Raju Ramlan won acclaim for Buddhist themes

The Arabian world traveller Ibn Batuta came here in the 14th century and talked of “Calembou” in his account of his travels. The areas inland from the coast appeared green and impenetrable to the new arrivals. It projected a region of small lakes densely overgrown with lush tropical vegetation, 60 km from North to South and 15 km from East to West, one could still describe it and its surrounding districts as a “green city”. But the turning point came in 1796, when the British drove away the Dutch and took over the area and named it “Colombo”. The centre of the city known as the Fort, with few colonial style edifices are still in evidence today.

The twin towers of the World Trade Centre with similarly modern buildings are sometimes called the most “Westerly” city of the orient. A fantasy of exotic shapes and colours, Indian jugglers, sailors, and traders from China, Frenchmen with pointed beards clad in silk and satins – all this cosmopolitan pageantry had become embodied into the very personality of the city. It was in this city that Raju Ramlan was born on November 21, 1969 to a Malay family. From a very young age Raju displayed promising talents in art, music and drama.

Raju Ramlan

One of his paintings

Raju obtained his education at St. Mathew’s College, Dematagoda. His school report reflected impressive distinctions for painting, music and drama. His first taste for artistic creativity was obtained from his father T. M. S. Ramlan, a famous violinist and artist. His father served the orchestra of Radio Ceylon (known then) until his retirement, while he erected picture stories for Vesak pandals and painted film cut-outs. Raju’s quest and burning ambition to become a reputed artist took him to Kelaniya where his former art teacher, the reputed Joe Dambulugala, was conducting his own art school, Joe Dambulugala Kalayathanaya at Waragoda, Kelaniya.

Raju received his training in oil painting, portraits and sculpture, pastel and water colours in this school. After leaving the Kalayathanaya he found an opportunity to serve as an artist at the ‘Sathara’ education centre for 9 years. His first art exhibition was held while still in school in 1984, at St. Mathew’s College and the second exhibition was held in 1992 at the Youth Centre, Maharagama.

Like many artists Raju is a lover of nature and his huge canvases in oil depict wildlife, birds, animals, elephants, tea pluckers, flower girls, village beauties and beautiful landscapes. In many of his paintings Raju portrays rich colours. He produces a wide variety of work including sentimental literary subjects. His brush portrayed what was best in the features of his clients. His paintings in oil are a blaze of colour. His light and shadow structure is incredibly beautiful. His interest in painting is lively and sophisticated.

The novelty of his work, with its engaging blend of simplicity and skill, won him a place among the artists of his generation. Raju has a marvellous genus for colour. He absorbs beauty, filters it through his ability and transmit it into living art.

The wide range of subjects, each one treated with profuse detail and intensity satisfied his need for realism. His paintings portrayed human-suffering and above all he had won a reputation for Buddhist themes, Buddhist temples and temple paintings. He is the only Malay artist who has gained a name in turning out brilliant work on Buddhist culture. The Bhikkhus offering flowers, meditation, back to the temple after a religious festival done on oil in rich colour in the mellow grandeur of orange, green, red and yellow are excellent examples.

Raju’s artistic creativity had spread far and wide beyond the Indian Ocean. Two of his paintings depicting simplified activities of Sri Lankan life were selected as stamps used in the postal service of France. Raju’s artistic interests do not always revolve around the paint and the brush. He is a theatre enthusiast and acts in teledramas, an art director in films, musician and also a devout follower of the Muslim way of life. He is a member of the Ceylon Society of Arts, Colombo.