Kusum Renu
{{short description|Sri Lankan actress (born 1961)}}
{{Infobox person
|name = Kusum Renu
|native_name = කුසුම් රේණු
|other_names =
|image =
|image_size =
|alt =
|caption = Kusum and husband
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1961|01|30|mf=yes}}
|birth_name = Dabare Kusum Renuka Liyanage
|birth_place = Colombo
|death_date =
|death_place =
|death_cause =
|resting_place =
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|nationality = Sri Lankan
|education = Anula Vidyalaya, Nugegoda
|years_active = 1979–present
|party =
|spouse = {{marriage|Sriyantha Mendis|1986}}
|children = Tharuki Amaya
Nipuni Preksha
|relatives = Vidhushi Uththara (cousin daughter)
|awards =
|signature =
|website =
|footnotes =
|occupation = Actress
}}
Dabare Kusum Renuka Liyanage (born January 30, 1961, as කුසුම් රේණු) [Sinhala]), popularly as Kusum Renu, is an actress in Sri Lankan cinema{{cite web | url=http://www.nfc.gov.lk/artist/kusum-renu-341/ | title=Actresses in Sri Lankan cinema - Kusum Renu | publisher=National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka| access-date=9 August 2018}} theater and television.{{cite web | url=https://www.films.lk/sinhala-cinema-artist-kusum-renu-451.html | title=Kusum Renu filmography | publisher=Sinhala Cinema Database| access-date=9 August 2018}} She is best known for the role Madhuri in television sitcom Nonavaruni Mahathvaruni and role Vishaka Samaranayake in the film Dharmayuddhaya.{{cite web | url=http://www.nfc.gov.lk/artist/kusum-renu-341/ | title=Kusum Renu | publisher=IMDb | access-date=9 August 2016}}
Personal life
Kusum Renu was born on 30 January 1961 in Colombo and completed her education from Anula Vidyalaya, Nugegoda.{{cite web | url=https://www.pressreader.com/sri-lanka/daily-mirror-sri-lanka/20120514/282449936053843 | title=Kusum Renu life | publisher=Daily Mirror | access-date=9 August 2016}} At the school times, she was a good sportswoman, a Girl Guide, a school prefect and a member of the school debating team. She also played Esraj for the Eastern Band.
Kusum Renu is married to Sriyantha Mendis, who is also a renowned actor and director.{{cite web | url=http://sinhala.lankahitgossip.com/2017/08/07/sriyantha-mendis-and-kusum-renu-love-story/ | title=Sriyantha has few girlfriends - Kusum Renu | publisher=lankahitgossip| access-date=9 August 2016}} She met Sriyantha during the stage drama Pandukabhaya in 1984 and couple married on 25 October 1986 after the proposal in April 1985.{{cite web | url=http://www.navaliya.com/2011/03/14/artworld1.html | title=My husband is a very free man – Kusum Renu| publisher=Navaliya| access-date=9 August 2016}} The couple has two daughters.{{cite web | url=http://life.dailymirror.lk/article/uncategorized/kusum-renu-blossoms-in-reel-and-real-/83/1186 | title=Kusum Renu blossoms in reel and real | publisher=Daily Mirror| access-date=9 August 2018}} Elder daughter Nipuni Preksha is married to Shan Amanda Perera.{{cite web | url=http://archives.sarasaviya.lk/2012/08/09/?fn=sa12080928 | title=Sriyanth-Kusum daughter married | publisher=Sarasaviya | access-date=9 August 2016}} Younger daughter Tharuki Amaya also acted in stage play Subha saha Yasa. Her cousin daughter Vidhushi Uththara is also a popular actress in television.{{cite web | url=http://www.ikman.news/NewsMain.php?san=13215 | title="My aunt is Kusum Renu. My uncle Sriyantha Mendis "Malki wakes up| publisher=Ikman News| access-date=9 August 2016}}
Elder daughter Nipuni specializes in fashion design, costume design, and stage costume design. Her husband Shan is an engineer. Their daughter is Gabriela Kathleen. Second daughter Tharuki completed a NIBM course and studied Human Resources Degree.{{cite web | url=http://news.tharunaya.us/news-Art-25028.html | title=In our home both god and Buddha resides at same altar| publisher=Tharunaya| access-date=9 August 2016}}
Acting career
Renu started acting since school times. Her uncle Senadheera Kuruppu was a popular actor at that time, where she made her public acting debut.{{Cite web |title=From Sally Aunty to Maha Prajapati Gothamiya |url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/stage-dramas/2021/02/18/19866/සැලී-ආන්ටිගේ-සිට-මහා-ප්%E2%80%8Dරජාපතී-ගෝතමිය-දක්වා |access-date=2021-02-20 |website=Sarasaviya}} Her first role came through T.B. Illangaratne's stage play Sailasanaya.{{Cite web |title= She is like a pollen caught in the wind .... |url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/features-stage-dramas/2021/02/25/19905/මඳ-පවනට-හසුවූ-මල්-රේණුවක්-මෙන්-ඇය |access-date=2021-02-20 |website=Sarasaviya}} Then she acted many television serials. In 1982 for Mandaram Wahi, Renu won four Certificates of Merit from National Youth Services Council. In the following year, she won a merit award for the role in Deiyange Punchi Akkaraya. In 1984, she won the Best actress award for the role in Hima Kunatuwa.
