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Nimal Mendis

  

Nimal Mendis

Nimal Mendis

Nimal Mendis is one of Sri Lanka's greatest singer/songwriters. He is one of a handful of Sri Lankan musicians ever to make it to the BBC TV program Top of the Pops in the Swinging Sixties in London. Nimal Mendis was discovered by Radio Ceylon, the oldest radio station in South Asia, in the late 1950s. The radio station ruled the airwaves in South Asia in the 1950s and 1960s - the station backed his songs from the very start including Kandyan Express turning them into giant hits in South Asia. People from all over the Indian sub-continent wrote in to Radio Ceylon requesting his songs.

Nimal Mendis has been involved with music from his childhood and has lived for many years in London travelling often to Sri Lanka. He now lives in France with his wife Ranjani.Paulmarie their son, lives and works in London. He worked for the BBC for seven years. He is now a freelance sound/video technician working at times for the BBC and another Production House.

Tsunami Song


Nimal Mendis was so moved by the devastation of the tsunami which hit Sri Lanka in 2004 he composed a Tsunami Song in aid of the victims with all proceedings going to the President's Fund. British Parliamentarians of all parties commended heartfelt composition in an early day motion in the House of Commons in the commended heartfelt composition in an early day motion in the Palace of Westminster. The distinguished British Parliamentarian,Linda Perham MP sponsored early day motion 638.

His Tsunami song has been recorded in Australia, Canada, United States of America, Germany, Sri Lanka and in the United Kingdom.

The Early Years 1950s-1960s


Nimal has 22 songs published in Britain and has written music for films in Sri Lanka. " Kiss Kiss Kiss " was Nimal's first song that was recorded in Britian and sung by Mary Marshall on the Columbia label. " Kandyan Express, Cherry Blossom Tree, Oh My Lover, Butterfly in the rain, Champagne Blues and Goodnight Kisses " were number 1 hits in Sri Lanka in the late fifties.

" Kandyan Dance" an instrumental was his second piece in the West. Recorded by Friedel Berlipp and his Orchestra in Germany it went on to be No 2 on Radio Luxemburg. It was also released in the States. " Black Pearls & Green Diamonds" has eight of Nimal's songs on an LP for Decca by " One Two and Three " a folk group in Britian.

Nimal Mendis appeared on the popular BBC Television music program 'Top of the Pops' with his singing partner Sandra Edema in 1968 as guest artists with his song " Feel like a Clown ". They were also featured with the song on " Beat Club " in Germany that year. Eugene Wright bass player with the original Dave Brubeck Quartet arranged and recorded five of Nimal's songs only with him playing bass. He also arranged and produced one other song " Singing Fish " with electric guitar, bass and piano. They were sung by Sandra Edema.

The 1970s


In the seventies he recorded a number of songs in London. Many of these songs were of a spiritual nature. He made a 20 minute audio documentary on the Way of the Cross called " The Passion Report ". Another audio documentary called " Ferryman" was about
the tea estate worker and the farmer in Sri Lanka. It traces their history from the British colonial period. He also wrote " Bread of life " for the Eucharistic Congress in Sri Lanka.
Nimal Mendis has written several memorable songs for Sri Lankan films Nimal wrote the song " MASTER SIR "in Sri Lanka for a film, "Kalu Diya Dhahara" ( A column of black water) " Master Sir " is colonial Sri Lanka .The words tell a story about the dignity of labour. A story not about wages but of social justice. The song was recorded both in English and Sinhala and has remained a 'hit' in Sri Lanka for over thirty years.

" Ganga Addara " ( by the Banks of the River ) written for another film in Sri Lanka is also a very popular song in Sri Lanka. " Ran Tikiri Sina " was also for the same film and also was a 'hit'. All the songs he wrote for Sinhala films have been popular with the public in Sri Lanka.

The 1980s


In the eighties Nimal Mendis went into the production of Documentary films with Ranjani his wife and Paulmarie their son. Paulmarie deft with computers and editing visuals assisted them.He was only seven years old when he accompanied his parents filming in the war zones of the North and East of Sri Lanka. Nimal also did a stage show " Its What I am " with Sri Lankan musicians, the highlight was the song " July ' 83 " a song on the riots of that year. He also made two audio cassettes, one for Air Lanka " A Taste of Paradise " and the other for the Ceylon Tourist Board " Pilgrim Places of Sri Lanka ".

The 1990s


In the nineties they formed their own enterprise MEDIAEYE. In the new millenium they have brought out an audio documentary " War is my Country " tracing the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka up to 1994.This CD contains archive material over a period of seventeen years with narration, interviews political and other personalities songs and poems. Three of the politcal personalities were assassinated.

Current Work

Currently they have relocated to London. Together with son Paulmarie they are compiling the songs, audio documentaries and film material on CD and DVD.New songs too are been written like " Tsunami Sri Lanka ", " Earth Mother Crying " on the environment," The Dawn of Compassion " and the " Hail Mary " in song. They have also formed Mediaeye Music, the publishing arm of Mediaeye Productions.

Television Documentaries


"Dawn of Terror " their first documentary was filmed on the ethnic conflict and could be called an anti war film. It was made for the Centre for Society and Religion in Sri Lanka.The film although made on VHS was taken for distribution by Concord Video and film in
in the UK.
" Shattered Pearl" on women affected by the war in Sri Lanka and a film on the 'right to life' was made for Channel 4 TV in London.It was a major film by Sri Lankans on British TV at the time. Has been shown in many parts of the world.
" Three Women Speak Out " was made for " Article 19 " in Britian on the freedom of opinion and expression and they edited " Z for Zero Concern " on homeless children in London for the Children's Society.
" Water Water Everywhere" filmed in Bangladesh is on women and water management and made for CAFOD.
" Blessed are the Poor " compares poverty in Britain and South India and the positive effort they make to change their lives.This documentary was made for the Methodist International.

They have also been researchers for three major British TV productions. Three of their documentaries were at the Monticatini Film Festival in Italy. " Shattered Pearl " Seyllan to Paradise " and " Stop killing start Singing " which was based on three Songs.It was the first time that Sinhala songs were featured as a documentary.

Quotes on Nimal Mendis

' Nimal Mendis.... one of Sri Lanka's greatest singer/songwriters...' ( Ivan Corea )

' He ( Nimal Mendis ) is one who loves his country Sri Lanka, and believes it belongs to all the nationalities living here....' ( Nan - writing in the Sunday Island Sri Lanka )

You can listen to the English and Sinhala versions of the 'Tsunami Song' by Nimal Mendis by donating to tsunami relief. Please access the website:

  • Sinhala Juke Box Tsunami Relief - Nimal Mendis

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