CYRIL A. SEELAWIMALA
The eighth death anniversary of renowned wordsmith Cyril A. Seelawimala who also excelled in writing film stories, dialogues, screenplays and lyrics, falls tomorrow, December 4. Soft-spoken wordsmith Seelawimala penned more than 500 songs in a long list of films and for singers of every stripe ranging from Vasantha Sandanayake, Victor Ratnayake, Angeline Gunathileke, Mohideen Baig, Maurice Dahanayake, Sujatha Attanayake, Christopher Paul, Haroon Lantra to H. R. Jothipala and Freddie Silva. He always opted to stay away from the limelight even when he was at the helm as editor of the then ‘Dawasa’ and ‘Riviresa’ newspapers.
His career as a film lyricist began with the screening of Kingsley Rajapakse’s ‘Deepashika’ on December 12, 1963. He penned two songs for Lata Walpola in the film and later went on to become one of Sri Lanka’s most sought after lyricists.
In the long journey his soulful lyrics became part of the sound tracks in films like Sweep Ticket, Sikuruliya, Pickpocket, Ada Mehemai, Den Mathakada, Suhada Pethuma, Sudu Duwa, Kesara Sinhayo and a host of others.
He also wrote the story and dialogue in several films including a box office hit ‘Ajasatta’.
The modest word processor was behind many evergreen hits like Jothianji’s Dothin Dothai, Honda Siriyawai Akase, Jothi’s Lassanai Balanna, Vishnu Devinde, Victor’s Mohen Mulawela, Linden Wathura Beela, Janma Bhoomi, Sisira Senaratne’s Natapan Naihami, Freddie’s Mamai Mottapala, Galkisse Muhudu Werale, Maurice Dahanayake’s Sudo Poddak Andanna Harima Asai Balanna, Meth Mal Pibidewa, Haroon Lantra’s Ananda Me Rea Hari Hedaine, Milton Perera’s Sansun Ruwan Hada Mandiraye and His Tin Ekak Wage which could be hummed and cherished even today. He passed away on December 4, 2010.