An Intriguing Photo: Charlie Chaplin at the Dalada Maligawa in 1932

The issue of the OTHERS with Charlie Chaplin at the Dalada MalIgawa in Kandy in 1932 has raised a modicum of interest among some Sri Lankans. So, I present some of the information and conjectures that have been presented in Email exchanges or Facebook commentary…. Editor, Thuppahi

EMAIL from Rohana Nanayakkara, 10 September 2024

Hi Ranjit & Michael

In the photo, I am uncertain which one is Chaplin -but take it that it is the guy with the old Cine ( ? ) camera in hand (he looks the correct height for Chaplin!) – the guy next to him on his right & in specs looks very much like HW Jayewardene, QC, the youngest brother of President JR. I cannot ID any other person; but I can ID the location from the backdrop. I think it is on the entrance steps to the Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Tooth) judging by the iconic carvings of the two tuskers on either side – these are the old ones – [subsequently] damaged by the bomb attack on the Temple by the LTTE. The JVP, too, attacked it prior to that.

Overall, this being in Kandy, the “guy in the 3-piece suit” to the left of the pix maybe the then Mayor or the MP for the area.

Cheers, Rohana.

Puzzled Thoughts from Michael Roberts, 10 September 2024

I assumed that Charlie Chaplin would take centre stage and is the person with hands on the shoulders of the young boy. The white man to his left is therefore Sydney Chaplin p– Chaplin’s half-brother (identified by Iranga Silva of the ICES in Kandy in a recent exchange: ……………………………………………………

https://thuppahis.com/2021/04/06/charlie-chaplin-in-ceylon-with-his-brother-1932-rare-snaps/

It would be helpful if Sri Lankan buffs confirm the other two suggestions from Rohana – though my old eyes cannot see any specs framing the eyes of the gent between the Chaplins.

And THEN: who are the three young ones in front of the famous men? Not should we erase the young lad in a scouts-sort-of hat on the exeme right of the photo.