{{short description|Sri Lankan actress (1906-2002)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}} {{Infobox person | name = Denawaka Hamine <br> දෙනවක හාමිනේ | other_names = | image = Denawaka Hamine.jpg | alt = | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1906|02|20}} | birth_name = Donna Mariah Denawaka | birth_place = Kimbulgoda, Gampaha, British Ceylon | death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2002|12|09|1906|02|20}} | death_place = Colombo, Sri Lanka | death_cause = | resting_place_coordinates = <!-- {{coord|LAT|LONG|display=inline,title}} --> | education = Kimbulgoda Vidyalaya | years_active = 1962–2002 | party = | spouse = | children = 1 | parents = | awards = Best Actress | signature = | website = | footnotes = | occupation = Actress, Dramatist }}
Kala Suri '''Donna Mariah Denawaka''', (20 February 1906 – 9 December 2002 as දෙනවක හාමිනේ), popularly known as '''Denawaka Hamine''', was an actress in Sri Lankan cinema and television. Known as "The grand old lady" of Sinhala cinema, she appeared more than 300 films and teledramas in a career spanned more than four decades.<ref name= hamine>{{Cite web |title=Denawaka Hamine, who hid his real name from 'Sarasaviya', receives awards from 'Sarasaviya' itself |url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/features/2018/12/20/1754/නියම-නම-'සරසවිය’ට-වසන්-කළ-දෙනවක-හාමිනේ-'සරසවියෙන්’ම-සම්මාන-ලබයි |access-date=2021-01-12 |website=Sarasaviya}}</ref>
==Personal life== Denawaka Hamine was born 20 February 1906 in Kimbulgoda, Gampaha.<ref name= denawaka>{{cite web | url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/021222/tv/2.html#1 | title=End of an illustrious era | publisher=Sunday Times| access-date=29 November 2019}}</ref> After completing education from Imbulgoda Vidyalaya, she became a teacher at the school.<ref name= hamine />
She had one daughter, Edith Senarath Yapa. She had three grandchildren, all three were involved in cinema. Anura Senarath Yapa who acted in the film ''Sama''. Palitha Senarath Yapa acted in the films ''Dasa Nisa'' and ''Pethigomara''. Palitha later became the head of the sports division of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation. Youngest one, Udaya Bandara Senarath Yapa starred in the film ''Dandu Monara''. Son-in-law Theja Bandara Senarath worked as a supervisor at Yapa Port Cargo Corporation.<ref name= hamine />
She died on 9 December 2002 at the age of 96.
==Career== She was by profession a school teacher until a chance encounter with G. D. L. Perera when she accompanied a young actress to a theatrical audition, led to her winning the role of an elderly mother in Perera's play ''Kandulu''. Due to her masterful performance in the role, GDL brought Hamine into his drama group ''Kala Pela''; she would play in Kala Pela productions like ''Manamalayo'', ''Sakkarawattang'' and ''Sama'' (as Nonnohamy) and was honored with a merit award at the 1964 Arts Council Drama Festival for her role in ''Totupola''.<ref name="A">{{cite web|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/021215/plus/6.html|title=Golden memories of grand old lady of the silver screen|access-date=2008-04-30|year=2002|publisher=Wijeya Newspapers}}</ref>
Hamine's debut film role was in the film adaption of ''Sama'' (1965) by GDL reprising the role she had popularized in the play.<ref name= denawaka /> In ''Sath Samudura'' (1968) she played the mother of two fishermen to much critical rave. She was presented a Best Character Actress Award for the role by a special government council. It was delivered on stage by the then Sri Lankan prime minister Dudley Senanayake.<ref name="A"/>
In the 1970s, Hamine had major roles in ''Tun Man Handiya'', ''Desa Nisa'' ''Kolomba Sanniya'' and ''Matara Achchi''. She continued to perform the elderly woman character. She played to Western audiences with a small role in ''Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom'' as a weeping mother in 1984. In 1987, she was awarded the Kalasuri title.<ref name= denawaka /> Her best scene in cinema came through ''Sath Samudura'' as the mother of Edmund Wijesinghe and Cyril Wickramage who starred in that film. In 1968, she won the Award for Best Actress of the Year for her role in ''Sath Samudura'' at the Sarasaviya Film Festival.<ref name= hamine />
