Sri Lankan born Actor Ranjeet Singh – British Sitcom ‘Mind Your Language’ – By Des Kelly

February 20, 2021 by shamilka

Des Kelly, Ranjeet Singh

Needs no other introduction except to say that he was born in Sri Lanka and made his mark as an actor in Britain.

Ranjeet Singh achieved something that few other Asian Actors even residing in England, would have attempted, leave alone achieved. A man of many parts, he will always be remembered as someone who was a natural born Comedian who made millions of people laugh out loud, and this is his story.

Albert Moses was born on December 19, 1937 in Gampola, Kandy District, Ceylon. He was an actor and producer, known for The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), Octopussy (1983) and An American Werewolf in London (1981). He died on September 15, 2017 in London, England.

Source:imbd

Selected Credits

Television

Queenie – Hollywood mini-series with Kirk Douglas;

On the Buses – London Weekend Television;

Warship – BBC television drama;

Robin’s Nest – Thames Television sitcom;

Mind Your Language – London Weekend Television sitcom (nearly 50 episodes broadcast between 1977 and 1986);

Juliet Bravo – BBC television drama;

The Jewel in the Crown – Granada Television (4 episodes, with Charles Dance, OBE);

The Little and Large Show – BBC television comedy;

The Benny Hill Show – Thames Television comedy;

Boon – ITV Central drama;

The Bill – talkbackTHAMES television drama (5 episodes);

Never the Twain – Thames Television sitcom;

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: The Man With The Twisted Lip – Granada Television;

London’s Burning – London Weekend Television drama;

Film

White Cargo (1973) – Arab (uncredited)

The Man Who Would Be King (1975, A John Huston film with Sean Connery, Michael Caine and Christopher Plummer) – Ghulam

Stand Up, Virgin Soldiers (1977, EMI) – Indian shopkeeper

The Spy Who Loved Me (1977, James Bond film) – Barman

What’s Up Nurse! (1978, a Derek Ford sex comedy) – 1st Asian

Carry On Emmannuelle (1978, Rank) – Doctor

The Awakening (1980, Columbia Pictures) – (uncredited)

An American Werewolf in London (1981, a John Landis movie) – Hospital Porter

The Great Quest – with Oliver Reed;[6]

Pink Floyd: The Wall (1982, Alan Parker film) – Janitor

Octopussy (1983, James Bond film) – Saddrudin – undercover British agent in India

Al-mas’ Ala Al-Kubra (1983) – Indian officer (uncredited)

Scandalous (1984, with Sir John Gielgud and Pamela Stephenson) – Vishnu

The Little Drummer Girl (1984, EMI, a George Roy Hill film) – Green Grocer

Foreign Body (1986) – Paramedic #2

The Second Jungle Book: Mowgli and Baloo (1997, Columbia Pictures) – Conductor

East Is East (1999, a BAFTA award-winning Film4 production) – Abdul Karim

The Snarling (2018) – Hospital Patient

Tandoori Nights – Channel 4 and minder

Theatre

Freeway – National Theatre;

Phædra Britannica – National Theatre (with Diana Rigg);

Long March to Jerusalem – Watford Palace Theatre

Source:wikipedia

Phædra Britannica – National Theatre (with Diana Rigg);

Desmond Kelly

(Editor-in-Chief).

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The Nightingale Sings

December 19, 2020 by shamilka

Des Kelly, Rukmani Devi

What a beautiful title, especially for this songbird of Ceylon, Rukmani Devi, born Daisy Rasammah Daniels, a proud combination of Tamil(Rasammah), Daniels(Burgher), & the Colombo-Chetty Christian tradition, on the 15th of January, 1923, in the Central Province Village of Ramboda, Nuwara Eliya.

She was the second child in a family of six, loved music and singing from a very early age, spending most of her time standing by the family gramaphone and singing along with the songs that emanated from it. The very first song that she sang, in the presence of (Master) Rupasinghe, her music teacher, I suppose, was titled “Siri Buddha-gaya Vihare”, a classical Sinhala-song, when she was just 13 years old. He, the master, had a keen eye for talent, and before her professional singing career was launched, it was decided that she took the name RUKMANI DEVI(meaning Rukmani, Goddess of song), this career “took off”, and, as she became an adult, she began to look more beautiful, with each passing year, paving the way to a “Movie” career as well.

