Disa filmography". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  9. ↑ "Soniya Disanayaka filmography". IMDb. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  10. ↑ "Sonia Dissa's colleagues fete her". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  11. ↑ "No child's play!". Daily News. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  12. ↑ "A colourful career of four decades". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  13. ↑ "Chat with Sonia". Hiru FM. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  14. ↑ "Actress Sonia Disa arrested". News First. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  15. ↑ "Actress Sonia Disa released on bail". News First. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  16. ↑ "All about "Chandiya"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-04-04.
  17. ↑ "Sri Lankan film maker Siva Sivanandan talks about his lost film 'Oba Dutu Da'". News Trails. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  18. ↑ "All about the film "Ohoma Hondada"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  19. ↑ "All about Sahanaya". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  20. ↑ "Rise of the director-actor". The Nation. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  21. ↑ "All about the film "Thushara"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  22. ↑ "All about the film "Kawuda Raja"". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
  23. ↑ "Deviyani Oba Koheda". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  24. ↑ "Chin Chin Nona, who came before Tom Pachaya". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-03-05.
  25. ↑ "Intriguing K.A.W. Perera And the roads he took us through". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  26. ↑ "All about Monarathanna". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  27. ↑ "All about the film "Hingana Kolla"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  28. ↑ "All about 'Uthumaneni'". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  29. ↑ "කොටි සනා Koti Sana". Rate Your Music. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  30. ↑ "'Kauda Bole Alice': a rip-roaring comedy". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  31. ↑ "Old wine in new bottle". Daily News. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
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