"Mavila Penevi" - Old Rukmani Devi Song, now sung by our own Speedy. The song is from the Sinhala movie Kele Handa which was screened in 1953. The story was adopted from the celebrated novel by W.A. Silva. Rukmani Devi (Malini in the film) played opposite Stanley Perera (John Jayapala). Stanley Perera is film actress Sabitha Perera's father. Rest of the cast included Rita Ratnayake, Rukmani Devi's late husband Eddie Jayamanne and Mabel Blythe.
I have fond memories of this song. In the year 1953, I remember our class master SKK Suriarachchi drawing a picture of Nikiniyana on the black board (chalk board), the village which provided the setting for the story, when discussing the movie while teaching Sinhala Literature. The film ended with another popular song "Nari Latha Pushpe sung by the late Mohideen Baig, with Stanley Perera carrying the limp body of Rukmani Devi who had committed suicide in the movie. Speedy's version of "Nari Latha Pushpe" is also on You Tube.
Incidentally, as I had mentioned in the blog before, my former teacher Mr. Suriarachchi later took to politics and was a Cabinet Minister in Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike's government of 1970. Present Speaker Karu Jayasuriya (our batch mate Wasantha Owitigala's husband) was in my class that year.
This blog (created in March 2011 by Lucky) is about new entrants to the Colombo Medical Faculty of the University of Ceylon (as it was then known) in June 1962. There were a total of 166 in the batch (included 11 from Peradeniya). Please address all communications to: colmedgrads1962@gmail.com. Header image: Courtesy Prof. Rohan Jayasekara, Dean, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo (2011 - 2014). Please use the search bar using a keyword to access what interests you
Inserting this comment on behalf of ND:
ReplyDeleteComment:
Mahendra
Thank you for bringing back those precious memories of a time now long gone. I saw the film with my grand dad at the Metro theatre Nugegoda eating ice cream and having Lanka lime at the intermission. Remember being bitten by bugs in the theatre. The film and its music has entered the folklore and has legendary status. Thanks to Lucky for the history of that great film and the caste. Where have all those years gone? Ah! Those were the days
Hi,Lucky,
ReplyDeleteIt is nice of you to bring back the memories of that very emotional film "Kela Handa"and also about Mr Suriyaarachchi.I watched the film in one of the cinemas at Ratnapura.
I,am sure,you are not aware,that I knew Mr.Suriyaarachi as a Sports master and a hostel master at Sivali,where I had my education.
He was a flamboyant character,who motivated the students to be physically active.He used to get up in the morning and start his exercises in the hostel ground.We has a reasonable sized garden with mango trees,where,Mr.Karunadasa,(he was then known)used to hang on to branches of mango trees,to stretch his spine.
He,went to to the extent of screening children for under nourishment and instructed the cooks to make sure,those students had a tea spoonful of Cod liver oil with their breakfast.After a short spell at Sivali,he joined teacher training College.Later,on,we were told he joined his Alma mater,Ananda.He was so fascinated with Sivali, situated at the bank of Kaluganga,brought a batch of Ananda Cadets to spend a weekend at Sivali.I met some of those cadets,but their names had erased from my memory over time.
I knew,Mr.Suriyaarachchi,won Mahara electrate with a handsome majority under SLFP ticket and went to become a popular minister.He was a down to earth man and had no body guards,because he had no enemies,to fear.
Lucky!I wonder whether you remember,he was admitted to first class ward at the General,during our latter days at the Medical School.I visited his,but he could not remember me at Sivali.I am,sure it was because,I was very junior during his days at Sivali
I,never went to him,asking for any favours,when he was so powerful,as a minister in SLFP government.He would not have disappointed,me if I resorted to underhand activities.
I hope,all the Anandians,who knew Mr.Suriyaarachchi will appreciate this comment about his humane qualities.
Sumathi.
Thanks for posting my effort Lucky. Although I did it,it is much more appropriate for a female singer. There is a version sung by Nelu Adhikari which I would recommend to readers. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=it5vtLSCP5Q). She is a wonderful singer.
