Akasa Kusum on cloud nine:

Malani bags Best Actress Award for second time

Ruwini Jayawardana

Veteran actress Malani Fonseka clinched the Best Actress award for her role in Akasa Kusum (Flowers of the Sky) at the Levante International Film Festival held in Italy on Saturday. This is the second time Malani won an international Best Actress award for her portrayal of Sandya Rani in Prasanna Vithanage’s movie.

The film had already won many international accolades including the Silver Peacock Award for Malani at the 39th International Film Festival of India last year.

It was adjudged the Best Asian Movie at the Cines del Sur Festival in Grenada, Spain, together with Before the Burial by Iranian director Behnam Behzadi. Akasa Kusum also earned a special Jury Mention at the Vesoul Film Festival in France recently.

Malani had also been nominated for the best actress award at the Third Asia Pacific Film Festival which will be held in Australia on November 26. She will return to Sri Lanka on November 20 before flying to Australia.

Akasa Kusum will represent Sri Lanka at the 82nd 2010 Annual Academy Awards (Oscar Awards) which will be held in Hollywood in March.