Renu got the opportunity to play the role of a maid and then the role of a prostitute in Prof. Ediriweera Sarachchandra's play Mahasara. She was given the role of Jane Oyster, the wife of a police officer Oyster Perera, in Sriyantha Mendis' play Sudu Saha Kalu. The uniqueness was that her verbal gesture was limited to three dialogues throughout the play. She also has had the opportunity to play many historical characters in various art forms in recent times: as the queen of King Gajaba in the play Shashree Gajaba created by Vijaya Nandasiri. She also played the role 'Puransina' in the play Rassa Saha Parassa directed by Sriyantha Mendis. Prior to that, Renu acted as 'Lenchina' in Prof. Ariyaratne Kaluarachchi's play Jasaya and Lenchina. She then starred in the later production of Bandula Vithanage's play Romaya Gini Gani.{{cite web | url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/stage-dramas/2021/03/04/19975/ජේන්-පුරන්සිනා-සහ-වාසුකී | title=Jane, Puransina and Vasuki | publisher=Sarasaviya | access-date=5 March 2021}}
After the marriage in 1986, she took a break for the acting. She marked the comeback by winning Best Actress award at the State Drama Festival for the role in Deweni Mahinda in 1998.{{cite web | url=http://www.island.lk/2003/08/24/leisur05.html | title=The award winning actress | publisher=The Island | access-date=9 August 2016}} In 2000, she played the role 'vasuki' in the play Paadada Asapuwa directed by Sriyanatha. The premiere was held here on her birthday, January 30, 2000.
=Selected television serials=
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- Agni Piyapath
- Aluth Gedara
- Anne{{cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4619000/fullcredits/?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm | title=Anne (2007– ) | publisher=IMDb | access-date=30 July 2019}}
- Bandhanaa (2022)
- Damini
- Damsaari (2012){{cite web | url=https://www.pressreader.com/sri-lanka/daily-mirror-sri-lanka/20121105/282634619880369 | title=Damsaari unspools | publisher=Daily Mirror | access-date=9 August 2016}}
- Dangamalla (2006) {{cite web |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/060122/tv/5.html |title='Dangamalla': Tale of a naughty girl on TV |publisher=Sunday Times |access-date=4 December 2019}}
- Deiyange Punchi Akkaraya (1983)
- Deydunu Yanaya (2001){{cite web | url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/031221/tv/10.htm | title='Deydunu Yanaya': Mix of love and business | publisher=Sunday Times | access-date=9 August 2016}}
- Doowaru (2012){{cite web | url=http://archives.dailynews.lk/2012/01/11/art50.asp | title=Doowaru portrays challenges faced by women | publisher=Daily Mirror | access-date=9 August 2016}}
- Ethuma
- Gajaman Nona
- Himagira Naga {{cite web | url=https://www.nation.lk/2009/01/25/enter2.htm | title=Himagira Naga | publisher=The Nation | access-date=9 August 2016}}
- Hima Kunatuwa (1984)
- Hiruta Pipena Sooriyakantha {{cite web | url=http://archives.dailynews.lk/2010/09/01/art07.asp | title=Hiruta Pipena Sooriyakantha ready for telecast | work=Daily News| access-date=28 May 2019}}
- Iththo (2019) {{cite web |url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/teledramas/2019/06/27/6252/උදාරි-පෙරේරා-පණපිටින්-වළදාලා |title=Udari Perera buried alive |publisher=Sarasaviya |access-date=28 June 2019}}
- Itu Devi Vimana {{cite web |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/010916/tv.html |title='Itu Devi Vimana': marriage of opposites |publisher=Sunday Times |access-date=27 November 2019}}
- Mandaram Wahi (1982)
- Mathi Nethi Daa (2003) {{cite web | url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/030727/tv/4.htm#1 | title=Mathi Nethi Daa | publisher=Sunday Times | access-date=29 November 2019}}
- Mini Muthu (2012) {{cite web |url=http://archives.sarasaviya.lk/2012/04/05/_art.asp?fn=sa12040519&pn=20 |title=රෝෂන් මිණි මුතු සමඟ |publisher=Sarasaviya |access-date=29 March 2019}}
- Nannaththara (2022) {{Cite web |title=My screenwriting role is a challenge to my directorial role: Veteran director Jayantha Chandrasiri is returning to the telemedia with 'Nannattara' |url=https://www.sarasaviya.lk/news-features/2022/09/22/23953/මා-නමැති-තිරරචකයා-මා-නමැති-අධ්%E2%80%8Dයක්ෂවරයාට-අභියෝගයක් |access-date=2022-09-21 |website=සරසවිය}}
