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Rukmani Devi
රුක්මනී දේවි
1923 - 1978
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SUMMARY

Rukmani Devi රුක්මනී දේවි
Daisy Rasammah Daniels
  • Birthday : 1923 January 15
  • Died : 1978 October 28


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    NATIONAL AWARDS

    1 Favourite Actress [1st]100,091

    Dinamina Ranga Madala 1956

    2 Best Actress

    1st Deepashika Award Ceremony 1956
    Umathu Wishwasaya

    3 Favourite Actress [1st]

    Swarnadhara Award Ceremony 1959

    4 Favourite Singer - Female

    3rd Sarasaviya Awards - 1966

    5 Special Awards

    6th Sarasaviya Awards - 1969
    Abuddassa Kale

    6 "Deeparani" Special Award

    3rd Deepashika Award Ceremony 1972

    7 Best Singer - FemaleSong : Doi Doi

    1st Presidential Award 1979
    Ahasin Polovata

    8 Special Award

    14th Sarasaviya Awards - 1986
     
    FILMOGRAPHY


    AS CAST MEMBER

    1Kadawunu Poronduwa
    Main Actress
    1947
    2Kapati Arakshakaya
    Main Actress
    1948
    3Weradunu Kurumanama
    Main Actress
    1948
    4Peralena Iranama
    Main Actress
    1949
    5Hadisi Winishchaya
    Main Actress
    1950
    6Sengawunu Pilitura
    Main Actress
    1951
    7Umathu Wishwasaya
    Actress
    1952
    8Kele Handa
    Main Actress
    1953
    9Iranganie
    Main Actress
    1954
    10Mathabhedaya
    Main Actress
    1955
    11Perakadoru Bena
    Main Actress
    1955
    12Dosthara
    Main Actress
    1956
    13Siriyalatha
    Main Actress
    1957
    14Daiwayogaya
    Main Actress
    1959
    15Kavata Andare
    Main Actress
    1960
    16Nalagana
    Main Actress
    1960
    17Daskon
    Main Actress
    1962
    18Mangalika
    Main Actress
    1963
    19Heta Pramada Vadi
    Actress
    1964
    20Samiya Birindage Deviyaya
    Main Actress
    1964
    21Sathutai Kandulai
    Main Actress
    1965
    22La dalu
    Main Actress
    1965
    23Sampatha
    Main Actress
    1966
    24Hathara Kendare
    Actress
    1967
    25Pipena Kumudu
    Main Actress
    1967
    26Magul Poruwa
    Actress
    1967
    27Rena Girawu
    Actress
    1967
    28Abuddassa Kale
    Main Actress
    1968
    29Paara Walalu
    Actress
    1969
    30Romeo Juliet Kathawak
    Actress
    1969
    31Geetha
    Actress
    1970
    32Nim Walalla
    Actress
    1970
    33Seeye Nottuwa
    Actress
    1971
    34Samanala Kumariyo
    Actress
    1971
    35Sahanaya
    Actress
    1972
    36Hathara Wate
    Main Actress
    1972
    37Veeduru Geval
    Main Actress
    1972
    38Ihatha Athmaya
    Actress
    1972
    39Suhada Pathuma
    Actress
    1973
    40Hondata Hondai
    Actress
    1973
    41Dinum Kanuwa
    Main Actress
    1974
    42Dinum Kanuwa
    Actress
    1974
    43Sagarika
    Actress
    1974
    44Lasanda
    Actress
    1974
    45Jeewana Ganga
    Actress
    1974
    46Hitha Honda Minihek
    Actress
    1975
    47Obai Mamai
    Actress
    1975
    48Sukiri Kella
    Actress
    1975
    49Kohoma Kiyannada
    Actress
    1975
    50Jeewana Geethaya
    Actress
    1975
    51Lassana Dawasak
    Actress
    1975
    52Sadhana
    Actress
    1975
    53Nayana
    Actress
    1976
    54Kauda Raja
    Actress
    1976
    55Wasana
    Actress
    1976
    56Harima Badu Thunak
    Actress
    1976
    57Unnath Daahai Malath Daahai
    Actress
    1976
    58Hariyata Hari
    Actress
    1976
    59Onna Maame Kella Panapi
    Actress
    1976
    60Saradiyelge Putha
    Actress
    1976
    61Adarei Man Adarei
    Actress
    1976
    62Nedeyo
    Actress
    1976
    63Ran Thilaka
    Actress
    1976
    64Sudu Paraviyo
    Actress
    1977
    65Sri Madara
    Actress
    1977
    66Hithuvoth Hithuvaamai
    Actress
    1977
    67Deviyani Oba Kohida
    Actress
    1977
    68Chin Chin Nona
    Actress
    1977
    69Kaathirupaen Unakaaha [ Tamil ]
    Actress
    1977
    70Saja
    Actress
    1977
    71Tom Pachaya
    Actress
    1977
    72Naan Ungal Thozhan [ Tamil ]
    Actress
    1978
    73Maduwanthi
    Actress
    1978
    74Kundala Keshi
    Actress
    1978
    75Apsara
    Actress
    1978
    76Ahasin Polovata
    Actress
    1978
    77Samanmalee
    Actress
    1979
    78Jeewana Kandulu
    Actress
    1979
    79Amal Biso
    Actress
    1979
    80Ran Kurullo
    Actress
    1979
    81Monarathenna
    Actress
    1979
    82Anusha
    Actress
    1979
    83Podi Malli
    Actress
    1979
    84Nuwan Renu
    Actress
    1979
    85Tak Tik Tuk
    Actress
    1980
    86Silva
    Actress
    1980
    87Sinhabahu
    Actress
    1980
    88Bamba Ketu Hati
    Actress
    1981
    89Senasuma
    Actress
    1981
    90Sathara Diganthaya
    Main Actress
    1981
    91Hondama Naluwa
    Actress
    1981
    92Jeewanthi
    Actress
    1981
    93Thana Giravee
    Actress
    1982
    94Sakvithi Suvaya
    Actress
    1982
    95Sudu Ayya
    Actress
    1982
    96Sithara
    Actress
    1982
    97Sithara
    Actress
    1982
    98Sandamali
    Actress
    1983
    99Hithath Hodai Wedath Hodai
    Actress
    1983
    100Hithath Hodai Wedath Hodai
    Actress
    1983
    101Ara Soysa
    Actress
    1984
    102Ara Soysa
    Actress
    1984

