Maurice : Man of many parts
In a career spanning several decades, popular singer and actor Maurice Dahanayake has played crucial roles in maintaining high standards in local arts.
His songs like ‘Onna Olu Malak', ‘Sudo Poddak Andanna', ‘Meth Mal Pibidewa', 'Muthu Mitak Piri Eththe' are some creations that will linger in our memories forever.
Impulse met him at his residence in Nawinna, where he is taking a brief break due to ill health.
Q: Can you recall your r early days in the music scene?
I was able to quickly grasp the English poems that my mother taught me at a tender age. I played the lead role as the Prince in ‘Sleeping Beauty' at my first school – Musaeus Girls' School. Then I joined Ananda College where I met friends like Susil Premaratne, Ariyaratne Kahawita and Upali Attanayake. But I took up music due to the encouragement given by our music teacher Suriya Sankar Molligoda. In 1952 I sang my first song ‘Nayana Rase' at Ananda College. I took part in the Radio Ceylon amateur programme. During the audition that followed later, I sang ‘Ru Rase Andina Lese' and was ranked as a B Grade singer. ‘Bendila Prema Bemme' was my first song to be aired on Radio Ceylon.
Q: Your tuneful memories of the past?
We did not possess a radio then. We gathered at the Gunasiri Hotel in Maradana to listen to the radio. I studied music under Shelton Premaratne who made my ‘Onna Olu Malak' song which earned the first place in chart shows then. Our house was near the Ode Pansala and Karunaratne Abeysekara was one of our neighbours. It was Thevis Guruge who opened Radio Ceylon doors to me. I have sung for gramophones, HMV records, radio and television. I remember s singing at the Vavuniya Army camp during t the peak of the war with Haroon Lantra and M. S. Fernando. In 2002 I held my solo musical concert ‘Onna Olu Malak' to mar mark my 50th year in music. ‘Sudo Poddak An Andanna' was a craze among girls then. It mu must be so even now. I became a playback sin singer in the film ‘Sunila' in which I sang ‘R ‘Rasa Mihiri Katha Singithi Sina' with Daya Sandanayake. Later I sang for several r other films.
Q: How did you meet your wife Manel?
Manel was a among a group of school girls who mob mobbed me, Jothi and other singers whe when we went for a show at Tr Trinity College, Kandy. Later we became friends and exchanged letters. We married after a sixy year love affair. Prior to that she also became the Wayamba Kumari Beauty Qu Queen in 1963. I worked at t the Sri Lanka Insurance Cor Corporation and later as the PA for fo Mr. Menikdiwela who was former f President J. R. Jayaw Jayawardene's secretary.
My s sons Channa and Sanjeew Sanjeewa are married but they did not t take an interest towards singing. W We are related to W. Dahanaya Dahanayake of Galle. My father Samson D Dahanayake acted in Tower Hall dramas. My mother was Saleena an and among my sisters and brothers are Ranjani, Padmini, Ranjith and Ajith.
Q: Your views about newcomers singing or distorting old songs?
I am against anyone singing songs of others. They must try to stand on their own feet. During our days we never heard of such robberies.
“I am very much grateful to Susil Premaratne, Karunaratne Abeysekara, Chitrananda Abeysekara, P. L. A. Somapala, Upali Attanayake, Cyril A. Seelawimala, R. A. Chandrasena, Bandara K. Wijetunga, Shelton Premaratne, Thevis Guruge, Suriya Sankar Molligoda and Simon Maravanagoda for giving me all the support to become an artiste. My only hope is to live with dignity and die with dignity,” he said.