ReplyDeleteSumathi and ND, thanks also for your comments.
Thank you Mahen for the wonderful rendering of a perennial favourite.I beg to differ that it is better sung by a female.The difference between male and female singers was first pointed out to me a by a lovely English resident of mine;I told her that my favourite was Celine Dion; she said that her preference was for male voices as they are rich and deep. I hope I am not raising a hornet’s nest !!
ReplyDeleteI saw Rukmani Devi live for the first and only time at a wedding; the daughter of the health minister at the time.I remember that occasion for the stunningly beautiful bride and also RD.She would have been in her late forties but was equally beautiful.She sang a couple of songs.
Please keep up with the good work .You have an enthusiastic and loyal audience.Kumar
Thanks for your very informed comment and thanks for taking the trouble to listen and comment. I suppose it is always a matter of opinion when it comes to musical taste There is also what is customarily associated with an object or thing. I always felt that a two tone Mini looked better with a female driver. If you have any requests, songs to jog the old memory, please come up with them and I shall have a go
DeleteThank you, Mahendra, for reviving this beautiful song. The nostalgia it produces while listening and seeing the original pictures, is amazing. I don't find any problem with a male voice singing it as opposed to the original female one. It's that inexplicable total effect of the present and the past and the pictures from our childhood as we listened to it and saw Kela Handa that is its secret. We can never forget the 'nightingale of Sri Lanka'. Thanks for this song. You have put so much feeling into this. We wait for more! Zita
ReplyDeleteThanks Zita. If you have any suggestions from our old favourites, please make some suggestions and I shall try and oblige.
ReplyDeleteI am not good at remembering song names Mahendra but I recognise them when I hear them. I can think of some nice ones of CT Fernando Kalumahaweli nila kela walawe' 'Suwanda Rosa Mal Nela' and 'Ma Sukumali, ma hada dinu ramani'!! Remember? I can remember waiting to catch the school bus and hearing snippets of these from the boutique next to the bus stop. You can do a very good job whatever you choose, Mahendra, so treat us to some golden oldies. Sri Lanka's got Talent, certainly! I should say 'Sri Lankans' really. Zita
DeleteHaving read all the interesting comments, I shall write another comment covering many of the above.
ReplyDeleteBut first things first. I would like to see and hear a Mahengee version of "Ranee Enko" (Mohideen Baig and GSB Rani), Walle Kiri Welle (Mohideen Baig/Deyianne Rate), "Pem Mal Mala" (Mohideen Baig), "Parama Ramani" (Baig and GSB Rani), "Surathaliye Sukumaliye" (Daiva Vipakaya). Oh man! That's a lot and Speedy can pick and choose. As Speedy knows, I am an ardent fan of old Sinhala films and songs. I have listened to Nelu Adhikari's version of "Mavila Penevi". I would also like my colleagues with similar interests, to listen to Nelu Adhikari's version of the all time favourite "Danno Budunge". Go to either You Tube or Miyuru Gee in Infolanka which is even better and more user friendly.
Now for the others (Zita, Kumar, ND et al): Like Kumar, I have also seen Rukmani Devi (in real life) only once - at the Lumbini Theatre in Havelock Town. Something I shared with Zita and ND was seeing old Sinhala movies in the good old days.
Finally for Sumathi: I had heard that Mr. Suriarachchi came to Ananda from Sivali College. Quite frankly, Mr. SKKS was one of the few old teachers who called me "Lakshman". He was one of my favourite teachers. His only child (some say she was an adopted child) is Dr. Yasa Siriwardene who was married to a Dental Surgeon. I have visited Mr. SKKS at his Sumner Place home in Borella because Yasa was a friend of mine who was a colleague at the Health Education Bureau. I attended his funeral in Mahara.
