The name 'Sheila Peiris' might not ring a bell for most new generation film or music buffs or industry personnel, but they will surely remember the evergreen songs sung by her and the lead role she played in the country's first 16 mm movie 'Gambada Sundari'.

Songs like Sudu Sanda Res,  Siri Siri Piri Ithiri, Ma Wedu Matha and Jale Pena Pipee are some of the songs sung by her in the forties and they are indeed popular even today even after the lapse of seven decades.

Celebrated yesteryear singer, actress and radio artiste Sheila Peiris who was also the first LUX girl of Lever Brothers in Sri Lanka, is 84 today... but sweet memories of her melodious past brings a smile on her face.

 

How did you become a songstress?

I must have been around 16 when I started learning music from A. J. Kariyawasam who was a well known flutist then. During this period I got a chance to sing two songs for the Columbia label. Even at school I sang at special functions. I also sang at home to please my father who was an ardent music lover. So, that paved the way for me to become a singer. I am the only female singer who had sung for the Coilumbia and HMV labels. I was invited to sing at Sunil Santha's shows. We never song at outdoor shows.

Duirng that period singers like Kanthi Wakwella, P. L. A. Somapala, Chitra Somapala, Susil Premaratne, Vincent de Paul Peiris, Percy Wijewardana, Vivienne de Silva Boralessa and Chandra de Silva sang with me. My 'Sudu Sanda Res' was popular during that period too. Later Indrani Senaratne and H. R. Jothipala also joined us.

 

 

What made you an actress?

I was ranked as a B grade artistes in 1949 when there were recorded advertisements aired during stage plays. Mr. Welikala who was satisfied with my voice offered me such assignments and eventually I got dubbing offers for Radio Ceylon's  'Ranga Mandala' .  Thus I got acting offers on stage.

I acted in a several stage plays incluidng Wessanthara, Sri Wickrema, Sirimal Ethana, Vihara Mahadevi, Bakathapas, Wedagathkama, Sundara Birinda, Daru Duka, Asnda Gayakaya, Sansare, Kapuwa Kapothi, Ran Muduwa, Kurundu Kele Mahasona, Heramitiya and others. I acted with Sathischandra Edirisinghe when he was just 16.

 

The 'Heramitiya' stage play brought you your life partner too...?

Yes, I met Douglas Perera in that production and we married later.

 

The technology then and now?

There is a vast difference now compared to the good old days. We had to take our musicians for recordings then after pracitising at home for several days. The recordings were live and the selection of songs was done by a panel which insisted on a variety of topics like Buddhist songs, patriotic songs, songs on environment and love songs.

Among those who wrote songs for me were Karunaratne Abeysekara, Ananda Sarath Wimalaweera, Mervyn Senaratne, Wilfred Silva and others. Words of songs were carefully monitored then. A romantic song of mine and another by Rukmani Devi were banned due to particular words. My 'Siri Siri Piri Ithiri' was very popular then. Programmes like Masika Renguma and Kamkaru Peya were well received by the people then.

 

 

With whom did you sing duets?

With A. J. Kareem, Mohamed Ghouse, Hugo Fernando, Edward Perera and with my husband Douglas Perera after marriage. I sang duets like 'Raththaranin Ranin Thodu' and 'Wile Goyam Nilla Apata' with my husband. I have sung four duets with H. R. Jothipala too.

 

How did you become a film star?

S. M. Nayagam who produced 'Kadawunu Poronduwa' took me, Laddie, Eddie Yapa and others to make the movie but unfortunately the studio was destroyed due to to fire. Later I became the lead girl playing role of Rupa in 'Gambada Sundari' – the frist 16 mm Sinhala movie. I followed it up with other movies playing key roles with Clarice de Silva, Vinnie Kahandawala, Ravindra Rupasena and others.

 

What's your view about the new generation?

Though they are talented there are some who sing our songs and even distort it. I heart breaks into pieces when I hear the rap-version of Sudu Sanda Res'. Siri Siri Piri Ithiri is also sung by newcomers. To whom can we convey our grievance other than simply suffer in silence? I appeal to the new generation to leave our songs alone. Don't re-record and distort them because it hurts us a lot. Those songs are popular because of our commitment and dedication. 

Lastly, besides my husband Douglas and two sons – Sumedha Priyankara and Duminda Sunimal Perera -  I am ever grateful to N. K. Kariyawasam, Sangeeth Nipun Sanath Nandasiri, Malkanthi Nandasiri, Sarath Wimalaweera, S. M. Nayagam, Ariyadasa Peiris, Shanthi Kumar and Gunaratne Abeysekara,” she said.

(Her address: Sheila Peiris, No. 9, Alubogahawatte, Anderson Road, Dehiwela)

 

 

By Vasantha Wimalasinghe