Nilmini Tennakoon

Thennakoon Pathiranalage Nilmini (born January 23, 1965, as නිල්මිණි තෙන්නකෝන්) [Sinhala]), popularly known as Nilmini Thennakoon, is an actress in Sri Lankan cinema and television. A highly versatile actress particularly active in television, she is a recipient of the Best Actress award multiple times in many local award festivals. She is often referred to as the "tear drop" of the Sinhala small screen, and also the Sri Lankan Madhuri Dixit.

Personal life She was born on 23 January 1965 to Piyadasa Thennakoon and Shriyani Thennakoon in Moratuwa. She has two siblings, one elder brother (L=the late Deleepa Thennakoon) and one younger sister. Her father was a businessman. He died when she was 13 years old. She completed her education from Princess of Wales' College.

Tennakoon was married to popular singer Madhumadhawa Aravinda, and they have one daughter, Swetha Mandakini. She met Madhumadhawa during the teledrama Pini Bindu in 1992. They got married on May 5, 1996. They divorced in the early 2000s.

In 2007, Tennakoon sustained grievous bodily injuries in a car accident and was taken to the Ragama hospital's ICU. The accident occurred at Balummahara on March 14 when she was rushing to Kurunegala from Colombo for a television filming event. Her car was reduced to matchwood although the chauffeur escaped with minor injuries.

Career In the 1980s, Tennakoon started to act on the school stage when she was in grade 7 and studied dancing under Vajira Chitrasena. Then she attended "Low Country" and Kandyan dancing under radio artist Chitra Kumari Kalubowila at Moratuwa. Under Chithra's guidance, she performed in the ballet Sasara staged in Rupavahini. Some of her popular films are Keli Madala, Nagaran and Le Kiri Kandulu.

In 1992, Tennakoon won the Sarasaviya award for the Best Upcoming actress for her role in Suranimala. She won the Sarasaviya Award for the Best Actress for the role "Veena" in the film Le Kiri Kandulu. In 2016, she won the Sumathi award for the Best Actress for the title role in Amma.

She participated in the reality program Hiru Mega Stars as the leader of the group "Shakyans". She also hosted the psychology television program Sith Giman Hala, telecast by TV Derana. Adaraneeya Amma Akwessa Amma as Amma (Punna) Anduru Sewaneli Aswenna Blackmail Bodima as Nilmini Chess Daam Deveni Kamatha as Nirmala Dimuthu Muthu Diya Ginisilu Diya Sithuvam Diya Suliya as Sarojini Liyanaarachchi Diya Yata Gini Doo Daruwo as Deepthi Galaboda Hasthiya Ganaga Saha Nishshanka as Nadee Gimanata Pavana Giravi Girikula as Dingiri Amma Handewa as Tikiri Menika Himagira Hima Varusa Hiru Dahasak Yata Hiru Sadu Hamuwee Hiruta Muwawen Indikadolla Isi Daasi Isuru Pawura Iti Pahan as Some Kulavilokanaya as Pabasara Biso Kumarayaneni Mansala as Devi Maya Ranaga as Biula Mayavi Nethranjali as Nethra Nidi Kumari Nidikumba Mal Parami Pooja Pas Mal Pethi Passe Gena Manamali Pata Sarungal Pinketha as Giravi Piyabana Ashwaya Raena Ralla Weralata Adarei Ranagala Watta Sagaraya Parada Sanda Mediyama Sanda Pini Wassa as Maya Sasara Saranee Sikuru Awith Sikuru Evith Susima Thuru Kadauru Udawediya Mal Uththamavi Vishwanthari Visirunu Renu

Filmography

Year Film Role Ref. 1985 Mawubima Naththam Maranaya 1990 Yukthiyata Wada Kunchu 1990 Pem Rajadahana 1991 Keli Madala Sharika 1992 Suraniamala 1993 Wali Sulanga Nilmini Ranasinghe 1994 Ekada Wahi 1995 Ayoma 1999 Nagaran Soma 2020 Sulnga Bara Wedi 2025 Gagana

2003 Le Kiri Kandulu Veena Jayaweera 2016 Madhura Charika Guest role 2016 Hero Nero Priya Senarathne 2017 Bandhanaya Nandawathi 2019 President Super Star 2023 Kadira Divyaraja 2023 Thaththa Ruwan's mother

Awards Sarasaviya Awards

Sumathi Awards

Raigam Tele'es