Jamuna Rani here for Sarasaviya

by Anjana Gamage

Jamuna Rani, the renowned Indian singer, arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday to participate in the 30th Sarasaviya Film Festival which will be held Thursday at the BMICH at 6.30 p.m. Rani has performed several songs for Sinhala movies in the 1950s, in addition to Hindi and Tamil tracks.

Her hit Sinhala songs include Pem Kekula Pipi and Me Jeevana Gamana Sansare and Prema Gange Manik Wage of the films Sujatha and Sada Sulang captivated the audiences. The songs remain popular to this day.

Jamuna Rani who was born on May 17, 1932 in Tamil Nadu is living in Chennai, India. During her singing career, Jamuna has sung about 30 Sinhala songs for Sada Sulang, Sukumalie, Surasena, Saradam, Sujatha and Mathalan.

"Although four decades have passed, it is amazing to learn that my voice could still touch the hearts of Sri Lankan fans. It is a great pleasure to me. This will certainly strengthen my bond with your country and my Sri Lankan fans," she told the Daily News. "I started studying music when I was only six.

Learning music and dancing at the very beginning of a girl's life is a custom in South India. I was a pioneer member in girls' singing choir at the school and whenever I got an opportunity to show my ability, I was keen to participate in every concert," she said.

"On an invitation of renowned Indian musician, Vishvanadan, I stepped into the Indian cinema field as a playback singer.

I have sung well over 7,000 songs in Tamil, Telingu, Kannadi, Malayalam and Hindi so far and most of them are film songs," she said. "Music directors whom I had worked with believe that I have a endearing voice which is more suitable for love scenes. But I prefer to sing sad songs," Rani said.