Song of the singer

J A Romlus Perera:

Channa BANDARA WIJEKOON

The 1960 decade was the period the local music field was stormed by budding young artists such as H R Jothipala, Milton Perera, Latha Walpola making their debut. Singing Sinhala lyrics to Hindi melodies was becoming a trend and catching up with momentum. Hindi films with Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand, Shammi Kapoor in the lead roles were popular equally in Ceylon as in India.

In the same period, the late Karunaratne Abeysekera (Karu Aiya) initiated a program named Lama Mandapaya in Radio Ceylon. The program produced a gamut of good singers; Neela Wickramasinghe, Rupa Indumathie, Malani Bulathsinhala, Malkanthi Nandasiri and Nanda Malani to name a few. J A Romlus Perera was no exception.

Anyone who has a high regard for songs in the 70s decade may recall numbers Ai Nawe Maa Soyala and Mal Peththaka Panhindakin sung by J A Romlus Perera. The ever youthful and powerful voice and ability to sing high notes effortlessly, distinguished Romlus between contemporary singers. Romlus was born in December 18, 1944. He obtained his education at Kirullapone Buddhist mixed school and Dehiwala Central College. When he was just 10, Romlus had recited Dorakada Asna (a ritual) at Subhadrarama Temple at Gangodawila. After identifying his ability to sing, young Romlus had sung popular numbers of Mohideen Beig and A M U Raj in musical shows in the metropolis, where he had got the opportunity to mingle with popular artists at the time.

J A Romlus Perera came to Lama Mandapaya in 1962 and became an active member, prior to facing audition in 1965. H W Rupasinghe (Rupasinghe Master), Sunil Santha and W D Amaradewa did the auditioning. Romlus could recall Nanda Malani facing the same audition with him and being awarded with an A grade. Romlus secured a B grade. A singer with a B Grade was highly regarded at the time.

Thus, Romlus got the opportunity to sing four songs every three months for the Commercial service of Radio Ceylon. In the same year, Romlus recorded his first song Mae Jeewithaye Hamuwu Mage Aadarie, which was a Hindi melody.

He could recall how the songs were recorded at the time with a live orchestra unlike today. The slightest mistake made by a single artist in the orchestra or the singer himself would lead to a fresh recording from the beginning. This had been an acid test for singers at that time. This is the very reason; singers of yesteryear are still going strong, says Romlus.

The 1970 decade saw the dawn of a new era in the sphere of music in Sri Lanka. The revolutionary young duo Sanath Nandasiri and Victor Rathnayake entered the scene with a bang and dominated. This dynamic twosome came up with brand new melodies.

In this decade Romlus sang the evergreen hits Ai Nawe Ma Soyala and Mal Peththaka Panhindakin for which lyrics were written by the late Ranjith Peiris and Premakeerthie de Alwis. Sanath Nandasiri did the music scores.

He has recorded two new songs very recently. Lyrics of Apa Maha Bosatha were by the present SLBC Chairman Hudson Samarasinghe. Rohana Weerasinghe composed music. Lyricist of Sudu Budu Res Galana is Wasantha Rohana the seasoned announcer.

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