Pearl Vasudevi
{{short description|Sri Lankan actress and singer}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Pearl Vasudevi
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| native_name = පර්ල් වාසුදේවි
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1915|3|30|df=yes}}
| birth_name = Pearl Peters
| birth_place = Galle, Sri Lanka
| death_date = {{death date and age|1987|6|19|1915|3|30|df=yes}}
| death_place =
| resting_place_coordinates =
| nationality = Sri Lankan
| education = Good Shepherd Convent, Colombo
| years_active = 1930–1987
| other_names =
| spouse = Eddie Junior (m. 1940)
| children = 1
| father =
| mother =
| relatives =
| website =
| footnotes =
| occupation = Actress
}}
Pearl Peters (30 March 1915 – 19 June 1987 as පර්ල් වාසුදේවි) [Sinhala]), popularly known as Pearl Vasudevi, was an actress in Sri Lankan cinema as well as a singer.{{cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0890871/ | title=Pearl Vasudevi filmography | publisher=IMDb| access-date=27 January 2020}}
Personal life
Vasudevi was born as Pearl Peters in Galle on March 30, 1915, to a Burgher family.{{cite web | url=http://divaina.com/daily/index.php/visheshanga3/29132-15-57 | title=Remember Pearl Vasudevi | publisher=Daily Mirror| access-date=27 January 2020}} She studied at the Good Shepherd Convent, Colombo and became interested in theater at a young age.{{cite web | url=https://www.pressreader.com/sri-lanka/daily-mirror-sri-lanka/20190610/282823602681625 | title=Pearl Vasudevi remembrance | publisher=Daily Mirror| access-date=27 January 2020}}
She was married to fellow actor Eddie Junior. The couple has one daughter, Sujeewa Lalee. Sujeewa also acted in few films including maiden acting in Sithijaya. Vasudevi died 19 June 1987 at the age of 72 following a brief illness.
Career
Vasudevi made her debut as an actress in 1930 playing the role of a princess in the play Aparikshakari Nadu Theenduwa at the age of 15. With her fluency in English, she also secured a leading role in an adaption of Merchant of Venice.{{cite news|first=Ramesh|last=Uvais|title=The pearly chapter of Pearl Vasudevi|work=Daily Mirror|year=2006}} Vasudevi joined Eddie Master's troupe shortly after acting in the role of Seetha in Ramayanaya. The dramatist's son Eddie Junior composed the music for the play. Through their work together, Pearl and Eddie Junior fell in love and got married in 1940. She also served as a Radio Ceylon singer at Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC).
Vasudevi made her film debut with husband Eddie Junior in Sirisena Wimalaweera's 1949 movie Amma.{{cite book |title=On the Development of Sinhala Cinema, 1947-1967 |last=Savarimutthu|first=Ranee|year=1977|publisher=OCIC Sri Lanka|location=Colombo, Sri Lanka}} She subsequently appeared in over 150 films including Sithijaya with her daughter Sujeewa Lalee.
Filmography
| class="wikitable" | |||
| Year | Film | Role | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 | Amma | Nila | |
| 1955 | Surangani | ||
| 1964 | Kala Kala De Pala Pala De | ||
| 1965 | Sekaya | Gossip | |
| 1966 | Mahadena Muththa | Thalamalie's mother | |
| 1966 | Senasili Suwaya | Sumith's relative | |
| 1968 | Pini Bindu | ||
| 1968 | Bicycle Hora | ||
| 1968 | Amathikama | ||
| 1969 | Pickpocket | Hamine | |
| 1969 | Uthum Sthriya | ||
| 1969 | Praweshamwanna | Sonia's mother | |
| 1970 | Thevatha | ||
| 1971 | Dawena Pipasa | ||
| 1971 | Kathuru Muwath | Woman at Sasthara center | |
| 1971 | Hathara Denama Surayo | Bath amma | {{Cite web |title=Hadata Wadata Hari Soorayo: Hathara Denama Soorayo film |url=http://archives.sarasaviya.lk/2018/09/06/?fn=sa18090610 |access-date=2021-01-10 |website=Sarasaviya}} |
| 1971 | Seeye Nottuwa | ||
| 1972 | Sithijaya | ||
| 1972 | Edath Suraya Adath Suraya | Johnny's mother | |
| 1972 | Lokuma Hinawa | Karolina | |
| 1973 | Matara Achchi | Village gossip | |
| 1973 | Aparadhaya Ha Danduwama | ||
| 1974 | Dinum Kanuwa | ||
| 1974 | Hadawath Naththo | ||
| 1974 | Shanthi | ||
| 1974 | Sahayata Danny | Estranged wife of Sandun's friend | |
| 1974 | Rodi Gama | ||
| 1974 | Susee | Susee's Mother 'Sello Hami' | {{Cite web |title=All about the film Susee |url=http://archives.sarasaviya.lk/2018/08/30/?fn=sa18083034 |access-date=2021-01-10 |website=Sarasaviya}} |
| 1975 | Tharanga | Granny | |
| 1975 | Cyril Malli | ||
| 1975 | Lassana Kella | Nandamma | |
| 1975 | Kokilayo | ||
| 1975 | Sangeetha | {{cite web |url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/features/2019/11/28/12689/ඔබෙ-සැප-මගේ-සතුටයි |title=All about Sangeetha |publisher=Sarasaviya |access-date=23 December 2017}} | |
| 1976 | Hulawali | Villager | |
| 1976 | Onna Mame Kella Panapi | ||
| 1976 | Adarei Man Adarei | ||
| 1977 | Honda Hitha | ||
| 1977 | Chandi Putha | {{cite web | url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/features-story/2019/10/24/11021/බඹරා-වගේ-තවම-විසේ | title=All about Chandi Putha | publisher=Sarasaviya | access-date=22 February 2020}} | |
| 1977 | Aege Adara Kathawa | ||
| 1978 | Sithaka Suwanda | Emily aunty | |
| 1978 | Madhuwanthi | Mrs. Silva | |
| 1978 | Hitha Mithura | ||
| 1978 | Sally | ||
| 1978 | Kumara Kumariyo | Karunawathie | |
| 1978 | Saara | Perera 'Nona' | |
| 1979 | Samanmali | Darling 'Akka' | |
| 1979 | Amal Biso | ||
| 1979 | Palagetiyo | Sophie | |
| 1979 | Nuwan Renu | Head nurse | |
| 1979 | Podi Malli | Belin | |
| 1979 | Handaya | Susie | |
| 1979 | Visihathara Peya | ||
| 1980 | Ektam Ge | Nathilin | |
| 1980 | Raja Dawasak | ||
| 1981 | Kolamkarayo | Allan | |
| 1981 | Thawalama | ||
| 1982 | Bicycley | Bath Amma | |
| 1982 | Jeewithayen Jeewithayak | ||
| 1982 | Chathu Madhura | 'Army affair' gossiper | |
| 1983 | Ran Mini Muthu | ||
| 1983 | Chandi Siriya | ||
| 1984 | Bambara Patikki | ||
| 1984 | Sahodariyakage Kathawa | ||
| 1986 | Peralikarayo | Mrs. Florescent | |
| 1987 | Yugayen Yugayata | ||
| 1987 | Hitha Honda Chandiya | Muslim shopkeeper's wife | |
| 1987 | Nommara Ekai | Johanna 'Aunty' | |
| 1988 | The Further Adventures of Tennessee Buck | Chief's mother | |
| 1988 | Newatha Hamuwemu | ||
| 1989 | Waradata Danduwam |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.films.lk/ArtistDetails.php?id=990 Pearl Vasudevi's Biography in Sinhala Cinema Database]
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