Sunday Times E-Paper

Manjula’s multi-faceted long journey

From ‘Muwan Palassa’ to modern telefilms

By Sanath Weerasuriya

Manjula Malkanthi Rajapaksha is popularly known as a lyricist and dubbing artiste in the National television circle. But she is a multi-faceted artiste in the field of music and entertainment. It is indeed a difficult task to describe her or slotting her into one category as a singer, lyricist, musician, radio announcer, beautician or as a journalist.

Dubbing is her hobby and singing her favourite pastime. She has lent her voice to several characters in popular teledramas, radio dramas and internationally popular children’s radio programmes.

Manjula rendered her voice to many different characters in teledramas like Praveena, Sujatha, Mahagedara and several Korean, Japanese and Indian dubbed telefilms. Most of her television programmes were catered to children. ‘ Siththara Puncha’, ‘ Battige Gedara’, ‘Andare’ and ‘ Lokke Mama’ were well taken Children’s programmes telecast on Rupavahini, ITN and on radio as well.

Manjula ventured into the entertainment scene at a young age when she was chosen to voice ‘ Kekuli’s’ role in the renowned radio drama ‘Muwan Palassa’. She continued voicing the role for eight years. That character has indeed taken her places and won her tens of thousands of loyal fans.

Meantime she ventured in to writing song lyrics, penned scripts and into the singing scene for Rupavahini. Her name is synonymous with popular ‘Sudu Puncha’s’ role. She was also a B Grade singer at SLBC’s light song programmes.

Her latest venture is penning a teledrama script to be shot in early next year.

‘I am in the process of writing a screenplay for new teledrama. The story plot will be a different to usually telecast teledramas and I am sure this will be a big hit in the small screen. Some of the popular and veteran actors and actresses along with a couple of new faces will be features in this moderate episode teledrama’ Manjula explained her new venture.

After a long lapse she recently launched her newest music album comprising 16 songs – of which 9 were penned by her.

Rohana Bogoda and Sunil Dharmasena have directed music for the CD titled ‘ Me Tharam Adare’ while Bhadraji Mahinda Jayathilake, Kelum S r i m a l , R atna Lanka Abeywickrema and Shantha Kumara Vithana have penned the other lyrics.

Manjula Malkanthi is a multi- faceted artiste, so much so that defining her or slotting her into one category has become a difficult task. As a radio ar t i s t e, Manjula Malkanthi is a known voice following the role she plays as Kekuli in the Muwan Pelessa radio play. She is also an SLBC B Grade singer. After a long lapse she recently launched her newest music album comprising 16 songs – of which 9 were penned by her.

Rohana Bogoda and Sunil Dharmasena and Thashmira Senadeera and Badraji Mahinda Jayatileke have directed music for the CD titled ‘ Me Tharam Adare’ while Bhadraji Mahinda Jayathilake, Kelum Srimal, Ratna Lanka Abeywickrema and Shantha Kumara Vithana have penned the other lyrics.

Manjula Malkanthi’s songs on youtube are popular among song lovers and the positive feedback she received from them had inspired her to release her music album ‘ Me Tharam Adare’.

‘The CD contains songs with diverse themes. A number of them are songs dealing with romance. There is a children’s song too,’ she said

Looking back on her stint in the field Manjula said that she has composed lyrics for children’s songs for Sujatha Attanayake for her Sangeetha Sandyawa. She had also composed lyrics for light song programmes.

Manjula’s talents are not only limited to singing, writing lyrics and penning articles. She is the producer and announcer of the ‘ Hedakara Hendawa’ which is being broadcast on CRI ( Chinese Radio International) Sri Lanka on Wednesdays from 2 pm to 4.30 pm.

‘ It is a programmes which dishes out knowledge on diverse topics. The subjects we deal with are interesting and helpful to lead a healthy and quality life. You get topics related to health, entertainment, culinary arts, beauty, personality development and many more. We also play meaningful music. The topics are useful to anyone but ideal for women. It is my concept and I even named the programme. Our director Seelaratne Senerath has been very supportive towards this project’ she noted with gratitude.

A singer, an actress and script writer for TV as well as radio programmes, a media personnel, author of two books based on beauty culture, Manjula has added yet another feature to her cap of diverse skills by scripting the Christmas and New Year plays for CRI Sri Lanka with a novel twist for the channel.

TV TIMES & ENTERTAINMENT

en-lk

2021-11-28T08:00:00.0000000Z

2021-11-28T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://sundaytimes.pressreader.com/article/282643215825060

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