Iranganiís inaugural film in which she portrayed a mother whose son is exploited by the father in legendary Lester James Periesí Rekawa (1956) is her most memorable. It was the first Sinhala film to be shot completely, even with sound, in a natural setting as opposed to in an artificial studio, and with realistic acting and dialogue. Today the film is hailed as a classic and a landmark in the history of Sri Lankan cinema but it was not appreciated at that time. The Sri Lankan public was accustomed to the South Indian style of exaggerated acting that was being copied in Sri Lanka thus Rekawa was a commercial failure.

This gifted personality has been cast in eight of Lesterís movies. He recalls that he created Irangani as a maternal figure when she was just 25 years old in her debut movie and has since been awarded several such roles. She yearns diversity in roles but realises that in Sri Lanka this is not a possibility for older actresses. She avoids participating in productions that donít agree with her own philosophies or revolve around controversial issues such as religion or politics.

Irangani says, ìI enjoy acting and all my performances are done to the best of my ability because I canít act in any other way. I donít change my style of acting just because it is for a teledrama.î

In Lesterís Sandesiya she played a spy - the first film that she did not play the lead mother role. Being shot in a unique style, Dayananda Gunawardenaís Bakmaha Deegaya is of significance to Irangani. Other roles of note include those in Lesterís Delowak Athara, Sudu Sevanali by Prof Sunil Ariyaratne, and Sathyajith Maitipeís telefilm Samaapthiya which was made to commemorate Richard de Soysaís death anniversary.

Yasho Ravaya was Iranganiís first teledrama and producer Sandya Mendisí foremost effort. Doo Daruwa remains her most popular series, running for five years: ìI played the mother where I spelt out some of the diminishing values in our society. I didnít agree with everything the character did because she was somewhat dishonest and cunning in her pursuit to get her daughters married.î The versatile artiste explains that teledramas can be difficult to star in because often only a part of the script has been written when you start shooting the first few episodes, and a 50-episode series might suddenly become 100 episodes. She believes that teledramas are significant in their social context because they depict certain aspects of our society and reveal much about our values and culture.

ìSri Lankan cinema today has taken leaps forward away from the typical love affair based movies, and produced numerous acclaimed films as well as skilled artistes and directors,î describes Irangani. She highlights the irony that despite it s achievements the cinema industry itself is on the verge of collapse for numerous reasons.

Furthermore the accomplished actress is sorry that the Sri Lankan audience who was so discerning at one time, is now distracted by poor quality films. The State Film Corporation was begun to help the local industry. In all other countries like the US, UK and France, the national film industry is protected as Sri Lankaís once was by allowing only a limited amount of the best foreign films to enter the country per year. She says, ìI personally believe that we should obtain the best of the worldís films for everyone to enjoy because everyone has the right to view the best art that is produced. We have got to find a way to satisfy film goers, producers and cinema goers.î

Irangani explains that oneís taste in movies varies with time as a result of being subjected to different styles but she enjoys a range of comedies, historicals, dramas, Westerns, war stories and epics. Some of her most memorable films include those by Orson Wells, Charlie Chaplin and the hilarious Marx Brothers, as well as One Flew Over the Cuckooís Nest, Wuthering Heights, To Kill a Mockingbird, Caeser and Cleopatra, Waterfront, Gone with the Wind, and Marlon Brandoís Street Car named Desire.
 

She describes Chaplin as extraordinary. ìHe was not all fun but conveyed powerful messages especially regarding the underdog, war etc, through comedy which was far more effective. An unforgettable scene is in Modern Times which depicts the industrial revolution where workers in factories had specialized jobs. Chaplinís character works in such a factory where his job for the entire day is to tighten a nut with a spanner of a product that passes along the conveyor belt. At the end of his work day, he is so conditioned that he walks around doing the same action. Suddenly he meets a lady on the road who has a huge button on her chest which he tries to turn, which obviously gets him in trouble!î

ìLester James Peries has been my guru from the beginning of my movie career. He is a fantastic person who has made such a difference to the Sinhala film industry,î she says.

Actresses: Anna Mangani, Simone Signore, Katherine Hepburn, Ingrid Bergman, Vivian Leigh.

Actors: Laurence Olivier, Alec Guinness, Marlon Brando, Richard Burton, Orson Wells.