Rukmani Devi

Infobox actor
name = Rukmani Devi


imagesize = 150px
caption =
birthname =
birthdate = birth date|1923|1|15|mf=y
birthplace = Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka
deathdate = death date|1978|9|25|mf=y
deathplace = Ja-Ela, Sri Lanka
occupation =
yearsactive = 1936-1978
spouse = Eddie Jayamanne

Rukmani Devi (January 15, 1923–September 25, 1978) was a Sri Lankan singer and actress, who was often acclaimed as "The Nightingale of Sri Lanka" [ [http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2006/04/02/juniorob02.html Rukmani Devi - Queen of the Silver Screen] ] . She made it to the silver screen via the stage and had acted in close to 100 films, at the time of her death. Having an equal passion for singing as well as a melodious voice, she was Sri Lanka's foremost female singer in the gramophone era. After her death, she was awarded the Sarasaviya 'Rana Thisara'- Life Time Achievement Award at the 1979 Sarasaviya Awards Festival.

Background

Rukmani Devi, was born as Daisy Rasammah Daniels to a Colombo Chetty Christian family on January 15, 1923 at Ramboda in Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka. Second, in a family of five, her father, John Daniel worked on a plantation and her mother, Helen Rose was a teacher.

She grew up in Colombo and had her early education at St. Matthew's School and then moved on to St. Clare's School, Wellawatte.

As a little girl, Daniels showed an inborn talent to sing and dance. At the age of seven she was picked to sing Christmas carols. Impressed with her ability to sing, dance, and also to act, she was selected to perform a main role in a Christmas play, 'The Shoemaker's Wife'.

The stage play was trained and presented by St. Clare's School, Wellawatte.

Watching her play this role much enthusiastically, Walter Abeysinghe, a drama producer sought permission from her father, to invite her to play the lead role of 'Sita' in his drama 'Ramayanaya.' Thus, in 1935 at the age of just 12 years she performed in this stage play, presented by the 'Sinhala Natya Sabha'.

She was married to veteran dramatist, actor and singer, Eddie Jayamanne, whom she fell in love with as a result of her close association with him, when performing in dramas produced by "Minerva Dramatic Club" founded by B.A.W. Jayamanne. They lived at "Jaya Ruk", at Angurukaramulla, Negombo.

Career

This marked the beginning of an illustrious career that would span over four decades. As her performances were highly appreciated by the packed audience, well-known dramatist Dick Dias chose her for two of his stage plays, "Jana Kiharanaya" and "Mayawathie". She was now flooded with stage dramas, as she became Mayawathi in Charles Dias' 'Mayawathi', Juliet in a Sinhala adaption of Romeo and Juliet, playing the lead female role in all of them.

With her first audio recording of the famous song "Siri Buddhagaya Vihare" with Master H. W. Rupasinghe in 1938, she captured the hearts of the masses and she shaped her career from that of an actress to that of an actress turned singer.

Her unique voice attracted many music directors, as her singing career moved from the stage to the silver screen.

It was also, around this time that her name underwent a change from Daisy Daniels to the well known 'Rukmani Devi'. There are two schools of thinking as to how the name "Rukmani Devi" originated. According to one school, the late H. W. Rupasinghe maestro created the name, while the other believe that Jayantha Weerasekara and Michael Sannas Liyanage who is in his 90s, created it [ [http://www.dailynews.lk/2003/10/28/fea05.html Rukmani Devi - Lanka's Queen of Melody] ] .

B. A. W. Jayamanne, founder of "Minerva Dramatic Club" of Negombo took Rukmani to perform remarkable roles in his interestingly featured dramas, such as 'Apparition', 'Broken Promise', 'Changing Fate, 'Defeated Aim', 'Evasive Denial', 'Fanatic Faith', 'Grisly Guardian', 'Hasty Decision' and lastly 'Irangani'. Above-mentioned plays followed the English alphabet.

The popular play 'Broken Promise', was adapted into a film by B. A. W. Jayamanne. This was the first Sinhala film - Kadawunu Poronduwa, screened on January 21, 1947. Rukmani Devi, who also began her film career through the role of 'Ranjani' in this film, also became the first local actress. Her film career, which thus began spread over a period of more than three decades.

According to "Sri Lankeya Cinema Vanshaya" (pp 637 - 638) written by Nuwan Nayanajith Kumara, from "Kadawunu Poronduwa" in 1947 to "Ara Soyza" in 1984, Rukmani Devi had played different roles in 99 films, up to the time of her death.

An equally talented singer, some of the immortal songs she sang for films are "Sandyave Sriya" for 'Kadawunu Poronduwa', "Pinsara Mage Soyura" for 'Kapati Arakshakaya', "Gala Kandeni", and "Moranawa Preme Hade" for 'Weradun Kurumanama', "Nindede Rathri Yahane" for 'Peralena Iranama', "Mavila Pena vi Rupe" for 'Kela Handa', "Pem Sihina Loke Maya" for 'Mathabhedaya', "Melavi Yanna Hada Mage" for 'Daiva Yogaya', "Suva dena Sita Sanasum" for 'Ladalu' and "Doi Doi Puta" for 'Ahasin Polavata'.

In the mid sixties she joined the sinhala calypso musical group 'Los Cabelleros' led by late Neville Fernando. They recorderd ever popular sinhala songs such as 'Malbara Himidiriye','Menike Obe sinawe' & 'Sandak nage'.

Rukmani Devi was also featured prominently on the airwaves of Radio Ceylon, the oldest radio station in South Asia.

Death

Rukmani Devi, the singing star, stage and screen idol died in a tragic motor accident near St. Mary's Church, Thudella on September 25, 1978. She was returning after a musical show in Uyanwatte, Matara. Her funeral ceremony was attended by a very large gathering; film makers and dramatists, friends, politicians, relatives and her beloved fans.

She was the most celebrated Sri Lankan artiste and a statue in memory of her was erected at the Kanuwana Junction, Ja-Ela, as she still lives in the hearts and minds of the Sri Lankan people. The road on which the Rukmani Devi Museum in Negombo is located was also re-named 'Rukmani Devi Mawatha' by President Ranasinghe Premadasa, on October 28, 1990.

Awards

*Best background Singer for the song 'Doi doiya putha' in the film 'Ahasin Polawata' at the inaugural Presidential Awards Ceremony in 1976.
*Best actress Award for 'Kele Handa' at the 'Deepasika' awards ceremony conducted by 'Lankadipa' Newspaper in 1956.
*Voted Best Actress with a majority of 16,221 votes at the 'Reader's Contest' conducted by 'Dinamina' Newspaper in 1955.

Trivia

She was the one and only Sri Lankan actress on the cover page of popular Indian Film Magazine "Filmfare" and was also featured in "My like and dislike" in 1958 in the Filmfare.

External links

Her Songs can be heard at [http://www.infolanka.com/miyuru_gee/art/rukmani.html Miyuru Gee]
* [http://www.thamari.com/sinhala-video-songs/ Collection of Sinhala Video Songs]
* [http://www.srilankafilmcorp.com/about/ National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka - Official Website]
* [http://labaila.com/music/timeless/Intervie.rm A rare interview with the Radio Ceylon]
* [http://www.labaila.com/Dhammika/sinhala_qs.html Timeless Sri Lankan Songs]

References