    AS CREW MEMBER

    1Umathu Wishwasaya
    Co-Producer
    1952
    2Kele Handa
    Producer
    1953
    3Iranganie
    Producer
    1954
    4Mathabhedaya
    Producer
    1955
    5Siriyalatha
    Producer
    1957

    AS SONG CREW

    1Kadawunu Poronduwa
    • Vocalists - Prema daya maage piyano
    • Vocalists - Sandyawe Sriya Ramya Lesa Pena
    • Vocalists - Papi Shayapi Do
    • Vocalists - Jeevithaye saame
    1947
    2Kapati Arakshakaya
    • Vocalists - ambare thamba pehe
    • Vocalists - Sriya dena
    • Vocalists - Pinsara maage soyura
    • Vocalists - Paape saadana
    1948
    3Weradunu Kurumanama
    • Vocalists - Sandewe sandewe
    • Vocalists - Shantha me preme
    • Vocalists - Gala kandeni
    • Vocalists - Namo mariyani
    • Vocalists - Moranawa preme hade
    1948
    4Peralena Iranama
    • Vocalists - Nindedi rathri yahane
    • Vocalists - Bandila kaasi bamme
    • Vocalists - Hada aadara preme
    • Vocalists - Karuna jale
    • Vocalists - Olu male sudo
    • Vocalists - Paape me jeevithe
    1949
    5Hadisi Winishchaya
    • Vocalists - Jeevana sepa sri paanaa
    • Vocalists - Sansaara sapa naasthi we
    • Vocalists - Manuloke
    • Vocalists - Prema rajaa mage
    • Vocalists - Aashre nisaa me
    • Vocalists - Mana pinawaayaa
    • Vocalists - Asahaaya me aale
    1950
    6Sengawunu Pilitura
    • Vocalists - Pem loke raajini
    • Vocalists - Le kiri deela
    • Vocalists - Manahara geetha gayaalaa nelawila
    • Vocalists - Amma nathi kaale
    • Vocalists - Anaatha maage jeewithe
    • Vocalists - Sundara vana raajiniye
    1951
    7Umathu Wishwasaya
    • Vocalists - Siriyaawi Maage Thi Mihire
    • Vocalists - Sudata Sude Siriya Dile
    • Vocalists - Dharshane We Diva re Darshane We
    • Vocalists - Stheera Aale
    1952
    8Kele Handa
    • Vocalists - Mawila Penewe Rupe
    • Vocalists - Anna Sudo
    • Vocalists - Mageya Prema Malini
    • Vocalists - Dewo Gin Mawa
    1953
    9Iranganie
    • Vocalists - Tharu Paayana Aakaase
    • Vocalists - Duppathaage Sema Duke
    • Vocalists - Prithi Wanne Jeewithemai
    • Vocalists - Raani Enko Nagima Pem
    • Vocalists - Rasa Kiri Powaa
    1954
    10Mathabhedaya
    • Vocalists - Samudure Soya
    • Vocalists - Pem Mal Maalaa
    • Vocalists - Aadara Paana Sudaa
    • Vocalists - Pem Sihina Loke Maayaa
    • Vocalists - Deviyani Ko Saman Deviyan
    1955
    11Perakadoru Bena
    • Vocalists - Hada Siduru una Maage
    • Vocalists - Wana Male Pini Bede
    • Vocalists - Muhude Pathule
    • Vocalists - Wana Bambara Wana Bambara
    • Vocalists - Thanivuna Prema Saharaawe
