ANURADHAPURA ABEYSEKERA
COLOMBO : Curtains have fallen on Mariazelle Goonetilleke, forever immortalised as ‘Kandy Lamissi’. She leaves behind a musical legacy that spans more than five decades.
I first came to know Mariazelle many years ago and was always struck by the warmth and humility that lay behind her larger-than-life stage presence. Away from the spotlight, she was down-to-earth, ever ready with a smile and a word of encouragement for fellow musicians and aspiring artistes alike.
Mariazelle started singing at the age of seven, displaying exceptional talent that would soon propel her into the national spotlight.
At just 10 years old, she won the junior category of the prestigious Ceylon Observer All Island Talent Competition, a victory that marked the beginning of her professional career.
The young singer soon joined the popular Junior Rhythmiers, whose performances on Radio Ceylon made her a familiar voice in homes across the country during the 1960s. As her reputation grew, she performed with several leading Sri Lankan bands, including The Emeralds and Midnight Mist, sharpening her stagecraft and winning audiences with her vibrant performances.
The moment for her came in 1977 with the release of the unforgettable baila classic ‘Kandy Lamissi.’ The song became an instant sensation, earning her the affectionate nickname by which she would forever be known. Its popularity also opened international doors, taking her to stages in Nepal, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, the United States, the Middle East, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates, where she delighted Sri Lankan communities abroad.
That same year, however, tragedy nearly brought her career to an abrupt end when she survived a serious road accident that left her with severe spinal and collarbone injuries.
Through determination and the support of fellow musicians, she recovered and returned to the stage, demonstrating the resilience that characterised her life.
Over the years, Mariazelle collaborated with many of Sri Lanka’s musical greats, including Clarence Wijewardena, M. S. Fernando, Ronnie Leitch, Annesley Malewana, Sunil Perera, Desmond de Silva, Dalreen Suby and Umara Sinhawansa. While she reigned as one of the country’s best-loved Baila singers, her versatility extended well beyond the genre, embracing Sinhala pop, Western pop, rock, Hindi, Tamil and English songs.
Her career endured for more than half a century, during which she remained an active performer, continued recording new music and entertained audiences both at home and overseas. Her stage charisma, enduring popularity and signature hit ensured her place among the most recognisable and influential female vocalists in Sri Lankan popular music.
Though the voice of ‘Kandy Lamissi’ has fallen silent, the music she gave the nation will continue to echo through the years, ensuring that Mariazelle Goonetilleke’s name remains forever woven into Sri Lankan popular music.Daily News