- Neela Pabalu (2023)
- Nil Mal Viyana (2004) {{cite web |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/041226/tv/6.html |title='Nil Mal Viyana': Manel's final bow |publisher=Sunday Times |access-date=3 December 2019}}
- Nonavaruni Mahathvaruni as Madhuri (1997)
- Paradeesaya {{cite web |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/031221/tv/16.htm |title=Depicts social differences |publisher=Sunday Times |access-date=11 September 2019}}
- Package (2018)
- Pinkanda Simona {{cite web |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/050508/tv/8.html |title='Pinkanda Simona':Humour at its best |publisher=Sunday Times |access-date=4 December 2019}}
- Pipi Piyum (2007){{cite web |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/070311/TV/004tv.html |title=Sumithra's 'Pipi Pium' on mini screen |publisher=Sunday Times |access-date=10 December 2019}}
- Prarthana Mal (2010){{cite web | url=https://nalanmendis.com/teledramas/ | title=Prarthana Mal 2010 | publisher=nalanmendis | access-date=9 August 2016}}
- Puja (2002) {{cite web | url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/020721/tv/1.html#2 | title='Puja': Story of murder, mystery | publisher=Sunday Times | access-date=25 July 2019}}
- Raja Bhavana (2003){{cite web | url=https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2003/07/27/fea12.html | title=Raja Bhavana now on Rupavahini | publisher=Sunday Observer| access-date=23 September 2019}}
- Rankira Soya (2004) {{cite web |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/041107/tv/4.html |title='Rankiri Soya' gives kids a hand |publisher=Sunday times |access-date=17 November 2017}}
- Ran Miriwedi
- Ran Sevaneli (2009){{cite web | url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/090510/Magazine/sundaytimestvtimes_07.html | title='Ran Sevaneli' tackles parent-children problem | publisher=Sunday Times | access-date=9 August 2016}}
- Ruwan Maliga as Trilicia
- Sanda Numba Nam{{cite web | url=https://www.nation.lk/2010/10/31/enter.htm | title=Sanda Numba Nam touches the pulse | publisher=The Nation | access-date=20 November 2019}}
- Satharadenek Senpathiyo {{cite web |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/070422/TV/000tv.html |title=Return of the Reviver |publisher=Sunday Times |access-date=10 December 2019}}
- Sathara Ima Gini {{cite web |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/060820/tv/tv9.html |title='Sathara Ima Gini': A lesson to parents |publisher=Sunday Times |access-date=8 December 2019}}
- Senehase Geethaya (2006){{cite web | url=http://www.thesundayleader.lk/archive/20060528/arts.htm | title=Senehase Geethaya | publisher=Sunday Leader | access-date=9 August 2016}}{{cite web |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/060820/tv/tv13.html |title='Senehase Geethaya': Courage of a woman |publisher=Sunday Times |access-date=8 December 2019}}
- Sihina Genena Kumariye (2020)
- Sihina Kumari (2009){{cite web | url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/090308/Magazine/sundaytimestvtimes_06.html | title='Sihina Kumari' awakes | publisher=Sunday Times | access-date=9 August 2016}}
- Sulang Kapolla {{cite web | url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/100411/Magazine/sundaytimestvtimes_8.html | title='Sulang Kapolla' searches for real love | publisher=Sunday Times | access-date=9 August 2016}}
- Visirunu Renu (2008){{cite web | url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/080427/TV/tv-times000019.html | title='Visirinu Renu' shows the worlds of six women | publisher=Sunday Times | access-date=9 August 2016}}
- Wassane Sihinaya (2009){{cite web | url=http://archives.dailynews.lk/2009/09/30/art24.asp | title=Vassana Sihinaya coming soon | publisher=Daily Mirror | access-date=9 August 2016}}
- Wes Muhunu
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=Selected stage dramas=
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- Danga Malla (2013){{cite web | url=https://www.pressreader.com/sri-lanka/sunday-times-sri-lanka/20130811/283871570836387 | title='Danga Malla' comes to Borella| work=Daily News | access-date=9 August 2016}}
