Punya Hiendeniya
Actor · b. 1938
Punya Heendeniya is a legendary Sri Lankan cinema actress, often celebrated as the personification of the "ideal Sinhala woman" on screen due to her graceful portrayals in classic films during the 1950s and 60s. She is most famous for her role as Nanda in the critically acclaimed masterpiece Gamperaliya (1963).
Movies4
MovieDramaMalin parts ways with his father Simon after realising that their ideologies do not match. While the father believes in using fear to control his employees, the son believes in equality and justice.
Movie8.5DramaPiyal and Nanda have now aged, and their children have left them. Priya reminisces on her life after her son sends her a letter from London accusing her and her husband of various faults.
Movie5.8DramaPiyal is a handsome young teacher who is hired to teach English to Nanda, a member of a high class family. They fall in love, but can't elope because Piyal is of a lower class. Nanda's parents instead push her into a marriage with Jinadasa, who is of the same class as them. With economic downturn in Sri Lanka, both families lose their status and Jinadasa leaves to try to make a better life for himself; he never achieves his goal and dies penniless. Piyal and Nanda can now finally come together. They have changed however, and the earlier idylic nature of their relationship is not recaptured.
Movie8.0DramaRomanceCyril (Tony Ranasinghe) is dissatisfied with his introverted fiancée Sujatha (Punya Heendeniya). He starts a relationship with the outgoing Sarojini (Anula Karunatilleke) and gets her pregnant. Sujatha meanwhile is fascinated by a wandering Buddhist nun. Due to the pregnancy, Cyril breaks off the engagement having no intention to marry Sarojini. Till the birth of the child he supports her and then leaves her for an older rich woman. Sarojini is distraught and contemplates suicide. Sujatha by this time is planning to become a nun.