RUPA’S ‘RUPA GEE SARANIYA’ IN PILIYANDALA

Veteran songstress Rupa Indumathi who has been contributing to the local music scene for more than five decades will mark her 50th year jubilee with a tuneful show at the Piliyandala Town Hall on April 7 at 6 pm.

‘Rupa Gee Saraniya will be held with the participation of Chief Guest Minister Gamini Lokuge and all artistes representing the Kesbewa area.

Q: How many songs will you be singing at the show?

I hope to sing about 20 songs which will include the seventies' hits like ‘Eka Gangaka Iwuru Deka', 'Widuli Dumriye Chanchala Rekha', Mage Puthu Hari Hapana', ‘Sande Ennam Obe Lenata' ‘Suwandata Mala Men' and others. Nilantha Siri Pathirana and his orchestra will provide the music while Lakshman Rodrigo and my sons Nuwan Rasanjana, Akila Anjana and Ruwan Achintha will join me in the duets. I will be singing ‘Ruwan Ambare' with Jayatissa Hettiarachchi.

Rupa Indumathi entered the music scene in the sixties when the competition was terrific. Having entered via Radio Ceylon's Lama Pitiya she was graded as a B grade singer and later as an A Grade singer.

“In 1979 Dr. Deepal Nath from India came down to Sri Lanka to judge light song singers and of the 16 finalists I was the seventh and that paved the way for me to be ranked as a special grade singer. Among the finalists were Sujatha Attanayake, Lata Walpola, W. D. Amaradewa, Dharmadasa Walpola, Victor Rathnayake and others.

Q: Can you recall the unity among singers in the good old days?

Of course, we were so supportive to each other. We respected our seniors and above all we traveled to musical shows together. The technology in our days was nothing compared to the present day trends. A new generation should emerge but they should not be slaves to the technology. Newcomers should choose good lyrics and get them set to tune by good musicians. I don't see anything wrong in newcomers singing songs of veterans, but they should remember who had sung the originals.

Q:

About your singing partners?

I have sung duets with H. R. Jothipala, Milton Perera, M. S. Fernando, Mohideen Baig, W. Premaratne, Lakshman Rodrigo and others for more than 25 films. Those songs are popular even today, but they are not aired on radio today. Of the songs I have sung I think ‘Eka Gangaka Iwuru Deka' was a milestone song. I also like ‘Viduli Dumriye'.

Q:

Your family…

My mother Dotie Jayasekara is a talented actress. She even acted in the recent movies ‘Aba' and ‘Bindu'. My three sons are married and I am a grandmother today.

Rupa Indumathi says she is proud of her status today, having made her singing debut at the age of 12.