Well! Well! Lucky, you have given me a tall order! rani Enko I have already done and posted here in August 2016. I love Pem Mal Mala and Parama Ramani and shall start working on these two. Once I finish these two,I might have a go at Surathaliye. One you didn't mention, Mageya Prema Malini too I like. Oh there are so many! Tharu payana akase, Shanta we premey!!
DeleteThank you,Lucky,
ReplyDeleteI am sorry to hear that late SKK had no children of their own to carry his name for generations.
We,adored him,when he was at Sivali and our past pupils were very happy,when he entered politics and rose to a rank of a Cabinet Minister.
Coming back to Rukmani Devi saga,I must admit,almost all Srilankans(Ceylonese) were mesmerised her beauty&charm.In contrast Mabel Blyth was attractive,though a bit chubby.
It is a pity, Rukmani died in her prime of life,however,he voice will remain immortal.
Have a good day,Lakshaman,
Sumathi
Thanks Sumathi. I used to think of RD as Sri Lanka's Elizabeth Taylor. She was beautiful and attractive. Sadly, as happens to so many stars, she dies prematurely.
ReplyDeleteI had forgotten about Mabel Blythe, star of "Sangawuni Pilithura". She was younger than RD but had more to "have and to hold" as they say. I quite liked her too. I must find out more about her. How did she get that name? Was she a singer too?
Quite a few film stars and singers, both here and abroad die young. Examples are James Dean, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Pat Boone (western) and Milton Mallawarachchi, Clarence Wijewardene, Milton Perera, Jothipala (all singers in SL).
DeleteI saw "Sangavunu Pilitura" a long time ago. RD also acted in it. MB was a supporting actress.
ReplyDeleteMabel had a sister called Shirley Blythe who unlike MB was much slimmer at the time she acted in Daiva Vipakaya. Blythes are from Nuwara Eliya. I think Blythe is their father's name. They had a Burgher connection.
Th supporting cast in Daiva Vipakaya included Dudley Wanaguru who was the father of actress Manel Wanaguru (whose husband is actor Ananda Wickramage), Senadheera Kuruppu. You all might not be familiar with these names unless you were Sinhala cinema fans and watch present day teledramas on TV.
Yes, MB was a singer too. In Daiva Vipakaya, she did a comedy role and sang "Sara Goiya Hari Miniha". I know about Daiva Vipakaya which was screened in 1956 because many outdoor scenes were shot in Manning Town where we used to live at that time.
This is great Lucky! I am learning a lot. I do recall "Sara goiya hari miniha" very well. I just checked Wikepedia and came up with this about Mabel Blythe.
ReplyDeleteMabel Blythe (1930–2004) was a popular Sri Lankan actress and singer who appeared in early Sinhala films opposite Eddie Jayamanne.
Blythe was born on March 28, 1930.[1] Actress Jemini Kantha introduced her to B. A. W. Jayamanne who cast Blythe in Hadisi Vinishchaya (1949) opposite Eddie Jayamanne. She subsequently had similar roles in Sengawunu Pilithura (1951), Umathu Wishwasaya (1952), Kele Handa (1953), Iranganie (1954), Matha Bedhaya (1955), Perakadoru Bena (1955), Daiwa Wipaakaya (1956), Vanaliya (1958; with her sister Shirly Blythe), Kawata Andare (1960) and Mangalika (1963).[2]
Blythe sang in her movies. Her song "Sara Goiya" done for Daiwa Wipaakaya is considered one of the longest songs in Sri Lankan cinema running in at eight minutes. Blythe dueted with Mohideen Baig on "Surathaliye Sukumaliye" for the same film.[3] Earlier she did several duets with Eddie Jayamanne.
