REMEMBERING NIHAL JAYAWARDANA

The 70th birth anniversary of Nihal Jayawardana – one of Sri Lanka’s topmost artistes who excelled as a singer, actor and dubbing artiste – falls today, March 4. The multi-talented personality becomes so special to us for more than one reason. He is probably the only singer who has rendered his playback voice to his father Dommie Jayawardana in two films – Monarathenna and Singapore Charlie - and also dubbed for his father in ‘Landaka Mahima’. He is the singer who has sung the longest title song in a Sinhala film - the 12-minute song that came in Romeo Juliet Kathawak. As a dubbing artiste he was also the most sought after male voice. He is regarded as the first male dubbing artiste in the country to render his voice to a foreign tele serial - Tarzan. He dubbed for the title role of Tarzan and also rendered his voice to several film actors during their early days. Nihal was the obvious choice to dub for Vijaya Kumaratunga after his demise. Among his significant dubbing projects were Monte Cresto, Oshin, Bavani, Mahagedara and the Hindi movie ‘Lagaan’. Nihal Jayawardana who also acted in tele dramas like Megha Tharanaya and Viyaru Prarthana, never rode on the popularity of his celebrated father Dommie Jayawardana. Nihal also served in the media unit of President Mahinda Rajapaksa when he was the Fisheries Minister. Born on March 4, 1949, Nihal Jayawardana studied at Zahira College, Colombo and Stafford College, Colombo 10. Since he displayed exceptional talents as a singer from his childhood, he made his way to Radio Ceylon programmes conducted by veteran Karunaratne Abeysekara. As an actor he first faced the camera in Shanthi Kumar’s ‘Sansare’ playing the younger days of Herby Seneviratne. Then he played bigger roles in movies like Romeo Juliet Kathawak, Ahala Pahala, Hathara Wate, Hadawathaka Wasanthayak, Ridee Nimnaya, Soldadu Unnehe, Muthu Menike, Yuganthaya, Chakrayudha, Anuragaye Ananthaya, Wanarayo, Sadakal Randewa and others. As a singer he launched a cassette titled ‘Shakthi’ which also included some of his popular songs like ‘Ronata Edena Samanaliyaka’. On the personal front, Nihal Jayawardana married Rathnavali Jayasena on December 2, 1974. His eldest daughter Buddhini Jayawardana is a well-known journalist, actress, dubbing artiste, screenplay writer and novelist while his younger daughter Harsha resides in Australia. The exceptionally talented artiste breathed his last on August 25, 2004 at the age of 55.