Queen Angeline is no more
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Legendary songstress Angeline Gunathilake who mesmerised film and music lovers for several decades with her remarkable voice, passed away last week, bringing the curtain down on the golden era of the silver screen.
Angeline was the most sought after playback songstress in Sinhala cinema’s golden era when she and H. R. Jothipala ruled the roost, drawing large crowds to cinema halls.
The melodious musical voice she possessed brought her fame and fortune, after her tuneful chapter started as a little girl called Angeline de Lanerolle at the age of eight.
Angeline who studied music under maestro Sunil Shantha reached the top bracket with her melodious voice which never grew old. She was only 8 years when she joined the amateur programme of the then Radio Ceylon and secured the second place in a musical talent show. Thereafter, the doors were opened for her to join the Lamapitiya programme conducted by veteran lyricist and broadcaster Karunaratne Abeysekera.
She sang at many singing competitions and one such competition she won, paved the way for her to sing a duet for the movie ‘Sohoyuro’ produced by S. M. Nayagam. Her first film song was ‘Adara Ambare Alokaya ..’ with Sydney Attygalle.
‘Sulan Kurullo’, ‘Mata Asai Hinahenna Mulu Jeevithe’, ‘Re Daval Mal Regum Siri Pana’, ‘Pata Podak Thilakala Nalal Thalawe’ are among her many songs that became all time hits among the Sri Lankan music fans.
Born in Matara, as the seventh among ten siblings, Angeline de Lanerolle studied at St. Mary’s Convent Matara and later S. Thomas’ College, Kotte.
She married Leslie in 1966 and was the mother of two daughters – Milani and Dilshani.
Queen Angeline may have gone, but her tuneful musical treasures will remain immortal.