21 Facts About Hugo Fernando

Kanupulage Ugo Singho, popularly known as Hugo Master or Hugo Fernando, was an actor and composer of Sri Lankan cinema.

Hugo Fernando was born on 14 July 1912 in Periyamulla, Negombo as the eldest of the family.

Hugo Fernando's father was Peduru Fernando, who was famous for repairing village houses.

Hugo Fernando attended Dalupotha Roman Catholic School but was forced to drop out in the seventh grade to support his poverty-stricken family.

Hugo Fernando's father fell from a scaffolding and unable to move since then.

Hugo Fernando took to working at coir mills, estates, tobacco stores, fish stalls and in masonry to this end.

Hugo Fernando changed Ugo's name into "Hugo" due to famous French writer Victor Hugo, teacher's favorite.

At the age of 16, Hugo Fernando went to work as an assistant mason.

Brito Hugo Fernando was a member of the Negombo Municipal Council for some time and currently works for the family of the missing in The Human Rights Council.

Hugo Fernando died on 12 April 1999 at the age of 86.

An encounter with Welgampola Malachias Perera, better known as "Malathias Master", led to Hugo Fernando joining the musician's orchestra as a mouth organ and mandolin player.

In 1947, Hugo Fernando took a triple role in the production of the first Sinhalese film Kadawunu Poronduwa, an adaption of Jayammanne's play.

Hugo Fernando has been performed all over the country as the harmonium player of Shanthi Kumara Seneviratne's dance troupe.

Hugo Fernando then produced the play Gehenu Hitha, written by the Malathias Master.

Hugo Fernando worked extensively in the 1950s in such trades as assistant director on Banda Nagarayata Pemineema and Prema Tharangaya, screenwriter on films like Puduma Leli, Ahankara Sthree, Mathalang and Duppathage Duka and music director and singer in Pitisara Kella and Saradiel.

Hugo Fernando played the lead role for the first time in the film Prema Tharangaya as well as the songwriter.

Subsequently, Hugo Fernando has portrayed characters in such films as Sandesaya, Dheewarayo, Allapu Gedara, Surekha, Sihasuna, Sahayata Danny, Kawda Raja, Chin Chin Nona and Hitha Honda Minihek.

Hugo Fernando has been involved to introduce many new faces to Sinhala cinema, where they became the popular stars in the coming years.

Hugo Fernando trained Clarice de Silva as an actress and introduced Rohini Jayakody and Ravindra Rupasena to cinema with the film Ahankara Sthree.

Hugo Fernando introduced Thilakasiri Fernando and Jeevarani Kurukulasuriya to Lester James Peries.

Hugo Fernando worked as an assistant director in the film Vana Mohini.