Kanupulage Ugo Singho (July 14, 1912 – April 12, 1999), popularly known as Hugo Master or Hugo Fernando, was an actor and composer of Sri Lankan cinema. Debuting in the first Sinhalese film Kadawunu Poronduwa, Fernando had an over 50-year career also as a lyricist, assistant director and music director.

Personal life Fernando was born on 14 July 1912 in Periyamulla, Negombo as the eldest of the family. His father was Peduru Fernando, who was famous for repairing village houses. His mother Liyanage Elizabeth Fernando was a housewife. He has one younger sister, Martha Mary Fernando. He attended Dalupotha Roman Catholic School but was forced to drop out in the seventh grade to support his poverty-stricken family. His father fell from a scaffolding and unable to move since then. Therefore his mother started to work in coir mill. He took to working at coir mills, estates, tobacco stores, fish stalls and in masonry to this end.

After stopping at the coir mill, he joined a group of fishermen in Kukulawa, Trincomalee, where he joined a fishing group at the village Alambala, 24 miles from Mullaitivu. After few months, he joined to a tobacco store in Hiriyale with a friend and worked as a cook. Later, he worked as a "kankanam" in a garden in Puttalam. During this period, he used to learn English and cookery from a Tamil teacher. He changed Ugo's name into "Hugo" due to famous French writer Victor Hugo, teacher's favorite. At the age of 16, Hugo went to work as an assistant mason.

He was married to Elizabeth Fernando in 1935. The couple has six children - eldest Bridget Malini, then son Nimal Anthony, daughter Lalitha, three sons Gamini Malcus, Sarath and Brito. Brito Fernando was a member of the Negombo Municipal Council for some time and currently works for the family of the missing in The Human Rights Council.

He died on 12 April 1999 at the age of 86.

Cinema career An encounter with Welgampola Malachias Perera, better known as "Malathias Master", led to Fernando joining the musician's orchestra as a mouth organ and mandolin player. His first play was broadcast on the 1934 radio station. 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 Jayammanne's 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". At the same time, Hugo joined the drama group of P. S. Kularatne's "Sirilak Limited". Hugo has been performed all over the country as the harmonium player of Shanthi Kumara Seneviratne's dance troupe. He then produced the play Gehenu Hitha, written by the Malathias Master.

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). He played the lead role for the first time in the film Prema Tharangaya as well as the songwriter. Additionally, he played major roles in many of these films. In 1954, five of his songs in the film Ahankara Sthree were popular.

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).

Fernando has been involved to introduce many new faces to Sinhala cinema, where they became the popular stars in the coming years. He trained Clarice de Silva as an actress and introduced Rohini Jayakody and Ravindra Rupasena to cinema with the film Ahankara Sthree. Then he introduced Anthony C. Perera through Duppathage Duka and Vijitha Mallika through Sooraya. He also introduced Thilakasiri Fernando and Jeevarani Kurukulasuriya to Lester James Peries. Popular actors, Anton Gregory, Bernard Reginald and Andrew Jayamanne entered cinema under the guidance of Hugo Fernando.

Hugo also worked as an assistant director in the film Vana Mohini.

Filmography

Year Film Acting role Other roles 1947 Kadawunu Poronduwa Settiyar Composer, Lyricist, Playback Singer 1952 Banda Nagarayata Peminima Blind singer Assistant Director, Lyricist 1953 Pitisara Kella Music Supervisor 1953 Puduma Leli Lata's father Lyricist, Dialogue Writer 1953 Prema Tharangaya Walpola Mudalali Screenwriter, Lyricist, Playback Singer 1954 Saradiel Music Arranger 1954 Ahankara Sthree Siamis Mudalali Screenwriter, Lyricist, Assistant Director 1955 Matalan Chitravali's father 1956 Dosthara Banda Lyricist 1956 Duppathage Duka Sethan Lyricist 1956 Sooraya Screenwriter 1957 Siriyalatha Jurmis Perera 1957 Soorasena 1958 Sepali Lyricist 1958 Wana Mohini Screenwriter 1960 Sandesaya Vithana Rala 1960 Veera Vijaya Screenwriter 1963 Adata Vediya Heta Hondai Gabriel 'Mudalali' Screenwriter 1964 Dheewarayo Screenwriter 1965 Chandiya Appuhamy Screenwriter 1965 La Dalu 1965 Allapu Gedara Visharada 'Master' Screenwriter 1966 Oba Dutu Da 1967 Rena Giraw Virindu singer 1967 Sura Chauraya 1968 Ruhunu Kumari Screenwriter, Lyricist 1968 Amathikama 1968 Ataweni Pudumaya Dialogue Writer 1969 Mee Masso 1969 Pancha 1970 Thevetha 1970 Suli Sulang Screenwriter 1970 Dan Mathakada Caretaker 1970 Ohoma Hondada 1972 Singapore Charlie 1974 Sagarika 1974 Sahayata Danny 1974 Surekha 1974 Sihasuna 1975 Hitha Honda Minihek Master 1975 Suraya Surayamai Martin Appuhamy 'Daddy' 1975 Kokilayo 1975 Rajagedara Paraviyo 1976 Ganga 1976 Unnath Dahai Malath Dahai 1976 Mangala 1976 Kawuda Raja Loku Hamu 'Daddy' 1976 Hariyata Hari Mudalali Dialogue Writer 1977 Chin Chin Nona 1977 Maruwa Samaga Wase Mudalali 1978 Apsara 1978 Deepanjali 1979 Muwan Palessa Arachhila 1980 Hondin Inna 1980 Seetha 1980 Muwan Palessa 2 Korale Mahathaya 1980 Kinduru Kumari Gurunnanse 1981 Kolamkarayo Club owner 1982 Thakkita Tharikita 1982 Kadawunu Poronduwa remake 1983 Muwan Palessa 3 Arachhila 1983 Sandamali Mudalali 1983 Hithath Hondai Wadath Hondai 1984 Mala Giravi Meena's Appa 1984 Kekille Rajjuruwo 1986 Yali Hamuwennai Priyanthi's father 1987 Kele Kella Mudalali 1987 Obatai Priye Adare Johnny 1988 Chandingeth Chandiya 1989 Waradata Danduwama Lyricist 1990 Jaya Kothanada 1991 Cheriyo Doctor Patient 1991 Alibaba Saha Horu Hathaliha Dialogue Writer 1992 Sinha Raja 1992 Okkoma Kanapita 1992 Muwan Palesse Kadira 1992 Sakkara Suththara 1994 Okkoma Hondatai 1995 Cheriyo Captain Party goer 1996 Sathi

References

External links Hugo Fernando's Biography in Sinhala Cinema Database