Daisy Rasamma Daniels who was later christened Rukmani Devi for screen was born in Ramboda in the Nuwara Eliya District on January 15, 1923. She however came down to Colombo with her family and studied at St, Mathews’ College, Dematagoda and St. Clare’s Wellawatte while residing in Modera.
Rukmani was a bundle of talent as a schoolgirl who showed her prowess in school plays like ‘Sapaththu Mahannage Birinda’ and other concerts. However her significant public performance came in ‘Ramayanaya’ in which she played the role of Seetha in 1935 – as a twelve-year-old girl. Walter Abeysinghe introduced Rukmani to dramas. She was certainly tall for her age and looked more mature. This gifted girl then made a name for herself with some pivotal roles in stage plays like Mayawathi, Rohini, Romeo Juliet, Sirisangabo Rangala Appu and several others. It did not take long for Rukmani to shine as one of the most sought after stage actresses in the country. It must be remembered that she took to the field of acting at a time when women were almost barred from entering this field. Though Rukmani was not the first female actress on stage, her name would be remembered as a young woman who braved all opposition to embark on a career that would showcase her inborn talents.
Rukmani was a discovery of H.W. Rupasinghe Master who was a pioneer in the Sinhala music industry. She became an overnight singing sensation with the evergreen song ‘Siri Buddha Gaya Vihare..’ which she sang with Rupasinghe Master in 1939. Besides being a stage actress of repute the teenage Rukmani became a popular gramophone songstress too in the late thirties and early forties.
During this period the Minerva Drama Troupe was formed in Negombo and Rukmani was offered an attractive offer by them. She joined Minerva and played the lead roles in several of its productions – acting and singing. Her association with the Minerva team paved the way for Rukmani to emerge as the first film heroine and first playback singer in the Sinhala cinema with the screening of the maiden talkie ‘Kadawunu Poronduwa’ in January 1947. Rukmani played the role of Ranjanie in the film while she first sang ‘Jeewithaye Same – Preme Geethe..’ as a playback singer. The song was penned by Hugo Fernando Master and tuned by Narayana Iyyer.
Having played key roles in the glamour world as a singer and actress, she continued to maintain her popularity until death cut short her inspiring life, on October 28 in 1978.
After her memorable role in B.A.W. Jayamanne’s ‘Kadawunu Poronduwa’ Rukmani acted and sang in several films that were hits in Sri Lanka. Among them were popular movies like Kapati Arakshakaya, Weradunu Kurumanama, Peralena Iranama, Kusumalatha, Umathu Wishwasaya, Kelehanda, Siriyalatha, Daiva Yogaya and hundreds of other films. Though she passed away in 1978, more than 15 of her films were released after her death. The last to be screened was ‘Era Soysa’ in 1984. She also became the first Sri Lankan actress to play a dual role in a Sinhala film ‘Umathu Wishwasaya’ and was also the first Sri Lankan actress to become the Filmfare cover girl.
(RU)
Award-wise Rukmani bagged Deepashika, Sarsaviya, OCIC, Presidential and other prestigious awards for her contributions as an outstanding actress and singer. (RU)