It was by no means easy, but when you are blessed with both beauty & talent, as Rukmani was, the result was that she became the first “Star” to grace the silver-screen of Ceylon. She was also the first “Sinhala movie queen to be featured in a showbiz magazine called “Film-fare”

She then married Eddie Jayamanne, whose elder brother, B.A.W.Jayamanne was a film director who used his sister-in-law as the “main-lead” in many of his films. In addition to all this, Rukmani Devi was cast as “Mayavathi” in a stage drama produced by Charles Dias. What interested me here, was that Mayavathi was in fact, Juliet, from Shakespeare’s

“Romeo & Juliet”, only, this time, a beautiful Ceylonese one.

Rukmani Devi went on to doing everything she wanted to do, singing, recording, acting and becoming world-famous.

She achieved many things, in what was eventually a tragically short life. She died in a motor accident, on the 28th of October 1978, at 55 years of age. To me, Rukmani was easily one of the loveliest women of that era, in Ceylon, and in addition to her film & stage roles, her public appearances, where everyone who saw her, loved her, for who she was, to me, “the nightingale sings” and this one, will never be forgotten. This is my tribute to her on behalf of eLanka.

Desmond Kelly

(Editor-in-Chief).

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SAMANALAYO

November 22, 2020 by shamilka

Des Kelly, Raymond Fonseka

This “group”, members of whom just celebrated 50 years of “Music-Making”, takes first place in my line-up of Sri Lankan bands to be featured on eLanka. My good friend, Jude Goonawardane, in London, has already “featured” dozens of Sons & Daughters of Lanka on his “you-tube” channel, including myself and, on behalf of all of us, I would like to say a huge “thank-you” to him. People like Jude do not have to do any of this. The problem is, like me, Jude also loves music, and indeed, anything to do with Sri Lankan talent. There is very little ” S.L.SHOWBIZ” that escapes Jude’s attention. The wonder of it is that he goes ‘way-back’, and we, entertainers (even oldies, like me), are very lucky that “this young guy” gives us all this publicity, completely gratis. I have yet to meet ANYONE who has so many “recording facilities” under his wing, so to speak. I am certain that his lovely wife Charmaine (who is also a teacher, in London, helping to educate the young English “mob”), has donated a large room in their home to her husband for all the “stuff” he collects. “Reel-reel” machinery alone, take up a considerable space, and Jude “reels” around with things that possibly lessen to tiny cassette tapes, remember them ?, and down from the old 78rpm records to the little “mini-discs”, simply to entertain us.

Another good friend is Neil Jayasekera, this time, in Sydney, Australia. Another “young guy”, also a Music Lover, who has established the “on-line” eLanka you are reading right now. Electronic-Lanka was “his baby”. In real life, Neil is termed an “I.T.Specialist”. He is “doing very well” thank you and thank God. Then, what does he do ?, well, he simply decides to create this “website” that has, in a very short space of time, “scored” a trophy in the website stakes.

All I can say, is that I am very lucky indeed to be his “Editor”, and because my first “Mistress” was Music, too, try to bring our “Readers” articles & stories, mainly to do with this thing, we are all in love with, -“GOOD MUSIC”. My favourite quote, ” If music be the food of life, play on”.

Getting back to this superb group, “SAMANALAYO”, please read the story, listen to the music, and if it doesn’t bring a little tear to your eye, go join an actual “group” of Aussies in Sydney who greet themselves with the saying,

“Hi, how are you going, you old bastard”!!

Samanalayo By Jude Goonewardane

Samanalayo was the first Sri Lankan Harmony Group to come up with a Sinhala name breaking away from the tradition of using Spanish names such as Los Caballeros, Los Muchachos etc. The band was formed by its leader Raymond Fonseka in Septermber 1967. Their debut album Nalavena Mawu Ukule was the first record released on the Philips Record label under serial number JVPC 1001, produced by Joseph Victor Patrick Corera who was the owner of the Gowri Corporation, the agents in Ceylon for the Philips record label. Renowned broadcaster Leon Belleth of the Radio Ceylon featured Samanalayo in his radio programs and Nalavena Mawu Ukule became an instant hit.

Nalavena Mawu Ukule,

50 years later this song has become a hit to date and is included in the repertoire of some of the famous artistes like Mariazelle, Dalreen. Mignone etc. Samanalayo was wound down after recording 13 songs and in 1971 Raymond joined the band SEAC as a keyboard artist and vocalist.He was with SEAC for 12 years and recorded four songs of which Binaramalee, Dan Kutu Kutu became popular hits.

