Everlasting songs

“MANNY” by Des Kelly Often, as this mad World rushes by, we tend to forget proud examples of “Personalities” who made our Country of Ceylon,(now Sri Lanka) very PROUD!.indeed. E.C.T. (Manny) Candappa was one of these “Special Personalities”.. Manny was born in Ceylon in 1930, & “The kind spirit of the inky way”, as he was also known, died, in 2016, aged 86. I consider myself privileged to have known him personally, when both of us lived in Dandenong North, Melbourne. For my readers of eLanka, & especially our Lankan/ Aussies, I hope you remember that, through no fault of our own, most of us were “blessed” with 3 (THREE) Christian names, followed by our Surname. Please do not ask me why, but there wasn’t anything we could do to stop our parents’ decision on this matter. Emmanuel Christopher Thomas (Manny) was one of Ceylon’s most eminent & proficient personages ...

Read More →

When Radio Ceylon ruled the airwaves – by V.S. SAMBANDAN Magnetic voice of Jimmy Bharucha Once the pride of the region, Radio Ceylon is today a fading memory. Can the Sri Lankan Broadcasting Corporation regain its lost glory? IT is Christmas time and Jim Reeves is on air, taking Sri Lanka back to its days of romance and charm. “You are listening to Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and we’ve got more Christmas music going out for you. Hope you are tuned in to us,” trills the friendly announcer. Another glorious old number “When A Child Is Born” floats across the skies. Requests pour in from all over the country and the programme continues to enthral those tuned in.When Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (as Radio Ceylon is now called) celebrated its 80th birthday on December 16, it was, sadly, a pale shadow of its past. Once the pride of the region’s ...

Read More →

“SMILE” by Des Kelly Gone, but not forgotten. Judy Garland, mother of Liza Minelli (a “Star” that the younger folk will remember more of, I suppose), still, I remember Judy, who now rests in peace, after what was a most turbulent life. Judy was an “artiste” who strived for perfection in everything she did. She was an actress, remembered for her roles with other “huge Hollywood Stars” such as Chaplin. Charles was also “the “Comedian” of his era, although many folk are not aware that he was a brilliant musician as well. I have chosen this “clip” of Judy Garland singing “Smile” as my personal choice, because it was associated with Charles Chaplins “Modern times” & also because this was in the era of 1936, the year this writer was born. Please enjoy the song folks, then sit back and SMILE at the wonderful photographs that should certainly make you ...

Read More →