Sri Lankan Celebrity: Rashi Paboda, the child presenter turned talented actress

Popularity is a dream for some. For some it is something that comes their way just like that. For another it is something that is an up hill task, one has to work his or her way up.

But, for Rashi Paboda, the popularity came out of blue when she never expected. With the blessings of her mother and family members she was fortunate to be one of the youngest presenters at the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC).

Yes. She is Rashmini Paboda Sandeepanie, popularly known as Rashi Paboda. She is born to a family which the Goddess Saraswathie blessed. Her mother was a well known and talented stage and tele-actress; Geetha Kanthi Jayakody. Paboda speaking to Asian Tribune brought a list of her family members who are actively in tele-cinema, stage and music fields.

Paboda received her education at the St Joseph Girls’ College, Kelaniya, had entered the St. Pauls Girls’ College, Milagiriya for her GCE O/Levels and A/Levels. She had “Dancing” as a subject in the school and pursued “Drama” as a subject for her advanced level examination.

“Sithumina” was her first tele-drama and her artistic interest kicked off when she was hardly four years old. Interestingly, she got a chance to act with her mother in her maiden venture. The turning point in her life came when she got recognisation by the country in the one of the famous tele-dramas by Parakrama Niriella; “Yasho Rawaya”.

Rashi Paboda proudly talks how veteran artistes helped her to perform in the tele–drama when she was a child. And she graduated herself in the field of acting.

“As soon as, I acted in Yasho Rawaya, I got two films. One was “Hondin Nathnam Narakin” by Siwadasan and the other “Shakthiya Obai Amme”. In the film” Hondin Nathnam Narakin” I was fortunate to act as the daughter of veteran actor of Sinhala cinema Sanath Gunathilake. My mother also acted in the film and she played my mother’s role”, Paboda said.

“I also worked for two single episode tele-drams by veterans in the field Jayalath Manorathne and Wasantha Obeysekara.” During that period she was participating in several children’s programs in the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation. “I was presenting, singing, announcing in programs like “Saraswathie Mandapaya” and “Handa Mama” every week.

One of the Japanese serialized morning television dramas; ”Oshin” by NHK was also tele-cast in Singala in Sri Lanka by the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation. It was dubbed by Sri Lanka’s forerunner in dubbing field; Titus Thotawatte. The tele-series attracted the whole country and little Paboda was invited to dub for the “Oshin’s character.”

Paboda who was doing children’s role began to play girl friend’s or lover’s role when she reached her teens. “Ege Awuruddha” by Jayalath Manorathne and “Madhawee” Srinath Maddumage are the first two roles she performed the lover’s role. She was also nominated for the “Best Upcoming Actress” for the character she played in “Madhawee”.

Among the tele-dramas which she contributed she says “Gini Dalu Meda” by Mohan Niyas “is special to me as I was doing a main role in a tele-drama for the first time.” Later, she worked for Anura Chandrasiri’s “Ekalas Ginna”, “ Sathishchandra Edirisinghe’s ”Bopath Sakkiya”, Tikiri Rathnayake’s “Tharu Paba”, Sathishchandra Edirisinghe’s “Sath Mahala”, Susiran De Silva’s “Pem Piyawara” and “Dedunu Yanaya” and Tikiri Rathnayake’s “Gan Dela Nisalai” and several other lot of tele drams doing the main role. “Among those also Jayantha Chandrasiri’s “Rajana” is very special to me as it was speaking a latest topic. I was also received an OCIC award for the character I played there”, she added.

Paboda also remembered the film “Wekanda Walawwa” by Dr. Lester James Pieris which was appreciated at the Cans Film Festival in France. Udayakantha Warnasuriya’s “Bahu Bhoothayo” is another film which brought her fame and name. The film which had been produced as a commercial film won the cinema lovers’ hearts as soon as it was released. She was also awarded the“Upcoming Actress” award at the Sarasaviya Film Festival in 2003.

She has also contributed for the mega tele-drama productions. “Gauthami” is her first contribution for mega productions and she played its main character for one full year. “Gauthami” was produced by three Indian directors. Completing the one year agreement with Indian directors, later she went to do Gihan Rohana’s “Samanaliyak Ekibinda”Priyantha Fernando’s “Silparayaka Senehasa” and “Malak saha Pihatuwak”, T.G.Ranjan De Silva’s “Miyasi Asapuwa”, Janaka Suranjan’s “Isuru Bhawana” Sriyani Amarasena’s “Heraliya” and Reginarld Jayamanne’s “Nil Ahasa Oba”. She also contributed for “Degammediya” drama series by Sherli P. Delankawala and Tikiri Rathnayake’s “Nuwangana” which ran over 45 episodes.

Only drama she performed was “Makara” by Jayalath Manorathne and though she wanted to continue on the stage she says “I was not allowed by several practical reasons”. In the film “Adaraneeya Jothi”, she was invited to play a guest role and she was playing Rukmanie Devi’s character there.

“There are lots of tele-dramas to be released, and I have signed agreements for two new films too", Paboda says.

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- Asian Tribune -