Good bye “MASTER SIR” – Tribute to musician/vocalist Nimal Mendis ..
Posted on April 19th, 2015
By Claude A Fernando ,Brampton ,Canada ,
My memory of musician Nimal Mendis goes back to the seventies when I was a school boy.I heard a excitable and soothing song master sir’ of the film named kalu diya dahara” .this song sung by late Nevile Fernando and music and melody created by Nimal Mendis . It was so popular song among the young generation then than the film.
More articles were written in print media about this exceptional song ,singer and music director. Song was airing in SLBC radio frequently .
Nimal mendis was a hidden talented and creative musician He was introduced to the cinema by producer of the film Manik Sandrasagara .The first song Nimal made for the film still a very favorite among present generation too.
Nimal had marvelous opportunities to make music for films named gahanu lamai” ,”ganga addara” and”ahasin polawata Sitha Devi” .Songs Nimal had created for those films were immortal . For sure he leaves us an indelible mark in the Sinhala songs in Sri lanka.
Good bye !! Nimal Mendis
April 19th, 2015 at 6:01 pm
Yes, Neville Fernando sang Master Sir beautifully, later a female singer hijacked the song. She things she owns it
April 20th, 2015 at 11:46 am
NM was much more than a script songwriter for Sinhala movies and what he is remembered for here as there was a wider repertoire with which he could be associated with. He inspired many young pianists of his day
He was an accomplished pianist and composer and put together songs like Kandyan Express which was really his theme song and was a regular performer on the stage as well as night clubs, of his day.
Wonder if anyone remembers the stint he did with Mary Marshall on her chart topping song “Kiss Kiss Kiss”. His command of the ivories was simply genius and there is much more he deserves credit for as an avante garde pianist composer of his day where he intermingled jazz with contemporary music and the result was exhilarating.
“Rest In Peace. Nimal!
April 20th, 2015 at 11:51 am
errata- it was ‘Kisses in the Dark” with Mary Marshall-available on U Tube