Rukmani Devi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49lmeOZfpp4

The above link is of Rukmani devi singing ‘ Thei(tea) pan dina dina vedi vedi ye, beemen sirurata sepa vediye’ of the  1940s. Very popular then. Rarely heard now.

Discovered by Rupasinghe Master, she was a sensation in singing, acting on stage  and film.

A beauty,  warm personality, deep quality voice; without a touch of haughtiness, she remained Daisy Akka to all name being Daisy Daniels. A Tamil lady who spoke perfect Sinhala. 

She acted and sang in our first film “ Kadavunu Poronduwa’.

Unlike Mohideen Baig the other great singer-from India, who spoke Sinhala but got his song words written in English.

Baig  did the first Sinhala song recording with ‘ Karuna Muhude Naaamu gileela’

Rukmani’s first recorded song was with Rupasinghe Master around 1936- ‘Buddhagaya Vihare’ the tune being Hindi.

She would always prostrate herself before her teacher  whenever she met  Rupasinghe.

Rukmani’s and  Baig’s  voices matched perfectly for films. Both quality singers, not those microphone only ones.

My mother said she saw her  on stage in ‘Chintamani’- 1930s.

Enjoy

Jksw

PS

My wife Ramya tells me that 'They Pan..' was played again and again, on a hand wound gramophone at a pansala nearby, during festivals.

Philip G V.

 

 

Malbara himidiriye/Rukmanie devi/Nevil Fernando

https://youtu.be/Rj2aOoXTe0Y

Punsanda Hinahennae - C.T. Fernando & Rukmani Devi

https://youtu.be/fRNAmfCyuW8

Kokilaya keviliya ha (Original) H.R. Jothipala _ Rukmani Devi__ Old Sinhala Songs 2012 2013

https://youtu.be/o_WvaKtXMFY

Aadaraya Nisa _ Rukmani Devi _ Old Sinhala Songs 2012 2013

https://youtu.be/aj3kxCwVNdY

The Satnav - by Pam Ayres

Email from JKS Weerasekera

I have a Satnav, It sits there in my car

A Satnav is a driver's friend, it tells you where you are.

I have a Satnav, I've had it all my life

It's better than the normal ones, My Satnav is my wife.

It gives me full instructions, Especially how to drive

"It's sixty miles an hour", it says, "You're doing sixty five".

It tells me when to stop and start, And when to use the brake

And tells me that it's never ever, Safe to overtake.

It tells me when a light is red, And when it goes to green

It seems to know instinctively, Just when to intervene.

It lists the vehicles just in front, And all those to the rear

And taking this into account, It specifies my gear.

I'm sure no other driver, Has so helpful a device

For when we leave and lock the car, It still gives its advice.

It fills me up with counselling, Each journey's pretty fraught

So why don't I exchange it, And get a quieter sort?

Ah well, you see, it cleans the house, Makes sure I'm properly fed

It washes all my shirts and things, And keeps me warm in bed!

Despite all these advantages, And my tendency to scoff,

I only wish that now and then, I could turn the bugger off.

Latha Manjreshkar

 Email from JKS Weerasekera

 Latha Manjreshkar has sung so many songs, she has lost count of the number, She did not keep counting.

Her two sisters Asha Bhoshle and Usha are no seconds.

Long ago the count was claimed as 30,000 but Lata herself said she did not count.

Latha M. did record some songs for us in the 1950s, as did the two Ranis  Jaumuna and K Rani from south India. Their accents were quaint and instant successes.

The sisters  are around 80 years old now.

Latha has been singing from the 1940s and her sisters from 1950s.

Our very popular duo Santhush and Bhatiya have got Asha Bhosle to sing for them.

Link below :-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ddz7RtsRTS0

Ula Paloma .George Baker

https://youtu.be/_RP3sV-YMRw