Rukmani Devi

Daisy Rasammah Daniels, known popularly as Rukmani Devi (15 January 1923 – 28 October 1978: ) was a Sri Lankan film actress and singer who was often acclaimed as "The Nightingale of Sri Lanka". 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. She was posthumously awarded the Sarasaviya 'Rana Thisara'- Life Time Achievement Award at the 1979 Sarasaviya Awards Festival.

Personal life Rukmani Devi was born as Daisy Rasammah Daniels to a Tamil Colombo Chetty Christian family on January 15, 1923, at Ramboda in Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka. She was the second child, 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.

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 Rukmani Devi sings before a public audience at Dewalapola in May 1976.

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 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'.

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 adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, playing the lead female role in all of them. Rukmani performed her singing career as a simple singer on Sri Lankan radio in the mid-1940s.

Gabriel Gunaratne, who was in charge of recording songs at the His Master's Voice label, was the permanent music director of the company. She was introduced to H. W. Rupasinghe one day in October 1938 by Gunaratne. Rupasinghe, who saw Rukmani's singing prowess, chose her for the first album, which was launched by Master His Voice No. 9300. Entering the stage, Rukmani had the opportunity to perform in Noorthi dramas such as Janakiharanaya, Rohini and Mayawathi. Her funeral ceremony was attended by a very large gathering, including filmmakers and dramatists, friends, politicians, relatives, and her beloved fans.

She was the most celebrated Sri Lankan artist, and a statue in her memory was erected at Kanuwana Junction. The road on which the Rukmani Devi Museum in Negombo is located was also renamed '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 1976 inaugural Presidential Awards Ceremony. 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.

In popular culture 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 Likes and Dislikes" in 1958 in the Filmfare. The second generation Toyota HiAce is known in Sri Lanka as the Rukmani Model, because she was travelling in one when she had her fatal accident.

Attack on grave site On 12 August 2011, a former mayor of Negombo and a former Minister of the Parliament Ananda Munasinghe was allegedly charged and arrested by the Negombo police for dislodging the statue of Rukmani Devi, erected on her grave by one of her fans, Sriyani Achala Dissanayake. Several popular media bloated this incident as an attack by an unidentified group of criminals to Rukmani Devi's grave, and a protest rally to this incident was organised in Negombo on 14 August 2011.

Songs Ada Handanawa Himiyani Yasodara Adara Nadiya Gala Adara Pana Suda Adaraya Nisa Harde Bandena Adarayai Karunawayi Alokaya Hama Thana Pathire Anna Sudo Ara Pata Wala - (with Mohideen Beg) Ara Ramani Pem Handa Akase - (with Dharmadasa Walpola) Ase Geethe Madura Jeewe - (with Dharmadasa Walpola) Asure Nisa Me Chandra Mage Ko Ane Dadi Kala Matha Dalwaw Bathi Adara Pem Danno Budunge Deerghayu Siri Labewa - (With H. W. Rupasinghe & Kokila Devi) Denna Priye Dathata Oya Datha Deviyan Ko Saman Deviyan Dewa Gini Mawa Dharmaraja Maraji - (With H. W. Rupasinghe) Doi Doiya Putha Dushmantha Aho Kimado Gala Kandeni Giye Aida Mawa Thanikara Hada Gilei Ama Mihire - (with Mohideen Baig) Herdhey Pina-aei Jaya Mangala Gatha Jeewithe Ma Kiyanna Rankanda Koheda Yanne Ran Menike Oya Lakmenige Darukela - (with H. W. Rupasinghe & Kokila Devi) Mage Prema Raja Manike Obe Sinahawe - (with Neville Fernando) Mata Mata Gamini Mata - (with H. W. Rupasinghe) Mawa Penwala Muhude Pathule Kimidee - (with Mohideen Baig) Muniraja Diyana Swami - (With H. W. Rupasinghe) Muni Sri Dalada - (With master H.W.Rupasinghe) Nilambare Paya - (With master H.W.Rupasinghe) Pem Rajadhane Ahas Maligavo - (with Milton Mallawarachchi) Pem Rajaya Pem Sagare Raja Sri Mangala - (With H. W. Rupasinghe) Sandyawe Pena Pena - (with H. W. Rupasinghe) Saranawewa Wasana - (With H. W. Rupasinghe & Kokila Devi) Siri Buddhagaya Vihare - (With H. W. Rupasinghe) Siri Pada Kamal - (With H. W. Rupasinghe) Silpa Satara Loke - (With H. W. Rupasinghe) Srimuni Gautama - (With H. W. Rupasinghe) Siriyavi Mage - (With Mabel Blyth) Sudata Sudey - (With Mohideen Baig) Thayam Mayam Thribhuwana Jana Puja - (With H. W. Rupasinghe) Wandimee Sadaren - (with H. W. Rupasinghe & Kokila Devi) Wasanawantha Kala Laba - (with Dharmadasa Walpola)