Kandu Geta Pasu Kara,

Visuals of this video was captured by Jude during a visit to upcountry by Udarata Menika whilst on holiday in Sri Lanka

Samanalayo celebrated 50 years in music in 2017. To mark the occasion they released a CD in 2018 with three of the old hits coupled with some of their new originals.

CD version of Kandu Geta Pasu Kara,

Raymond Fonseka is the leader of this superb “Pop Band”

As I have said before, many times, I would never publicise anything via eLanka, especially “Musical”, that I thought, was “not up to scratch”, but believe me folks, this Band, these guys (now celebrating their “golden” anniversary), together, have “something” in a new “album” they have put together, that will “blow the mind” of the dozens of younger, “Pop-Bands” of Lankan origin, anywhere in the World, today, and we are “Around the World”(as the song goes), aren’t we?

Just recently, someone sent me “this song”, recorded by the group above, and, as I do, I listened to it, the first chance I got. These Sri Lankan Gentlemen (already well into their 60’s I reckon), were part of the old ‘La Bambas” group. Unfortunately, this writer was already in Melbourne, when groups such as the “Bambas” & the “Jetliners” &: many others, in the same vein, started their careers in Ceylon.& so, I did not have much of a chance of getting interested in any of them, but now, nearly 56 years later “Samanalayo” comes into focus. For a start, I have always loved to watch the pretty butterflies flit around, settle on a flower, then flit around again. One of God’s most beautiful little creatures, I wrote a poem about them in Australia, sent it to the U.S,A., where I was presented with a trophy for my effort, but the Sinhala word for them “Samanalayo” , any way you look at it is indeed a beautiful “word”, AND THEN, for a “group” calling themselves by this name, come out and “make music”, that, hopefully, will be enjoyed, not only by more than 20.000 eLanka members, Australia-wide, but our ex-pats, everywhere.I have now had the privilege of speaking with Raymond Fonseka, am looking forward to getting my own copy of their new anniversary album, but rest assured, folks,

from what I have already heard, I love it. There are so many beautiful songs emanating from Sri Lanka. You don’t have to understand the Sinhala Lyrics, but the “music”, depending of course, on WHO makes it, is very easy on the ear. “Samanalayo” , you can “flutter-by” my home, anytime you feel like it. You make wonderful music, my friends, so keep going and “May the good Lord bless & keep you” as another great song says.

Desmond (Kelly from Colombo).

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COCK-A-DOODLE-DO

November 8, 2020 by shamilka

Des Kelly, La Bambas

Cock-a-doodle do, I’m up at half-past two
La Bambas’ have been singing it
I’m “writing” it for you
Our Lankan “group” on “Sooriya”
A most popular song
The Chinese rooster’s “year” my friends
Why don’t we sing along?

Yes, Trump is busy starting, the biggest friggin wall
Since China built her own, my friends
Sooo big & long & tall
Also, he’ll soon be “vetting”to keep the “useless” out
Exactly what we should be doing
In “Oz”, without a doubt.

Everywhere they’re fighting,not just the Chinese cocks
Once, where the people’s brains were
We’re only finding rocks
This World will soon be ending
Someday, around midnight
Still leaves us enough time, my friends
For one more damn cock-fight

It’s the year of the rooster, my Lankan/Aussie friends. Thought I would write this little piece before 2029 (the next birthday of the Chinese-Cock), because, much as I would like to be “still-around” I fear that this is only “wishful/thinking” on my part.

One thing is certain, for persons of my vintage, look at it, anyway but loose, as Clint Eastwood would say, the World of the present “Chinese Rooster” is getting more interesting as each day goes by. INTERESTING, but sadly, not exhilarating.People, men, women & children are either running away from their homes, as refugees, starving to death, or both.

Look at it, anyway you like, but all the “aid”, compassion, or both (again), is going to be futile, in the long run, IF the men & women in these sadly impoverished Countries are going to continue to produce more children. To whom it may concern, get some of your “brains” back in place, use all the “funds” donated to “curtail” the unnecessary populating of our Planet with a simple “birth-control” injection. I will not go into details because I expect my readers to have the intelligence & commonsense to know what I mean. Don’t STOP population, simply CONTROL it.

