Jothipala’s rich legacy

H.R. Jothipala

By Thedanath Perera

The 28th death anniversary of H.R. Jothipala, the famed and popular playback singer for many decades, fell on 7 July.

Let me start with an interesting episode tracing back nearly 42 years. The year was 1973, and a Friday in January. The National Lotteries Board was holding its weekly draw at Walhaputenne Vidyalaya grounds in Haputale with a variety show featuring the SEAC Musical Group and the main attraction was H.R. Jothipala.

He was at his peak in popularity at the time and the Vidyalaya grounds were packed to capacity. The freezing cold wind blowing across the hills was not a deterrent to the audience as their main focus was the popular singer and the lilting music. I was working in Haputale at the time and made it a point to go and enjoy the evening with some of my office colleagues.

Jothi, as he popularly known at the time, was singing the ever popular ‘Pruthugisi Karaya’ from the film ‘Sandeshaya,’ directed by Lester James Peiris and the original music score written by Sunil Santha and lyrics by Arisen Ahubudu.

Jothi, encouraged by the crowd joining in, was dancing around on stage which was about eight feet high and halfway through the song, the singer suddenly vanished from sight. The audience was aghast and no one knew what happened. Within minutes, Jothi reappeared on stage again and continued the song. 

What had happened was that in his trance-like performance spurred by the crowd, he had come to the edge of the stage and dropped eight feet to the ground. He sustained a few bruises but the versatile singer that he was, ignored them and resumed his singing. The crowd was ecstatic and pressed him to sing more. The show went on till the wee hours of the next day and this incident is etched in my memory for life.

 

Early years

Hettiarachige Reginald Jothipala was born on 12 February 1936 in Matara to a middle class family. Jothi studied at St. Lawrence College Maradana and St. John’s College Dematagoda. He was bitterly disappointed when the first song he recorded for Sirisena Wimalaweera’s film, ‘Podi Putha,’ was not included in it when it was screened and he even contemplated taking his life. 

His break came when Jabir A. Cader referred Jothi to Stanley Omar who included him for the production of Cyril P. Abeyratne’s film ‘Surathalee’ (1956). He gained fame with the song, ‘Siriyame Sara’ recorded in Vahini Studios in India with T.R. Papa providing the music. This became an instant hit. This song continues to be popular even now and is often sung at parties with everyone joining in. 

The song even has an anecdote woven around it connecting late President J.R. Jayawardena. It is said that the late President who was not very familiar with Sinhala songs or their lyrics too liked the song and when he met Jothi, JR had requested him to sing, ‘Ara Morage Sinduwa Kiyanne’. It was because the first line went ‘Siriyame sara, nagevi hada mora’ and JR remembered the word ‘mora’ in the song. 

 

Popular songs

Jothi had an array of very popular songs to his credit, mostly in films of yesteryear and even individual numbers that still linger in our ears. Some of the popular songs include ‘Alhene Pel Raiddi,’ ‘Chandana Allen Naala,’ ‘Chandra Me,’ ‘Kothanaka Sitiyath,’ ‘Kurulu Game,’ ‘Mahada Namathi,’ ‘Mal Pibidena,’ ‘Mang Awa, Mang Awa,’ ‘Neela Dasa,’ ‘Oba Dakmen,’ ‘Pruthugisi Kaaraya,’ ‘Sugathalona,’ ‘Rosa,’ ‘Seetha Sunil Diya Dahara’ and ‘Tajmahalak’. He had sung nearly 3,000 songs and some of them were released after his death.

He lent his voice to famous actors like Eddie Jayamanne, Ananda Jayaratne, Gamini Fonseka, Joe Abeywickrema, Vijaya Kumaratunga, Tony Ranasinghe, Ravindra Randeniya and Sanath Gunatilleke. 

 

Not given due recognition

A few decades ago, the undisputed choice of a playback singer for films was Jothipala. Sadly though, he was not given the recognition he deserved for his deep and rich baritone voice, versatility in singing for any type of music and audience capture. Some dismissed him for singing to the music of popular Hindi songs but it was the choice of film producers as well as cinema goers.

I recall the time when a State bank which sponsored a popular radio program that featured artistes who sang semi classical songs declined to give a chance to Jothipala though he recorded songs under the batons of Pandit W.D. Amaradeva, Premasiri Khemadasa, P.V. Nandasiri and Sarath Dassanayake. He displayed his versatility in acting too, though in minor roles in some of the films.

 

“Rattaran Hadawatha”

Jothi was very down to earth, ever-so-helpful and said to be a man with a golden heart. His initials H.R. they say denote “Rattaran Hadawatha”. Jothi married Vintor Blossom and had four daughters.

He was very close to late President Ranasinghe Premadasa and never missed the Gam Udawa Exhibitions and in his final appearance on 5 July 1987, he developed chest pains and was rushed to Colombo. He passed away on 7 July 1987 at Ratnam›s Private Hospital. 

He left a rich legacy and an indelible memory for all of us.