Filmography

Year Film Role Ref. 1947 Kadawunu Poronduwa Ranjani 1948 Kapati Arakshakaya Mallika 1948 Waradunu Kurumanama Swarna 1949 Peralena Iranama Sunetha 1950 Hadisi Vinischaya Kanthi 1951 Segawunu Pilithura Kusumalatha 'Chandralata' 1952 Umathu Vishwasaya Susila / Padma 1953 Kele Handa Malini 1954 Iranganie Iranganie 1955 Mathabhedaya Kusuma 1955 Perakadoru Bena Malini Gunathilaka 1956 Dosthara Chandra 1957 Siriyalatha Siriyalatha 'Agnes' 'Kusina' / Sriyawathie 1959 Daivayogaya Sheela Kumari 1960 Kawata Andare Andare's wife 1960 Nalangana Prema / Asha 1962 Daskon Premila 1963 Mangalika Mangalika 1964 Samiya Birindage Deviyaya Wife Chandra 1964 Heta Pramada Wadi Rupa 1965 Sathutai Kandulai 1965 Laa Dalu 1966 Sampatha 1967 Rahas Dupatha 1967 Rena Giraw Clubgoer 1967 Pipena Kumudu 1967 Magul Poruwa 1968 Abuddassa Kale 1969 Paara Walalu 1969 Romeo Juliet Kathawak 1970 Nim Walalla 1971 Sahanaya 1971 Seeye Nottuwa 1971 Samanala Kumariyo 1972 Veeduru Gewal Auntie 1972 Hathara Wate Manike 1972 Ihatha Athmaya Emily 'Pissu Amma' 1973 Suhada Pathuma Chamila's mother 1973 Hondata Hondai Chammi's mother 1974 Hadawath Naththo 1974 Lasanda Chai Jayawansa 1974 Jeewana Ganga 1974 Dinum Kanuwa 1974 Sagarika 1975 Kohoma Kiyannada Samanthi's mother 1975 Jeewana Geethaya 1975 Hitha Honda Minihek Rukmani 1975 Obai Mamai Sheela 1975 Sukiri Kella Soma Dharmapala 1975 Lassana Dawasak Nilanthi's mother 1976 Nayana 1976 Kawuda Raja Nilanthi's mother 1976 Wasana Mrs. Rajadasa 1976 Harima Badu Thunak Auntie 1976 Unnath Dahai Malath Dahai 1976 Hariyata Hari Mrs. Gunathilake 1976 Onna Mame Kella Panapi 1976 Saradielge Putha Kumari Hami 'Manike' 1976 Adarei Man Adarei 1976 Nedeyo Sara 1976 Ran Thilaka 1977 Sudu Paraviyo Rajesh's mother 1977 Sri Madara Mercy de Soysa 1977 Chin Chin Nona 1977 Tom Pachaya Ranawaka 1978 Kundalakeshi Queen 1977 Deviyani Oba Kohida Elizabeth's mother 1977 Sajaa 1977 Hithuwoth Hithuwamai 1978 Madhuwanthi Maduwanthi's mother 1978 Apsara 1978 Ahasin Polowata 1979 Samanmali Mother 1979 Monarathenna Biso 1979 Anusha Mrs. Ratnayake 1979 Nuwan Renu Nuwan's Mother 'Silawathie Hamine' 1979 Jeewana Kandulu Geetha's mother 1979 Amal Biso 1979 Ran Kurullo Sujatha's mother 1979 Podi Malli Nalika's mother 1979 Tak Tik Tuk 1980 Silva 1980 Sinhabahu 1981 Sathara Diganthaya 1981 Hondama Naluwa 1981 Bamba Ketu Hati 1981 Senasuma 1981 Jeewanthi 1982 Thana Giravi Clara 1982 Sakvithi Suwaya Tissa's mother 1982 Sudu Ayya Mrs. Ranatunga 1982 Kadawunu Poronduwa remake Song performer 1982 Sithara 1983 Hithath Hondai Wadath Hondai 1983 Sandamali Sandamali's mother 1984 Ara Soyza Vadigapatuna's mother