I have always been very interested,& enjoy the Jerry Seinfeld “Series” now being re-televised over & over again (thankfully, as it is definitely one of the better ones), & in one particular episode, “Elaine” makes a comment while, in the company of a Russian, in reference to the well-known novel “War & Peace”, she mentioned that someone she knew was going to come back with this other book entitled “War, what is it good for? “!!. Well, Elaine, my answer to you would be “War is good for NOTHING, but NOTHING will stop them until the greed for power is eradicated from the human mind. Again, I say, what I’ve always said,
” Wars will not cease while there are rocks in our heads. World war 1, 2, Vietnam, Korean, Falklands, Sri Lanka, etc., (only counting the main ones in MY time),
dozens of others before the above and the STUPID WARS that are in progress RIGHT NOW, and where has it all got us? , absolutely NOWHERE.

Back where I started again, a “Country” song of mine which also gives me the opportunity of “signing-off” my “articles/stories” in a manner where my readers will look-forward to reading more(hopefully), I now revert to Mr.Donald Trump who will very shortly have to report to his physiotherapist for urgent treatment as regards imminent R.S.I. on his right wrist.

Since his inaugeration as President of the U.S.A., he has been doing little else but signing documents, that, he hopes, will make America the greatest Country in the World. Naturally, there is going to be plenty of opposition to all this “signage” BUT, we have to remember that MILLIONS OF AMERICANS VOTED HIM IN TO DO JUST THAT.

We, the people, are the ones responsible for voting in the Governments to “run” the Country and it doesn’t matter which Country it is. If we are not satisfied, we must vote them “out” without running around like headless chooks finding fault, for want of something better to do.

I WILL sign-off now, but not before I give all my readers who have just celebrated “Australia-Day”on the 26th January, 2017 the news that no Indigenous person COULD celebrate this particular day because, in the 26th of January, 1788, Australia was founded, after being forcibly taken-over from Indigenous folk who were already here for goodness only knows, how many thousands of years prior to this. Apologies have been forthcoming from many present-day Politicians but let me just say that I missed Jessica Mauboy who, in my opinion, is one of the “top” female singers in the Country, at the “concert” (the reason being obvious)& I do hope that next year 2018, a “TOTAL-AUSTRALIAN” day, perhaps on another “day” agreed to, by ALL Australians, will feature Jessica and her music that is soooo very good. Here’s hoping.

Desmond Kelly.
“Star of eLanka”.

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Starting with a song

October 24, 2020 by shamilka

Des Kelly, Jack Jersey

The year that has just passed us by, (thankfully), has not been a very good one. In fact it has been far worse in Australia (to begin with), than many other Countries, and 2019 has ended up with Severe Drought, leading on-to major bush-fire tragedies, which has not only decimated large areas in several States, but very sadly caused the deaths of 7 persons, even as I write this, plus many millions of fauna of our Island Continent, some of the lesser known, into possible extinction, that is how bad it is, right now.

It has come down to the level where the fires in several areas will never be able to be contained, except by rain, good, heavy rain, to ease the drought and extinguish the flames of hundreds of these bushfires. This is what the people in Australia are hoping for, in the near future.

Enough of the bad news. 2019 is over, and, for all the members and readers of the biggest & best website for Sri Lankans, everywhere (especially in Australia), I intend to begin the brand new decade of 2020, starting with a song,

(or three, to be exact), proudly sung by a young Dutchman, who, I think, has that special ability to sing a romantic song

which makes one want to replay his recordings time after romantic time. As everyone knows, this writer absolutely loves beautiful music, meaningful lyrics, & memory-magic.

Jack (Willem) de Nijs, took the professional name

Jack Jersey, born on the 18th of July, 1941, and died, aged just 56, on the 26th of May, 1997, was a Dutch Vocalist,

Composer, Arranger, Lyricist & Producer of light popular music. A good-looking dude, very romantic at heart, who recorded many songs himself in a rich baritone voice, and also wrote songs for many International Artistes.

He must have had some special “feelings” for Sri Lanka, as my readers will see & enjoy, I think he also did have a sweetheart by the name of Conny (for whom he wrote a song), and, among others, a brand new “favourite” of mine, which ends this particular true story. I feel certain that you will love his songs, I also feel sad that he died so young (the cause is not known), but the name Jack Jersey will live long in the memory of those who hear him. This, I promise you.

