Kusum Renu


Dabare Kusum Renuka Liyanage, popularly as Kusum Renu, is an actress in Sri Lankan cinema theater and television. She is best known for the role Madhuri in television sitcom Nonavaruni Mahathvaruni and role Vishaka Samaranayake in the film Dharmayuddhaya.

Personal life

Kusum Renu was born on 30 January 1961 in Colombo and completed her education from Anula Vidyalaya, Nugegoda. 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. She met Sriyantha during the stage drama Pandukabhaya in 1984 and couple married on 25 October 1986 after the proposal in April 1985. The couple has two daughters. Elder daughter Nipuni Preksha is married to Shan Amanda Perera. Younger daughter Tharuki Amaya Mendis also acted in stage play Subha saha Yasa. Her cousin daughter Vidhushi Uththara is also a popular actress in television.
Elder daughter Nipuni specializes in fashion design, costume design, and stage costume design. Her husband Shan is a peon. Their daughter is Gabriela Kathleen. Second daughter Tharuki Amaya Mendis completed a NIBM course and studied Human Resources Degree.

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. Her first role came through T.B. Illangaratne's stage play Sailasanaya. 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.
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. 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

Agni PiyapathAluth GedaraAnneBandhanaa DaminiDamsaari Dangamalla Deiyange Punchi Akkaraya Deydunu Yanaya Doowaru EthumaGajaman NonaHimagira Naga Hima Kunatuwa Hiruta Pipena Sooriyakantha Iththo Itu Devi Vimana Mandaram Wahi Mathi Nethi Daa Mawa MathakadaMini Muthu Nannaththara Neela Pabalu Nil Mal Viyana Nonavaruni Mahathvaruni as Madhuri Paradeesaya Package Pinkanda Simona Pipi Piyum Prarthana Mal Puja Raja Bhavana Rankira Soya Ran MiriwediRan Sevaneli Ruwan Maliga as TriliciaSanda Numba NamSatharadenek Senpathiyo Sathara Ima Gini Senehase Geethaya Sihina Genena Kumariye Sihina Kumari Sulang Kapolla Veeduru ThiraVisirunu Renu Wassane Sihinaya
  • ''Wes Muhunu''

Selected stage dramas

Danga Malla Mama Wenama MalakSuba Saha YasaMandaram Wehi Jasaya Saha LenchinaDeiyange Punchi Akkaraya Hima Kunatuwa MahasaraRaththaranBheema BhumiEkata Mata HinahinaMagul PrastawaRatnawaleePadada AsapuwaWellawehumDeveni Mahinda Mama Wenama Malak Gebbara Minisa Raassa ParaassaSudu Saha AluMamai Anduwa Hankithi Dahathuna
  • ''Yathuru Hilen Balanna''

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.
YearFilmRoleRef.
1979Jeewana Kandulu
1981Eka Dawasak Ra
1981Sathkulu Pawwa
1998Julietge BhumikawaPatient
2002Punchi SuranganaviMrs. Pereira
2003Sonduru DadabimaMadhumathi
2006Bherunda Pakshiya
2011SinhawalokanayaDingiri Menike
2012Kusa PabhaQueen Madhuraja
2015Suhada KokaMalini
2015Sanjana
2015Maharaja GemunuQueen Viharamaha Devi
2017DharmayuddhayaVishaka Samaranayake
2018GharasarapaVidya's mother
2019Jaya Sri AmathithumaGodamune madam
2023Kathuru Mithurucameo role
2023Midunu Vishwaya
2025Housefull
Jayashan's Mother
Vishaka Samaranayake