Blythe's later movies include Senasuma Kothanada (1966), Geetha (1970), Sujeewa (1972), Sukiri Kella (1975) and Mangala (1976). She also appeared in two South Indian films, Walliyin Selvan (with MG Ramachandran) and Periya Ediththa Pen (alongside Chandrababu). Blythe retired from film after filling in the role originally done by Jemini Kantha in the remake of Kadawunu Poronduwa (1982) pairing with Eddie Jayamanne one last time.[3]
Blythe married Ranjith Anthony and settled in Nuwara Eliya subsequently relying on a Tower Hall pension. She was presented the Sarasaviya Rantisara Award in 2002.[3]
The most interesting fact about Blythe is the often forgotten fact that the former US President was a Blythe.He was christened William Jefferson Blythe III. His father was
William Jefferson Blythe (Jnr). His father died 3 months before Bill was born. His mother remarried, a Clinton, and Bill Clinton took his Stepfather's name.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteThanks for your research Sumathi. As you say, Blythe has Scottish origins, apparently meaning "joyous, kind, cheerful, pleasant". The other similar spellings to Blythe are are Blyth and Blithe. Blithe means a casual indifference, done blithely means done casually in a carefree manner. Haven't we learnt a lot with this diversion!
DeleteFascinating discussion of my youth growing up in a peaceful Ceylon. My very first film was Bharsaat, a Hindi film with a lot lovely songs. Thanks to Quinton, Metro and my loving grandpa I saw every Sinhala film of the 1950’s and there were many. Broken promise was the first Sinhala one I saw. So much wailing, singing, dancing and dying. Love and goodness conquered evil. What a difference to the world we see today! There was a joker and some fisticuffs to liven up the show. The villain always lost. The marvellous singing of the likes of Rukmani made them so memorable. Thanks to Sumathipala, Lucky and Mahendra for those magical memories.
ReplyDeleteI am yet again impressed by your powers of recall ND.I cannot remember my first film. I do remember seeing Hindi films at the Metro Cinema in Nugegoda. I loved it and hated it; loved the film and music (B&W) and hated the smoky atmosphere in the pre-no smoking days. I always came out with a headache, smelling like an ash tray! Raj Kapoor and Nargis were my favourites. I remember Shri-420 very well in fact I can still remember most of its music, such as "Mera Joota Hai Japani". Later memories include visits to Empire, Savoy, Liberty and Regal. Eating an ice cream in the interval was a "must" and much enjoyed. Rukmani Devi was our heroine and my sister had these "Monitors exercise books" with all the lyrics inscribed lovingly and illustrated with newspaper and magazine cut outs. Ah!Those were the days.
ReplyDeleteThis is absolutely fantastic. I am enjoying reading all these comments and being reminded of these old songs and films but before we go into the area of English films, I want to ask you Mahendra, or rather remind you of an old Sinhala film Rekawa. You may have been a bit too young to remember in fact. But there is this Olu Nelum Neriya Rangala sung by Indrani Wijebandara and there is a very nice baila. I hope you will add these to the list you have been given to sing in the future! Zita
DeleteHi,ND&Speedy
ReplyDeleteCan you remember Ten Commandments&Dr Shivago?.I went with Lokubandara Beligaswatte(Retired as a Director General of Health Services after his services as Urologist)He was a Ratnapura boy,whom I knew when he entered Medical School in 1958 and passed out in 1963.Speedy,you might have met him,during your days in Kandy teaching hospital.We were in the front in the gallery.The film was so popular,second class tickets were no available.I saw Dr Shivago on my own
There were several other English films, I watched after exams and during Medical School holidays.I forgot about Hindi film Mother India,which ran for months,in cinemas.
As far as,I remember,smoking was banned in Savoy&Liberty.
Sumathi
Sumathipala
DeleteDr Zhivago was an epic and one that stole my heart for the wonderful depiction of the hardships of the people after the Russian revolution. Sadly Boris Pasternak was ostracised by the regime for his own life story. The theme music is that haunting melody close to my heart. It is one of the finest films I have seen. Omar Sharif, Julie Christie and Alec Guinness did the story justice. It must be the director David Leans best film
Hi Sumathi,
ReplyDeleteI do remember Dr Zhivago very well. I still listen to the musical score, especially "where do I begin".It think it was shown in 70mm Todd AO at the Rio? And the ten Commandments, Ben Hur, The Sound of Music and Spartacus! Such great films which transported us briefly to another World. Do you also remember the "World by Night" series? Shocked (and delighted) me to the core! By today's standards, it is hardly erotic but a "hard" effect was what we experienced. I tried to go to the Rs 1.10 stalls rather than the Gallery and I used to save for two "shows" at Gallery price and go for 1 Front stall! No TV or Internet those days but we were happy.
