Hugo Fernando
Encyclopedia
K. Hugo Fernando popularly known as Hugo Master, was a Sri Lanka
n film personality. Debuting in the first Sinhalese film Kadawunu Poronduwa
, Fernando had an over 30 year career as a character actor, lyricist, assistant director and music director.
Fernando was born in Periyamulla, Negombo
. He attended Dalupotha Roman Catholic School but was forced to drop out in the seventh grade to support his poverty stricken family. He took to working at coir mills, estates, tobacco stores, fish stalls and in masonry to this end.
An encounter with W. M. Perera, better known as Malathias Master, led to Fernando joining the musician's orchestra as a mouth organ
and mandolin
player. He then joined the Minerva Theatre Group and wrote music for B. A. W. Jayamanne
's play Awatharaya. Fernando contributed to the recording of Rukmani Devi
and H. W. Rupasinghe's song "Sri Buddha Gaya Vihare" in 1939.
In 1947, Fernando took a triple role in the production of the first Sinhalese film Kadawunu Poronduwa, an adaption of a B. A.W. Jayammane play. In addition to playing a role in the movie, he sang the song "Sandyawe Shriya" with Rukmani Devi and penned its songs such as Eddie Jayamanne
's "Lapate Rupe Age".
Fernando worked extensively in the 1950s in such trades as assistant director on Banda Nagarayata Pemineema (1952) and Prema Tharangaya (1953), screenwriter on films like Puduma Leli (1953), Ahankara Sthree (1954), Mathalang (1955) and Duppathage Duka (1956) and music director and singer in Pitisara Kella (1953) and Saradiel (1954). Additionally, he played major roles in many of these films.
Subsequently, Fernando has portrayed characters in such films as Sandesaya
(1960), Dheewarayo
(1964), Allapu Gedara (1965), Surekha, Sihasuna, Sahayata Danny (1974), Kawda Raja (1976), Chin Chin Nona (1977) and Hitha Honda Minihek (1975).
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
n film personality. Debuting in the first Sinhalese film Kadawunu Poronduwa
Kadawunu Poronduwa
Kadawunu Poronduwa was the first film to be made in the Sinhala language; it is generally considered to have heralded the coming of Sinhala Cinema. The film was produced and filmed in India however, and was highly influenced by South Indian melodrama...
, Fernando had an over 30 year career as a character actor, lyricist, assistant director and music director.
Fernando was born in Periyamulla, Negombo
Negombo
Negombo is a town of about 121,933, approximately 37 km north of Colombo, in Sri Lanka. It is located at the mouth of the Negombo Lagoon, about 7 km from the Bandaranaike International Airport...
. He attended Dalupotha Roman Catholic School but was forced to drop out in the seventh grade to support his poverty stricken family. He took to working at coir mills, estates, tobacco stores, fish stalls and in masonry to this end.
An encounter with W. M. Perera, better known as Malathias Master, led to Fernando joining the musician's orchestra as a mouth organ
Mouth organ
A mouth organ is a generic term for free reed aerophone with one or more air chambers fitted with a free reed.Though it spans many traditions, it is played universally the same way by the musician placing their lips over a chamber or holes in the instrument, and blowing or sucking air to create a...
and mandolin
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
player. He then joined the Minerva Theatre Group and wrote music for B. A. W. Jayamanne
B. A. W. Jayamanne
B. Aloy W. Jayamanne was a Sri Lankan playwright, director, producer and actor. He played a major role in the making of the first Sinhala film Kadawunu Poronduwa in 1947; Jayamanne achieved a level of popularity as a director with movies starring Rukmani Devi and Eddie Jayamanne in the 1950s.Aloy...
's play Awatharaya. Fernando contributed to the recording of Rukmani Devi
Rukmani Devi
Rukmani Devi was a Sri Lankan singer and actress, who was often acclaimed as "The Nightingale of Sri Lanka". She made it to the silver screen via the stage and had acted in close to 100 films, at the time of her death...
and H. W. Rupasinghe's song "Sri Buddha Gaya Vihare" in 1939.
In 1947, Fernando took a triple role in the production of the first Sinhalese film Kadawunu Poronduwa, an adaption of a B. A.W. Jayammane play. In addition to playing a role in the movie, he sang the song "Sandyawe Shriya" with Rukmani Devi and penned its songs such as Eddie Jayamanne
Eddie Jayamanne
Wanniaarachchige Don David Victor Jayamanne was a popular Sri Lankan comedian and actor of early Sri Lankan cinema....
's "Lapate Rupe Age".
Fernando worked extensively in the 1950s in such trades as assistant director on Banda Nagarayata Pemineema (1952) and Prema Tharangaya (1953), screenwriter on films like Puduma Leli (1953), Ahankara Sthree (1954), Mathalang (1955) and Duppathage Duka (1956) and music director and singer in Pitisara Kella (1953) and Saradiel (1954). Additionally, he played major roles in many of these films.
Subsequently, Fernando has portrayed characters in such films as Sandesaya
Sandesaya
Sandesaya is a 1960 film. The film based on the war between the Sri Lankan people and the Portuguese invaders in Sri Lanka. It was directed by Sri Lankan film director Lester James Peries. It was produced by K...
(1960), Dheewarayo
Dheewarayo
Dheewarayo is a 1964 Sri Lankan film starring Gamini Fonseka. It was a box office success in the country.-Plot:Story about fishing folk.Cast*Gamini Fonseka – Francis*Sandhya Kumari;Roseline*Anthony C...
(1964), Allapu Gedara (1965), Surekha, Sihasuna, Sahayata Danny (1974), Kawda Raja (1976), Chin Chin Nona (1977) and Hitha Honda Minihek (1975).