    • Vocalists - Maage Pemwatha Hithawatha
    • Vocalists - Sithu De Lowe
    • Vocalists - Aadara Nadiya Gala
    1955
    12Dosthara
    • Vocalists - Ho Pem Raajaya
    • Vocalists - Pem Sagare
    • Vocalists - Waasanawantha Kala Labaa
    • Vocalists - Kimada Loke
    • Vocalists - Balapalla Me Mune Heti
    1956
    13Siriyalatha
    • Vocalists - Me Krura Lokayehi
    • Vocalists - Ase Geethe Madura Jeewe
    • Vocalists - Somnas Una Hade
    • Vocalists - Rupaya Saapaya Me
    • Vocalists - Aale Kala Nam
    • Vocalists - Alankaareni Sady Aganaa
    1957
    14Daiwayogaya
    • Vocalists - Doi Doiya Putha
    • Vocalists - alokaya Hama Thana
    • Vocalists - adarayai Karunawai
    • Vocalists - Hada Gilehi ama Mihire
    • Vocalists - Mela wee Yannaa Hada Maage
    1959
    15Kavata Andare
    • Vocalists - Raththaran Puthe
    • Vocalists - Prema Pujasane
    • Vocalists - Pina Pawa Nisaya
    1960
    16Nalagana
    • Vocalists - Parama Ramani Ape Aale
    • Vocalists - Ho Surathal Ho Surathal
    • Vocalists - Me Awa Man Awa
    • Vocalists - Sithehi bandi Aale
    1960
    17Daskon
    • Vocalists - Kokila Devi
    • Vocalists - Somnasa Pem Rasa
    • Vocalists - Saumya Chandra Paaya
    • Vocalists - Raja Uyane Ambathuru
    • Vocalists - Mayawaki Sihinayaki
    1962
    18Mangalika
    • Vocalists - Aswala basaya Nodaneedo
    • Vocalists - Ananda Geethe Naada De
    1963
    19Heta Pramada Vadi
    • Vocalists - Sithata Nawa Eliya
    • Vocalists - Geetha Rasa Nage
    1964
    20Samiya Birindage Deviyaya
    • Vocalists - Lassana Raththaran Babo
    • Vocalists - Monawa Hithagena Maawa
    • Vocalists - Kiyanna Rankanda Kiyanna
    1964
    21La dalu
    • Vocalists - Suwadena Sitha Senasum
    • Vocalists - Sagara Karuna Daya Gune
    1965
    22Sampatha
    • Vocalists - Wijayathu Wijayathu Weera Nikethana
    • Vocalists - Senehe Athu Aga Bandunu
    • Vocalists - Sithare Sithare Sithare
    1966
    23Pipena Kumudu
    • Vocalists - Thama Suwa Pahasuwa Pathaa
    • Vocalists - Hadehi Depaluwa Wilasa
    • Vocalists - Rangum Rangana Sunil Jale
    • Vocalists - Mal Mal Mal aragena
    1967
    24Magul Poruwa
    • Vocalists - Dehadak Senasille
    • Vocalists - Vinodeni Prabodeni
    • Vocalists - Santhapaya Wedanawe
    1967
    25Chin Chin Nona
    • Vocalists - Muthu Kulika Warengala
    1977
    BIOGRAPHY

    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"[1]. 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.

    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.

     
     
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