Sumathi. You are correct. Dr Beligaswatte was the Urologist in Kandy when I was there as Neurologist from 1978 to early 1979. Our wards were in the same new building. Dr Subramanium was Neurosurgeon, Dr Jayasena Hettiarchchi was VO OPD, Dr MH Cassim, Eye surgeon and that woderful talented Physician Dr Visuwaratnam was also there. Dr(Mrs) Thuraisingham was Radiologist and Dr SYDC Wickramasinghe was MS.
ReplyDeleteMahendra
DeleteYou have rightly described Dr Visuvaratnam as wonderful and talented. He was much much more. I was a junior doctor in Kurunegala when he was a physician. He was a great human being modest to the core. I wrote an appreciation for him for the Royal College of Physicians. Here is the link http://munksroll.rcplondon.ac.uk/Biography/Details/6867
He was my mentor and gave me encouragement when I felt my life was worthless. I owe him a great deal. I think of him often in gratitude there are people like him to inspire those like myself.
May he find eternal peace.
ND. I didn't realise you knew him so well. I read your appreciation and now know more about him. What struck me most about him was polite and dignified manner and his wonderful clinical skills. I can recall how he brought me down to Earth in my early days as Neurologist at Kandy. He asked me to see a patient with a neurological problem in his ward and take over his care. His diagnosis as you would expect, was spot on, and I wrote on the notes that I agree with him and would transfer the patient to my ward when I had a bed. He reminded me very politely that I was no longer in the UK and that we don't wait for beds to come up and the patient will need to come to my ward "on a bed or under a bed"! I of course transferred the patient. We often sought each other's opinion. I had a great deal of respect for him. He was a wonderful doctor and and a wonderful man.
DeleteMahendra
DeleteI am so happy you read the appreciation. He was indeed a brilliant clinician. In life he was religious with a simple philosophy of polite kindness and courtesy towards all. He asked me to join his group for religious discussions as we kept in touch and he lived 30 minutes drive away from me in Hertfordshire. Being a hard nosed agnostic I didn’t want to waste his time. He never spoke ill of anyone. In Kurunegala we were neighbours and I got to know him well. He had a kind word for even the most difficult people we met in hospital. I consider it a great privilege to have known him.
Do you all know that Dr. Beligaswatte was known as Lokubandara (surname) when he was a medical student?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteA few more facts on Rukmani Devi. She sang her first ever song "Siri Buddha gaya vihare" with Rupasinghe Master when she was only 13 years old. This was the stepping stone of a very prosperous singing career. A career which paved the way for her to become, the first Sri Lankan actress to grace the silver screen and also ultimately become an overnight star. the first and the only Sri Lankan actor to grace the "Film fare" magazine cover. She had acted in close to 100 films till her death. Her other memorable film songs include the song which started this discussion "Mawila Penewi Roope" (Kele Handa), "Adarayai Karunawai" (Daiwayogaya), "Olu Male sudo sudo" (Peralena Iranama) "Anna Sudo" (Kele handa) and many more.
ReplyDelete"Ahasin Polowata" was the last film in which she sang a song and that was the only film which she did together with Dr. Lester James Peries. "Ahasin Polowata" won the "Agnet Award" at the 3rd International Cairo Film Festival in 1978. Rukmani Devi won the best female playback singer award at the Presidential Award ceremony held in 1979 for the song "Doi Doiya putha Doi doi" in the film "Ahasin Polowata". Rukmani Devi was not alive to receive the award at the function and Eddie Jayamanna received the award on her behalf.