Above “Story” & Songs will also be featured on the

eLanka Facebook Page, as a follow-up. Please enjoy, and always remember, “MUSIC IS LIFE” so, Play on, Maestro..

Desmond Kelly.
(Editor-in-Chief) eLanka.

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Baila – As I Like it

October 9, 2020 by shamilka

Des Kelly

Sometimes, a video comes to me, with content that I would love to share around, with as many people as possible, the reason being that I think it could bring a little happiness into what is a chaotic World, at the moment.

“Baila”, or to be more precise, Party Music of Lanka,

has been a favourite style of entertainment for thousands of people since the Portuguese introduced it into our homeland eons ago.

Walter Bastiensz, a former Police Constable of the “Ceylon” I lived in, came to be known as the original King of Baila, and there have been many others, myself included, who carried on the tradition of Baila singing, as tge years passed by. The present favourite with Sri Lankan people & others is my friend & yours, Desmond de Silva.

However, although I am completely unaware of the names of the young couple doing what I reckon is a brand new number, baila-style. Because I enjoyed it, I decided to use it on eLanka, for not only our ex Sri Lankans, but everyone else around, to give them an idea of how enjoyable this music is.

If anyone can furnish me with the names of this young couple, plus the title of the song, and also who wrote it, I would appreciate it very much. I feel certain that all our readers out there, will love this new song, the dancing, and Baila, as I like it.

Desmond Kelly.
(Editor -in-Chief) eLanka.

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The Nightingale Sings

August 15, 2018 by admin

Des Kelly, Desmond Kelly, Nightingale, Rukmani Devi

“Romeo & Juliet”, only, this time, a beautiful Ceylonese one.

Rukmani Devi went on to doing everything she wanted to do, singing, recording, acting and becoming world-famous.

Desmond Kelly.
“Squire of Sooriya”

ROCK N ROLL-COUNTRY STYLE

July 25, 2018 by admin

Des Kelly, Desmond Kelly, Rock N Roll

Australia, as a Country, is the great brown Land that many of us, Lankan/Aussies are lucky to be living in, at the moment. How it will be, in the future, is anybody’s guess.

Australia’s”Country Musicians”, while getting better, “As time goes by”, still have a long way to go, in comparison to their American counterparts. America, while boasting some of the greatest “names” in Country Music, also has had dozens of singers, bands & instrumentalists who were simply just “wannabes”, coming in from all over the World to “record”their songs in the U.S.of A, where, I believe, there are now more than 150 Radio Stations dedicated totally to “Country Music”. Tune in 24/7 for Country Music.

How wonderful, excepting for the fact that, right now, it is no longer called by it’s original name. It is now, dear reader,

“Modern-Country”, There is a song, strangely, but very well recorded by a Modern “Country-Man” named Alan Jackson.

He sings these words “Someone killed Country music, there on “Country Row”. How true it is.!, ” they even told the Possum, pack up & go on home, they’ve committed murder, right there, on Country Row”.

As I’ve done before, & will hopefully keep on doing, for eLanka, making our top website well worth watching and reading, I will choose “songs”that hopefully, will entertain our members even for a few minutes. This time, I have picked a song entitled “Fear of falling”. Donna Fisk, daughter of Gene Bradley Fisk, another Australian music fanatic, very popular in an earlier genre of Aussie Country music, and Michael Christian, a young singer/songwriter & superb guitarist, gives us this song, introduced by Bert Newton on the Channel 10 morning t.v.show. I cannot imagine a “sexier” beautiful Aussie female singing so well, accompanied by her partner, a handsome goodlooking young guy who also strums & plays his guitar, as I did, in the old days, two-stringed harmony “lead” & all, in a song I think, she wrote, a song you will want to hear (& SEE) over and over again. If any reader of eLanka wishes to “fantasize” on “Vertigo”, watch “The fear of falling”, Rock n Roll Country-Style.

Desmond Kelly.
“Squire of Sooriya”

des-kelly

Sri Lankan born Actor Ranjeet Singh – British Sitcom ‘Mind Your Language’ – By Des Kelly

The Nightingale Sings

SAMANALAYO

Samanalayo By Jude Goonewardane

COCK-A-DOODLE-DO

Starting with a song

Baila – As I Like it

The Nightingale Sings

ROCK N ROLL-COUNTRY STYLE

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