My Story

Veteran broadcaster Mahes Perera recounts with fond memories, her early days at Radio Ceylon

The weather Gods were in a turbulent mood on the day I walked into the portals of the prestigious Ceylon Broadcasting Corporation (Radio Ceylon) to face the official audition to become an announcer/presenter on this popular broadcasting station. This was the only broadcasting station in the country and thus not easy for all and sundry to become a presenter.

The weather didn't dampen my spirits and I was waiting eagerly to be directed to the studio and face the 'voice test' followed by the viva. I had a great deal of encouragement from my speech and drama tutor Mrs. Irene de Costa, wife of Tony de Costa, who was a regular sports commentator on the Ceylon Broadcasting Corporation.

I received the green light after intense grilling by the head of the panel of judges, Mrs. Pearl Ondaatje, daughter of Dr. Lucien de Zilwa, who warned me that working as an announcer/presenter was no cakewalk. True to her words she was a martinet, who headed the National Service of the Ceylon Broadcasting Corporation as against the Commercial Service of CBC whose Director was Livy Wijemanne.

These were the years when Greg Roskovski, Mil Sansoni, Jimmy Bharucha, Tim Horshingto, Chris Greet, Eardley Pieris, Karl Goonesena, Percy Bertholomuesz, Dan Durairaj, Priya Kudipilly and Myrle Swan were recognised as the cream of the presenters.

Where do I begin to tell the story of my broadcasting career?

It was a whole new world to me - one that I always wanted to move into whenever I sat by the radio to listen to music or plays, despite my father's frown! Rules and regulations had to be followed. Training your voice to suit the different moods of presentation was a must. Pronunciation had to be spot on. You slip up while on the air in the mornings or evenings - you can bet your last rupee that one of the directors will telephone the Control Room and get them to connect the call to the studio and point out your mistakes.

To Pearl Ondaatje, despite her martinet ways, must go the credit for moulding one into a presenter of standing. Working on the National Service whenever I was rostered was a pleasure because of the wide variety of programmes that were broadcast. There were popular music-solos, string orchestral, and big band. There were serials and plays from the BBC Transcription Service.

Magazine programs were popular too, especially the Arts Magazine, which was anchored by Priya Kodippily, and of significance was Mervyn de Silva's Political Commentary, which was broadcast weekly on Fridays. I cannot leave out Chris Greet's program for children 'Under the Keena Tree' a weekly 15 minute, slot for which unbelievably he wrote no script but broadcast live. I was the producer for this program and when I asked how he managed to pick up the story from the point he left off, he always looked at me and said in his usual manner "Duckie that's creativity"! And I wonder whether anyone can surpass him today! But of great significance were the live broadcast of music - popular and classical.

Going back in time

Once a week there were three slots - 7.30 Special, Song Recital and Classical Concert. The 7.30 Special carried popular music where singers and musicians in the industry were featured, for the benefit of the listeners. Malcolm Andree was a regular 'promoter' of his singers. Apart from these singers, musicians such as Joy Ferdinando and his Trio and his singers, The Crake Brothers, Los Cabelleros, The Jay Brothers and others were featured. In Song Recital - the participants were more on the classical idiom like Estelle & Douglas de Neise, Joan Cooray, Lorraine Abayasekera, Maryann David, to name a few. Mention must be made of pianist Mrs. Spencer Sheppard who accompanied most of the singers.

The Classical concert at 10 p.m. was live with choirs like the choirs of Raymond Adlam and Lylie Godridge.

Going back in time, one cannot forget the number of live relays that were broadcast by CBC and SLBC. Apart from the official ones, relays on the different athletic meets - public schools, and mercantile were looked forward to. Of course Rugby commentaries by Laddie Hettiaratchy and Bob Harvie and the cricket commentaries by Lucien de Zoysa and Bertie Wijesinghe were the popular ones.

The Commercial Service of CBC enjoyed overwhelming popularity at home as well as in Asia and South East Asia. Edmund Hillary after he climbed Mount Everest and planted the flag said that when he switched on his radio he picked up the Commercial Service Asia Transmission and was happy to hear the presenter and the pop music played by the station.

As a point of interest the presenter was Percy Bartholomuesz, a highly talented musician and in fact a leading guitarist on par with Gazzali Amit. He was also versatile. He could blow a fabulous sax - blues, soul, jazz, pop or rock. It was a familiar sight to see him in the studio with his beloved sax on the table, and whenever a program under ran by either two minutes or one minute, he would instruct his programme assistant who played the records for him from the cubicle opposite, not to play a track, but that he would blow a short tune on his sax. This was a regular occurrence, which earned him the wrath of Livy Wijemanne. But Percy Bartholomuesz couldn't have cared less.

Ushering in the New Year

In eleven days time it will be New Year's Eve and I cannot pass by without mentioning how the CBC brought the excitement of a New Year's Eve night into the homes of many who were unable to go out and celebrate. CBC ran a three-link-up relay of the activities with relevant commentaries from Galle Face Hotel, Mt. Lavinia Hotel and Grand Oriental Hotel.

The commentaries by three different presenters at their respective venues were of a high standard with no glitches in the music balance or in the relay itself. The Outside Broadcast Unit and the Technical Staff gave of their 100%. Their co-operation was fabulous as always. They understood the need to work fast and with no slips. Naturally the broadcasts were smooth.

Working in a broadcasting station widens your knowledge and appreciation of music and I'm glad I chose a broadcast career. With the passage of time, I handled administration as well and learnt the importance of delegating and supervising. May SLBC continue to prosper!