Although she started off singing classical devotional songs with Rupasinghe Master she later sang songs with new comers like H. R. Jothipala, Neville Fernando, C.T.Fernando, Milton Mallawarachchi and Victor Rathnayake. She has also sung songs in different languages including Spanish.
Her faith was strong and she is reputed to have uttered the following words:""The man who comes in to this world alone leaves this world alone. My destiny is also the same. When I leave this world I will not take this fame, stardom or anything else with me. The only thing which helps me in the end is the faith and trust that I had in god and the true prayer which I made to the all mighty."
It is obvious that Speedy knows a lot about Rukmani Devi and Sinhala films of a bygone era. His reference to "Her other memorable film songs" the list would not be complete unless you mention "Mageya Prema Malini" which was a duet with Mohideen Baig. As I mentioned before, RD played the role of "Malini" in Kele Handa which was full of superb songs. "Mageya Prema Malini" was one of them.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteDr. Lanka Wijesena (not Wijesinghe) who was also in the 300 batch mearried Jeevarani. Other sisters in the Kurukulasuriya family were Shirani (married Lanka's brother Palitha), Janaki and Menik. They were all film actresses but not as successful as the eldest Jeevarani.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMahen, having seen all of 2, perhaps 3 Sinhalese films in my entire lifetime, I knew I was’nt entitled to be in this discussion at all!
ReplyDeleteHowever I thought I’ll come in at what might be the ‘tail end’, just to say how beautifully the RD song was sung by you. A lovely voice and great talent.
Thank you.
Thanks also to all those who made such informative comments from which I learnt much.
You guys are like encyclopedias of Sinhala film and song- and Lucky’s knowledge of ‘Who’s who’ and ‘who married whom’ and even their
family relationships is just amazing !
Thanks for the education !
Thanks Rohini. I do love singing and I am glad my effort was reasonable. As for Sinhala films, I saw a lot in my formative years, We saw a lot of Hindi films as well. As for "kultur" Ladies College, well St Bridget's, Bishops and Methodist were also classed as "kultur"! Among Boys schools too, Royal, St Thomas', St Peter's, St Benedicts and Wesley were also "Kultur", depending on who you talk to! It is interesting that some of my much younger Sri Lankan collegaues regard me as a bit of a "kultur" because apparently, I sing Sinhala songs with an "accent"!
DeleteYou sing Sinhala songs beautifully Mahen,
DeleteI look forward to hearing all the requests that have been made by our colleagues!
Cheers
I can understand why Rohini has seen so few Sinhala movies having been away from Sri Lanka for so long. But I see that she had not been a Sinhala movie fan even in the "good old days". I guess this is the "Ladies College Culture" ("Kultoor") where going to Sinhala movies was considered infra dig! Just kidding.
ReplyDeleteLast evening, I was at the funeral of Hemantha's brother Lakshman Samarasinghe who was Managing Director of Mackwoods some years ago (the company that sold A & H stethoscopes when we started our pre clinicals). Now, some of you might ask who Hemantha is. She is the wife of our batch mate R.S. (Senerat) Jayatilake. I met quite a few people there for the first time. When I am introduced to someone, the name and face get "registered" in my mind. I can't help it. Can I Rohini? I wish that aspect of my memory worked in my favour during our medical examinations and enabled me to do better as a medical student. Anyway, I take your last statement as a compliment.
Lucky, of course it is a compliment!
ReplyDeleteI think I have at some point in the past also referred to the computer with MEGA memory you carry on your shoulders!
As for the “Ladies’ College culture”,( though I know it was said in jest), the few Sinhalese films I saw were on the recommendation of the Sinhalese language teacher in school-
‘Rekawa’ is one I remember!
The truth is, it didn’t make a difference whether they were Sinhalese or English films. As girls, we were not free to pop into a cinema unchaperoned, which limited the films we could see, and even the English films were carefully chosen and approved of by my parents. Hence my experience of the cinema would be miniscule in comparison to that of our male colleagues!