- Mama Wenama Malak
- Suba Saha Yasa{{cite web | url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/141102/magazine/suba-saha-yasa-popular-play-in-town-125059.html | title='Suba saha Yasa' Popular play in town | publisher=Sunday Times | access-date=9 August 2016}}
- Mandaram Wehi (1982)
- Jasaya Saha Lenchina
- Deiyange Punchi Akkaraya (1983)
- Hima Kunatuwa (1984)
- Mahasara
- Raththaran
- Bheema Bhumi
- Ekata Mata Hinahina
- Magul Prastawa
- Ratnawalee
- Padada Asapuwa
- Wellawehum
- Deveni Mahinda (1998)
- Mama Wenama Malak (2011){{cite web | url=http://archives.dailynews.lk/2011/02/09/art01.asp | title=Nalaka: One of a kind| work=Daily News | access-date=9 August 2016}}
- Gebbara Minisa (2011){{cite web | url=http://archives.dailynews.lk/2011/08/31/art11.asp | title=Gabbara Minisa at Borella Punchi Theatre| work=Daily News | access-date=9 August 2016}}
- Raassa Paraassa{{cite web | url=https://www.pressreader.com/sri-lanka/sunday-times-sri-lanka/20180610/284064847426536 | title='Rassa Parassa' with new look | publisher=Sunday Times | access-date=9 August 2016}}
- Sudu Saha Alu{{cite web | url=https://www.timeout.com/sri-lanka/theatre/sudu-saha-kalu-black-and-white | title=Sudu Saha Kalu (Black and White) | publisher=timeout | access-date=9 August 2016}}
- Mamai Anduwa (2018){{cite web | url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/180916/magazine/mamai-aanduwa-in-two-cities-310995.html| title='Mamai Aanduwa' in two cities | publisher=Sunday Times | access-date=9 August 2016}}
- Hankithi Dahathuna{{cite web | url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190120/magazine/thirteen-tickles-in-piliyandala-330547.html | title='Thirteen Tickles' in Piliyandala | publisher=Sunday Times | access-date=9 August 2016}}
- ''Yathuru Hilen Balanna'{{cite web | url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/stage-dramas/2020/02/20/16278/යතුරු-හිලෙන්-බලන්න | title=යතුරු හිලෙන් බලන්න | publisher=Sarasaviya | access-date=20 February 2020}}
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Filmography
Her maiden cinematic experience came through 1979 film Jeewana Kandulu, but was an uncredited role. In 1981, her major cinematic breakthrough was from Sathkulu Pawwa, which gained fame. Some of her popular films are Suhada Koka, Maharaja Gemunu and Dharmayuddhaya.{{cite web | url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/151025/magazine/comedy-about-reality-of-politics-168342.html | title=Comedy about reality of politics | publisher=Sunday Times | access-date=9 August 2016}}{{cite web | url=http://archives.sarasaviya.lk/2017/09/21/?fn=sa1709213 | title=Children called me Naughty Aunty - Kusum on Dharmayuddhaya | publisher=Daily Mirror | access-date=9 August 2016}}
Awards
=[[Hiru Golden Film Award]]=
{{Awards table}}
|-
|| 2016 ||| Maharaja Gemunu || Best Supporting Actress{{cite web |url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/2016/09/15/?fn=sa1609157 |title=Stars shower at Hiru Awards |publisher=Sarasaviya |access-date=11 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170318125241/http://www.sarasaviya.lk/2016/09/15/?fn=sa1609157 |archive-date=18 March 2017 |url-status=dead }} || {{won}}
|-
|| 2018 ||| Dharmayuddhaya || Merit Award{{cite web |url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/features/2018/11/01/455/hiru-golden-film-awards-2018 |title=Award winners at 2018 Hiru Golden Film Awards |publisher=Sarasaviya |access-date=1 December 2018}} || {{won}}
{{End}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://magazine.lankahelp.com/2018/01/05/tharuki-mendis-daughter-of-shriyantha-mendis-and-kusum-renu-wedding-day-photos/ Tharuki Mendis, Daughter of Shriyantha Mendis and Kusum Renu, Wedding Day Photos]
- [http://gossip.hirufm.lk/24427/2018/07/kusum-renu.html ඔහු ජීවත් වුණේ අල්ලපු ගෙදර]
- [http://archives.dailynews.lk/2011/08/31/bus50.asp East-West Marketing launches Dimbula Kahata tea]
- [https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2016/08/28/spe-the-02.asp Fiery tickles and heated engagemen]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Renu, Kusum}}
Category:Sri Lankan film actresses