"Mother, we have never asked why we wear white..." - Nanda's eldest daughter Varuni

She taught her two daughters to live with their feet on the ground, not in fairy tales, and she didn't stop there; she taught all the daughters in society about life. Her songs are meaningful.

That's because she worked as a singer, performing good creations carefully selected by lyricists. She is Nanda Malini.

Veteran Nanda Malini has sung many songs throughout her career. Those songs can be categorized in various ways.

Born on August 23, 1943, in a rural family in Aluthgama Lewanduva, her family consisted of twelve members. She loved music from a young age and showed talent in it, embarking on a long journey through it. The song "Budu Saadu" she sang for Karunaratne Abeysekera's "Lama Mandapaya" (Children's Forum) became very popular.

In 1961, she had the opportunity to sing the song "Galana Gangaki Jeevithe" for "Ranmuthu Duwa," the first color film in our country. She sang this song with Narada Disasekara. This song also received the Sarasaviya Award for the best film song of the year. She has received many awards and accolades throughout her career. We called her to find out how her day is spent now.

Nanda Malini's eldest daughter, Varuni Rasoja, answered the phone. This conversation is with her.

“Our mother is a very busy person. She lived a life with various ups and downs. But no matter what problems there were, mother taught us how to live courageously. We learned from mother how to lead a balanced life. Even with all the problems in our family when we were young, she taught us how to build our lives. Mother came and went for everything at our school. When she came, she would talk to teachers, children, and the children's parents, everyone.

Mother never pressured us to do this or that. She gave us maximum freedom. She guided us to follow the path we chose. I have been dancing since my school days. I worked as a dance teacher for a while. My younger sister studied preschool education while she lived in England for some time. Now she runs a preschool here. Both of us live very close to mother's house." Varuni speaks of her mother with great affection. When asked what Nanda's daughters do, while children of other singers come forward singing their mother's or father's songs, Varuni told this story.

“To be honest, many people don't know that Nanda Malini has two daughters. The other thing is that we have no desire to come forward using our mother's name. We didn't have it then, we don't have it today, and I don't think we will in the future either. We never felt the need to make a name for ourselves because of our mother. We never tried to gain privileges because of our mother. Neither my sister nor I tried to make a name for ourselves because of our mother.”

Not only when Nanda Malini went abroad, but also when she went for her musical activities, her two daughters were looked after by Magilin, who was helping at home. In addition, her younger sister and her sister's husband were always there to assist and protect the daughters in their activities.

“Magilin came to stay with mother around 1982. It's been about three years since she passed away. She did everything for us. Mother also treated her very well. Besides that, Jayanthi Aunty and Ashoka Uncle looked after us. The activities of mother's music class are managed and overseen by Achala Akka, mother's best student. Even when mother goes abroad, she conducts the classes. She is doing those activities these days too. Anyway, in about a month, mother will start doing the work she missed again. There are several film songs and teledrama songs to record. My sister and I are very proud to be Nanda Malini's daughters. Even though we are not in the field, we receive recognition and respect from society because of our mother. Our mother was never someone who clung to anything in life. Mother loves us. But mother didn't hold us back. She always allowed us to live independently. That's why we are still very independent today. Mother lives in the ancestral home. My sister and I live in two houses very close by. I have also given that independence to my daughter. I learned those things from my mother.

“I remember in the past, we couldn't go anywhere on time with mother. One day we went to Peradeniya Gardens. But we had to stay there for hours. The reason was that fans would come and talk to mother and take pictures. Mother never avoided them. She would talk friendly with everyone. It was the same wherever we went with mother. Mother never thought of her fans coming and talking to her as a bother.” Thus, Varuni stirred up past memories about her mother.

As soon as Nanda Malini is mentioned, her image is etched in our memory. Dressed in a white Osariya, she is naturally beautiful. When asked why she has always dressed in white, Varuni told this story.

“Mother always wore a white Osariya. I remember when I was little, she would wear a white Osariya with small flowers. Besides that, mother has recently been wearing a lungi. Even with that outfit, she always wore a white blouse on top. I don't know the reason why mother wears white. We have never asked her why she wears white. But for all these years, I have never seen mother wear a colored saree. Regardless, my mother looks very beautiful in a white Osariya. No matter what problems she had in life, mother had a habit of always smiling and being happy. My mother is still like that.”

Inoka Samarawickrama