The discussion above was great, stimulating my interest in seeing some of these films as well as listening to the songs- Thanks Lucky.
I remember goings to see film by the name Bernadine.That day the cinema was full of young girl,all kulturs.One of the handsome actor landed a slap on another actor,which culminated in thundering clapping by the girls.I cannot remember the whole story.I wondered, whether Roni has seen the film or heard of it.
ReplyDeleteSumathi.
Sumathi, Yes I did see this film with Pat Boone singing those unforgettable songs - Bernardine and Love letters in the sand!
ReplyDeleteI don’t think I would have been with the group of girls you refer to, as I went accompanied by one of my cousins and my aunt !
Pat Boone still remains one of my favorite singers.
Thank you Rohini.I am sure you would have enjoyed the film throughout.
ReplyDeleteWho would forget Bernadine the song as well as the film with Pat Boone whom we all loved as teenagers. I remember writing poems about him! Those were the days. Films have got lot more complicated and the songs we can hardly remember these days. Technology was at its infancy in the old days and so talents played a big part. I have truly enjoyed the comments by all of you including Nihal, Sumathi, Rohini and Lucky. Please keep them coming! Zita
DeleteThis is the link for Bernadine. Please copy and paste on your Browser (where the https://www.etc appears)
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mgmo9KSb1kE
Or for those unfamiliar with browsers. highlight the address (the http://www bit above,aand it will become blue. The right click you mouse and a window with "Go to http://www etc appears. Click on that and it will take you directly to the Youtube page with the song. My apologies for seasoned commputer veterans!
DeleteWhen I lived in Nawala in the 1960s. the Kurukulasuriyas were our neighbours and I still recall admiring the girls silently. We were too timid to make any moves! I think they were labelled as "fast girls" by our elders, probably unfairly.
ReplyDeleteAs for Pat Boone, how can I ever forget him as his song Speedy Gonzales is the reason for my nick name, coined by UVA De Silva. This songs is still played on the radio intermittently and as you know, songs have this quality of making you relive an era and if I close my eyes when it is played, I can "feel" the atmosphere of my medical student days.
Speedy,
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen Kurukulasuriya girls apart from Jeeva Rani(only in films).
I had a bad experience on the day I went to see Bernadine.I went by my bike and came out of the cinema ,at the end.There was a small group of beautiful girls who came out ,same time.I thought they were from Bambalawatta.Some of them had golden skin and beautiful hair,I wanted to be friendly with them as they came out .I asked;whether they enjoyed the film.They wanted to know my name.I was over the moon and told my name.Then,they wanted to know whether I was a related to Photographer-Hector Sumathipala.To be posh like a Bambalawatta lad,I said,nope.
All of them had a giggle and muttered something like "on your bike,you rustic halfwit.
I really thought that they meant get on your bike and go.
We used the word "bugger off" when we did not like a person
It took a long time to understand the meaning of "on your bike"
That thought me a lesson and never messed around Bamabalawatta girls.
AS
I was at the AGM of CoMSAA last evening. Only Pram and I represented our batch. There were two from the US - Jayasiri Fernando from Illinois (a couple of years junior to us) and one Maithri Weerasinghe (from California). New President is the present Dean Prof. Jennifer Perera.
ReplyDeleteIt was nice to see Prof Sheriffdeen, Prof Lalitha Mendis and Dr. Rajendra (Bongo Rajendra and brother of Ken Balendra at the Badulla HO's quarters on our Final Year trip?) who were senior to us.
Lucky, I think it is very appropriate that your last comment broke the record for largest number of comments for post and also broke the 50 barrier! But only 8 seasoned veterans took part, which is a sobering thought, BUT.. on the other hand we know for sure that this does not reflect the number who read it.
DeleteI too noted that "Mavila Penevi" has set a new record for comments. I agree with Speedy that the figure does not reflect the number who read the blog.
ReplyDelete