Hamine did work in television with roles in teledramas like ''Kopi Kade'' in which she made the original cast. In 1998 she received an honorary award for her contributions to Sinhala Cinema from the Sri Lankan president Chandrika Kumaratunga.<ref name="A"/>
==Filmography== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year !! Title !! Role !! Ref. |- | 1965 || ''Saama'' || Nonnohamy || |- | 1966 || ''Sihina Hathak'' || Isabella || <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/features-films-local/2020/07/09/17982/බොන්න-තව-මන්ද-ප්%E2%80%8Dරමාදේ | title=All about Sihina Sathak | publisher=Sarasaviya | access-date=10 July 2020}}</ref> |- | 1966 || ''Kinkini Paada'' || || |- | 1967 || ''Sath Samudura'' || Gunadasa's mother ||<ref>{{Cite web |title=All about "Sath Samudura" |url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/films-local/2020/11/26/19396/පිපුණු-කුසුම-පරවූවා |access-date=2020-12-02 |website=Sarasaviya}}</ref> |- | 1967 || ''Saru Bima'' || || |- | 1967 || ''Sadol Kandulu'' || Servant || |- | 1967 || ''Iwasana Danaa'' || || |- | 1967 || ''Evasana dana'' || || |- | 1967 || ''Raena Giraw'' || Dissa's granny || |- | 1968 || ''Hangi Hora'' || || |- | 1968 || ''Dahasak Sithuvili'' || Lalith's mother || <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/features/2020/01/30/15254/පමා-වුණොත්-මල-පරවෙයි | title=All about Dahasak Sithuvili | publisher=Sarasaviya | access-date=22 February 2020}}</ref> |- | 1968 || ''Wanasara'' || || |- | 1968 || ''London Hamu'' || || |- | 1969 || ''Romeo Juliet Kathawak'' || || |- | 1969 || ''Kawuda Hari'' || Mother || |- | 1969 || ''Hari Maga'' || Banda caretaker || |- | 1969 || ''Hanthane Kathawa'' || ||<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/2020/10/08/19180/සරා-සොඳුරු-මල්-පැටලී-"හන්තානේ-කතාව" |title=All about Hanthane Kathawa |publisher=Sarasaviya |access-date=9 October 2017}}</ref> |- | 1970 || ''Thun Man Handiya'' || Sirisena's granny || |- | 1970 || ''Lakseta Kodiya'' || Pinsiri's mother || |- | 1970 || ''Nim Walalla'' || || |- | 1971 || ''Poojithayo'' || Ango || |- | 1971 || ''Seeye Nottuwa'' || || |- | 1971 || ''Bindunu Hadawath'' || || |- | 1971 || ''Samanala Kumariyo'' || || |- | 1971 || ''Sahanaya'' || ||<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/films-local-story/2020/09/24/19039/සිහින-නෙළුම්-මල-ජීවිත-පොකුණේ-"සහනය" | title=All about Sahanaya | publisher=Sarasaviya | access-date=24 September 2020}}</ref> |- | 1972 || ''Desa Nisa'' || Mother || |- | 1972 || ''Wehilihini'' || || |- | 1972 || ''Lokuma Hinawa'' || Kabi 'Hami' || |- | 1972 || ''Miringuwa'' || || |- | 1973 || ''Matara Achchi'' || Matara Achchi || |- | 1974 || ''Hadawath Naththo'' || || |- | 1974 || ''Sheela'' || Prospective Voter Achchi || |- | 1974 || ''Sagarika'' || || |- | 1974 || ''Lasanda'' || Parakrama's granny || |- | 1974 || ''Wasthuwa'' || || |- | 1974 || ''Rodi Gama'' || || |- | 1975 || ''Pem Kurullo'' || || |- | 1975 || ''Raththaran Amma'' || Granny || |- | 1975 || ''Kohoma Kiyannada'' || Sudu Nanda || |- | 1975 || ''Cyril Malli'' || || |- | 1975 || ''Kokilayo'' || || |- | 1975 || ''Ranwan Rekha'' || || |- | 1975 || ''Jeewana Geethaya'' || || |- | 1975 || ''Sikuruliya'' || Namali's aunt ||<ref>{{Cite web |title=He left me: Sikuruliya |url=http://archives.sarasaviya.lk/2018/10/25/?fn=sa18102533 |access-date=2021-01-11 |website=sarasaviya}}</ref> |- | 1975 || ''Hadawathaka Wasanthaya'' || || |- | 1975 || ''Desa Nisa'' || Nirukada's mother || |- | 1976 || ''Kolamba Sanniya'' || Sister || |- | 1976 || ''Madol Duwa'' || Net trapped homeowner || <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/features/2019/09/12/9071/කොහේද-කොහේද-අපේ-ලොවක් | title=All about Madol Duwa | publisher=Sarasaviya | access-date=3 March 2020}}</ref> |- | 1976 || ''Loka Horu'' || || |- | 1976 || ''Walmathwuwo'' || Maggie || |- | 1976 || ''Hulawali'' || Villager || <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/features-films/2019/11/14/12302/කැන්දන්-එනවා-දුම්බර-මැණිකේ | title=All about Hulavali | publisher=Sarasaviya | access-date=22 February 2020}}</ref> |- | 1977 || ''Sudu Paraviyo'' || Chandi's mother || |- | 1977 || ''Sikuru Dasawa'' || || |- | 1977 || ''Maruwa Samaga Wase'' || Granny || |- | 1977 || ''Pembara Madhu'' || || |- | 1977 || ''Yakadaya'' || Granny || <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/features/2019/12/19/13501/සිතුදේ-පැතු-දේ-ඉටු-වී-යයි | title=All about Yakadaya | publisher=Sarasaviya | access-date=22 February 2020}}</ref> |- | 1978 || ''Kumara Kumariyo'' || Granny || |- | 1978 || ''Janaka Saha Manju'' || Granny || |- | 1978 || ''Vishmaya'' || Janaka's granny || |- | 1978 || ''Selinage Walawwa'' || Granny || |- | 1979 || ''Palagetiyo'' || Sarath's mother || |- | 1979 || ''Eka Hitha'' || || |- | 1979 || ''Sawudan Jema'' || Sawdan's granny || |- | 1979 || ''Podi Malli'' || Siri's mother || |- | 1979 || ''Wisihathara Peya'' || || |- | 1980 || ''Anuhasa'' || || |- | 1980 || ''Parithyagaya'' || Jayathilaka's mother || |- | 1980 || ''Bamvara Pahasa'' || || |- | 1980 || ''Raja Dawasak'' || || |- | 1980 || ''Paara Dige'' || || |- | 1980 || ''Hansa Vilak'' || Granny ||<ref>{{Cite web |title=All about "Hansa Vilak" |url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/films/2018/12/13/1555/මලක්-නම්-එය-මලක්-වුව-මැන-හංස-විලක් |access-date=2021-01-12 |website=Sarasaviya}}</ref> |- | 1980 || ''Kinduru Kumari'' || Elsie Nona || <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/features-films-local/2020/06/11/17732/පෙම්-සිහින-තොටින්-කිඳුරු-කුමාරි |title=පෙම් සිහින තොටින් 'කිඳුරු කුමාරි' |publisher=Sarasaviya |access-date=11 June 2020}}</ref> |- | 1981 || ''Mihidum Sihina'' || || |- | 1981 || ''Ridee Thella'' || || |- | 1981 || ''Geethika'' || || |- | 1981 || ''Sathara Diganthaya'' || || |- | 1982 || ''Deweni Gamana'' || Unmarried old aunt || |- | 1982 || ''Bambara Geethaya'' || || |- | 1982 || ''Adhishtana'' || || |- | 1982 || ''Pethi Gomara'' || Dhansukha's mother || |- | 1982 || ''Anuradha'' || || |- | 1982 || ''Majora Sir'' || || |- | 1983 || ''Chutte'' || Nanda || |- | 1983 || ''Sister Mary'' || Sumedha's mother || |- | 1984 || ''Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom'' || Villager Woman #2 || |- | 1984 || ''Wadula'' || Sovida's mother || |- | 1984 || ''Arunata Pera'' || Mother || |- | 1984 || ''Ranmalige Wasanawa'' || Granny || |- | 1985 || ''Adara Kathawa'' || || |- | 1986 || ''Soora Saradiyel'' || Pinchohamy || |- | 1986 || ''Dinuma'' || Granny || |- | 1987 || ''Sathyagrahanaya'' || Cartoonist's mother || <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/features/2020/02/27/16609/අනන්ත-විශ්වයේ |title=All about Sathyagrahanaya |publisher=Sarasaviya |access-date=28 February 2017}}</ref> |- | 1987 || ''Mangala Thegga'' || || |- | 1987 || ''Kawuluwa'' || || |- | 1987 || ''Ahinsa'' || Party guest || |- | 1988 || ''Sandakada Pahana'' || Hospital resident || |- | 1988 || ''Angulimala'' || || |- | 1988 || ''Sagara Jalaya Madi Handuwa Oba Sanda'' || Upasika aunty || |- | 1990 || ''Jaya Kothanada'' || || |- | 1991 || ''Dolosmahe Pahana'' || || |- | 1991 || ''Salambak Handai'' || || |- | 1991 || ''Golu Muhude Kunatuwa'' || || |- | 1992 || ''Viyaru Minisa'' || || |- | 1993 || ''Ordinary Magic'' || Vani || |- | 1993 || ''Lagin Giyoth Aehek Na'' || || |- | 1993 || ''Meeharaka'' || Grandmother || |- | 1994 || ''Le livre de cristal'' || Vielle dame de la pension || |- | 1994 || ''Abhiyogaya'' || || |- | 1994 || ''Nohadan Landune'' || || |- | 1994 || ''Ahas Maliga'' || || |- | 1994 || ''150 Mulleriyawa'' || Kiri Amma || |- | 1994 || ''Anoma'' || || |- | 1994 || ''Mee Haraka'' || Granny || |- | 1997 || ''Apaye Thappara 8400k'' || || |- | 1998 || ''Channa Kinnari'' || || |- | 2002 || ''Seethala Gini Kandu'' || || |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{IMDb name|0358232}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hamine, Denawaka}} Category:1906 births Category:2002 deaths Category:Sri Lankan film actresses Category:20th-century Sri Lankan actresses Category:Sri Lankan television actresses