14 Facts About Rukmani Devi

Daisy Rasammah Daniels, known popularly as Rukmani Devi was a Sri Lankan film actress and singer who was often acclaimed as "The Nightingale of Sri Lanka".

Rukmani Devi made it to the silver screen via the stage and had acted in close to 100 films at the time of her death.

Rukmani Devi was born as Daisy Rasammah Daniels to a Tamil Colombo Chetty Christian family on January 15,1923, at Ramboda in Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka.

Rukmani Devi grew up in Colombo and had her early education at St Matthew's School and then moved on to St Clare's School, Wellawatte.

Rupasinghe, who saw Rukmani Devi's singing prowess, chose her for the first album, which was launched by Master His Voice No 9300.

Rukmani Devi did not know how to read or write Sinhala, and she used to write it all down in English.

Rukmani Devi, who began her film career through the role of 'Ranjani' in this film, became the first local cinema actress.

Rukmani Devi won first place in the "Popular Singing Series" in the 1953 Radio Artists Classification Test.

Rukmani Devi was featured prominently on the airwaves of Radio Ceylon, the oldest radio station in South Asia.

Rukmani Devi died in a tragic motor accident near St Mary's Church, Thudella, on October 28,1978.

Rukmani Devi was returning after a musical show in Uyanwatte, Matara.

Rukmani Devi was the most celebrated Sri Lankan artist, and a statue in her memory was erected at Kanuwana Junction.

Rukmani Devi was the one and only Sri Lankan actress on the cover page of popular Indian Film Magazine "Filmfare" and was featured in "My Likes and Dislikes" in 1958 in the Filmfare.

On 12 August 2011, a former mayor of Negombo and a former Minister of the Parliament Mr Ananda Munasinghe was allegedly charged and arrested by the Negombo Police for dislodging the statue of Rukmani Devi, erected on her grave by one of her fans Mrs Sriyani Achala Dissanayake.