Suppadevi’s daughter presents ‘SandaPahan Re’

Theatre, drama, dancing and music and various aesthetic influences were part and parcel of young Kanchanamala Ranasinghe, the daughter of Lionel and Malani Ranasinghe who owns a Guinness World Record legacy for performing the most number of theatre performancesas in Prof. Ediriweera Sarachchandra’s ground breaking play ‘Sinhabahu’. 

Terence and Malini who played the roles of Potheguru and Suppadevi in Sinhabahu- for more than 5000 performances for over 31 years from 1961 to 1992 continuously and in 2001- were rewarded with Guinness World Record honours for the Most Durable Theatre Performers in the world.

Taking over the baton from her mother Dr. Kanchanamala, a senior medical practitioner in Australia, she played the very role her mother played in 2019. Kanchanamala is back in Sri Lanka, to present an evening of music titled ‘SandaPahan Re’- a collection of new original songs sung by her- at 7 pm on January 7, at the Lionel Wendt Theatre, Colombo. 

All the original songs performed at ‘SandaPahan Re’ are penned by veteran artistes Rathna Sri Wijesinghe, Lucian Bulathsinghala, Sunil R. Gamage, Yamuna Malini, Bandula Nanayakkarawasam, Narada Wijesuriya, Nayanasena Wanninayake and a number of  budding new lyricists. Veteran and talented musicians Dr. Rohana Weerasinghe, Nalaka Anjana Kumara, Samantha Perera and Dharshana Wickramathunga have directed music for the concert. Veteran guitarist and music director Nalaka Anjana Kumara is to make a guest performance with three songs in addition to an instrumental. 

‘SandaPahan Re’ musical show will be presented by award winning lyricist, renowned writer Narada Wijayasuriya

“I would like to share these creations with art lovers as much as possible. In a world of computers and online zoom meetings I thought a musical show with a personal touch would be the best way to do this,” said Dr.Kanchanamala speaking about the upcoming concert. 

‘SandaPahan Re’ musical show will be presented by award winning lyricist, renowned writer Narada Wijayasuriya and the choreography is handled by Geeth Premachnadra and Swarnamali.
‘SandaPahan Re’ is coordinated by veteran artiste Buddadhasa Galapaththi and organised by – Jude Srimal. The visuals are handled by Sanjaya Hemasiri. 
Dr.Ranasinghe mastered singing and Sitar under Mrs.Sirima Warushakoon, Ashoka and Ananda Perera of MGP Music School, Kandy. She also studied singing and Sitar under Sangeeth Nipun Asith Athapaththu and Sangeeth Nipun Chandani Warushakoon.

Introduced to theatre from younger age Kanchanamala won the All Island Best Actress award for her role in ‘Samudra Devi’ representing the drama team of Girls’ High School Kandy. While studying medicine at the Peradeniya Medical Faculty she represented Sri Lanka as Miss University at an international University talent contest in Japan in 1996. 

Graduating from the Faculty of Medicine at University of Peradeniya, Kanchanamala is currently serving as a Specialist General Practitioner in Australia. She holds three specialist fellowships as well as a PhD and also serves the school of Medicine at Griffith University, Australia as a senior lecturer. 
“Sri Lanka is my home. Although I am physically overseas my heart lies in my motherland. We are gifted with so many exceptional veteran artistes and the opportunity to work with them is one of the greatest moments in my life,” she added.