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Charming Beauty of Sri Lankan Cinema – Yashoda Wimaladharma

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Yashoda was a very shy and timid child who kept to herself. She was always observant and had a vivid imagination, two qualities that would help her later on in life as an artiste. During her school days at St Paulís Girlsí School in Milagiriya, her most memorable times were as a girl guide. Regular visits to hospitals and orphanages taught her about the hardship that others endured. With her generous personality, she always enjoyed helping people.

She never dreamt of becoming an actress, let alone such a successful one! If not for her uncle, director Bandula Withanage, Yashoda may have followed an academic path like her parents and sister. Withanage invited her to take part in a 12-episode teledrama called ëAtta Bindeií in 1985. Encouraged by her father, but only 15 years old and with no prior experience or training in acting, she took the role.

Her father saw her talent and felt she should continue with acting alongside her studies. She recounts a time during her AíLevels when she had to sit an exam in the morning, go for rehearsals in the evening and have film shoots the next day! Yashodaís life changed drastically after that and at first, she found the fame difficult to handle, being the reserved person she was, but her familyís support helped her get through the stressful times.

The secret to Yashoís success as an accomplished actress is to ëliveí the character in a production. She says, ìYou canít act as someone else or as Yashoda. You have to breathe life into that character and become that person.î In choosing her projects, she picks challenging roles with powerful messages where she can do justice to the character.

Yashoda believes that to be a professional actress, one requires God-given talent as well as formal training. She says that Sri Lanka needs to develop its film industry further to reach international standards.

Multi-talented Yashoda has always had a flare for languages, speaking Hindi even as a child. She studied languages for Aílevels and is fluent in English, Sinhala, French and Hindi. She went on to Kelaniya University to complete her Honours Degree in Hindi. In 2002, she earned her Masters degree in Hindi from Lucknow University in India and has plans to work towards a PhD. Not letting her fans down, she continued working in movies, theatre and television throughout her university period.

Yet many question how Hindi can help her with her career as an actress. She follows her fatherís advice that education is vital, no matter what career path one chooses. Furthermore, learning a language also involves learning other aspects like culture, music and literature, which she feels has helped her when portraying different characters, especially when working in foreign films.

It was her first time in theatre but it didnít stop her from winning the 1991 Best Actress Award in the State Drama Awards Festival for her portrayal of Emily Webb in ëHiru Dahasaí (directed by Withanage), a Sri Lankan adaptation of the American play based on Thornton Wilderís ëOur Towní. Today, Yasho continues to look back on this character who taught her many things about acting and life itself.

She strongly believes that for an artiste, theatre productions are more challenging and rewarding because the performance is ëliveí and the audience interacts simultaneously.

The role Yashoda played as a youngster attempting to retrace her roots after discovering that she is adopted in the movie, ëTheertha Yathraí is another character she admires. A lot of research had to be conducted for this philosophical part which taught Yashoda much about her own self and how blessed she is.

Yashoís portrayal of Kirimenike in Jayantha Chandrasiriís ëAgnidahayaí (Fire and Water) as a maiden in the 17th century, received rave reviews. The film itself is complex, dealing with the tragedy of human existence where people relentlessly pursue their passions, especially for power. Her inimitable style of getting into the character where one loses sight of Yashoda made it a truly stunning performance which gave fans a new perspective to Yashoís talents.

Working alongside Geraldine Chaplin (Comedian Charlie Chaplinís daughter) in the movie about Mother Theresaís life as Sister Maria was yet another wonderful role. ìI learnt a lot from Geraldine and it was a very special project telling the story of such a giving human being,î she reminisces.

Being a child artist, she never had the same freedom that her friends enjoyed but Yasho has no regrets in her life. Her closest friends remain her seven best pals from her school days, and surprisingly Yasho is still in touch with some of her school teachers as well. Celebrity status has not changed Yashoda, she remains the same person she always was.

During her free time, she likes to be in the comfort of her home, helping her mother. She is very fond of children and enjoys taking her friendsí children out. ìIt is nice to lead a normal life, away from the camera, public events and the limelight,î she says.

Even today, this versatile actress is in disbelief that she is a much-loved celebrity. Her explanation is that this is a result of her previous birth and it is her calling, her destiny. Perhaps another reason why people love Yashoda is because she is so approachable. Her warm smile and striking eyes instantly display her honest and kind mannerisms.

Yet it has not been smooth sailing for Yashoda. She had a tough time in university where she was never accepted as a fellow student. The students who were once fans of the actress felt that she did not belong in a university. The ragging and isolation were so severe that she could not attend most of her lectures. She had to study by herself, asking her father for help in Hindi, and even obtaining her notes from India. This was a turning point in Yashoís life to realise how inhuman people can be.

A well-known and popular figure as a Hindi professor and SLBC broadcaster, Yashodaís father meant the world to her. As her role model, she greatly respected him and as his biggest fan, she loved listening to his voice. However his larger-than-life personality meant she was unable to communicate with him on the same level.

Yet things changed. Yashodaís father was diagnosed with Parkinsonís Disease which he battled for 15 years. Dealing with his deteriorating condition was a heart-rending time for Yasho and her family, especially when he was bedridden for the last five years of his life. She did everything for her father despite her busy schedules, taking him to the hospital, feeding him and even retelling the stories he used to recite to her as a child. A positive aspect of his illness was that Yasho was able to help her father and grow closer to him.

The most difficult situation was when her father was losing his memory and could not recognise people anymore. He would ask her where his little daughter was. She says that no one should endure such a tragic situation.

One of Yashodaís goals is to bring greater awareness about Parkinsonís Disease in Sri Lanka as it is not well known here. It is a difficult disease to cope with, especially for the families of patients.

As an artiste, we hope to see Yashoís dazzling eyes in varied characters as she seeks more challenging roles. Her many talents are yet to be discovered and thereís no stopping Yashoda.

In her personal life, Yasho hopes to maintain a quiet life, setting up her dream home surrounded by the people she cares for. ìMy ideal husband is someone who truly loves, appreciates and respects me as a career woman and an artiste, most of all as a human being î she explains. This chapter on Yashoda is just beginning.

Biography

Yashoda Wimaladharma was born on October 28, 1970 in Sri Lanka to R. L. Wimaladharma, a Hindi language Professor at University of Kelaniya and Mallika Wimaladharma, a former dancer and school teacher. Her sister Thusitha, now a school teacher, is seven years older than Yashoda.

Wimaladharma attended St. Paul’s girl’s school in a Milagiriya.

Career

Yashoda made her cinema debut in 1990 from the film titled Gurugedara (Teacher’s home) directed by Vijaya Dharmasiri, and also won the merit award for this film at Sarasaviya Film Festival in 1993.

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