As a little girl, Daniels showed an inborn talent to sing and dance. At the age of seven, she was picked to sing
Christmas carols. Impressed with her ability to sing, dance, and also act, she was selected to perform a main role in a Christmas play, 'The Shoemaker's Wife'. The stage play was trained and presented by St. Clare's School, Wellawatte. Watching her play this role much enthusiastically, Walter Abeysinghe, a drama producer, sought permission from her father to invite her to play the lead role of 'Sita' in his drama 'Ramayanaya.' Thus, in 1935, at the age of just 12 years, she performed in this stage play, presented by the 'Sinhala Natya Sabha'. This marked the beginning of an illustrious career that would span over four decades. As her performances were highly appreciated by the packed audience, well-known dramatist Dick Dias chose her for two of his stage plays, "Jana Kiharanaya" and "Mayawathie". She was now flooded with stage dramas, as she became Mayawathi in Charles Dias' 'Mayawathi', Juliet in a Sinhala adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, playing the lead female role in all of them. Rukmani performed her singing career as a simple singer on Sri Lankan radio in the mid-1940s. Gabriel Gunaratne, who was in charge of recording songs at the
His Master's Voice label, was the permanent music director of the company. She was introduced to H. W. Rupasinghe one day in October 1938 by Gunaratne. Rupasinghe, who saw Rukmani's singing prowess, chose her for the first album, which was launched by Master His Voice No. 9300. Entering the stage, Rukmani had the opportunity to perform in Noorthi dramas such as
Janakiharanaya,
Rohini and
Mayawathi. Since 1940, B. A. W. Jayamanne, founder of "Minerva Dramatic Club" of
Negombo has taken Rukmani to perform remarkable roles in his dramas, such as 'Apparition', 'Broken Promise', 'Changing Fate, 'Defeated Aim', 'Evasive Denial', 'Fanatic Faith', 'Grisly Guardian', 'Hasty Decision', and lastly, 'Irangani'. The above-mentioned plays followed the English alphabet. The popular play 'Broken Promise' (
Kadawunu Poronduwa) was adapted into a film by B. A. W. Jayamanne. This was the first Sinhala film,
Kadawunu Poronduwa, screened on January 21, 1947. Rukmani Devi, who also began her film career through the role of 'Ranjani' in this film, also became the first local cinema actress. Her film career, which thus began, spread over a period of more than three decades. According to
Sri Lankeya Cinema Vanshaya (pp. 637–638), written by Nuwan Nayanajith Kumara, from
Kadawunu Poronduwa in 1947 to
Ara Soyza in 1984, Rukmani Devi had played different roles in 99 films, up to the time of her death. Rukmani Devi won first place in the "Popular Singing Series" in the 1953 Radio Artists Classification Test. An equally talented singer, some of the immortal songs she sang for films are
Sandyave Sriya for 'Kadawunu Poronduwa',
Pinsara Mage Soyura for 'Kapati Arakshakaya',
Gala Kandeni, and
Moranawa Preme Hade for 'Weradun Kurumanama',
Nindede Rathri Yahane for 'Peralena Iranama',
Mavila Pena vi Rupe for 'Kela Handa',
Pem Sihina Loke Maya for 'Mathabhedaya',
Melavi Yanna Hada Mage for 'Daiva Yogaya',
Suva dena Sita Sanasum for 'Ladalu' and
Doi Doi Puta for 'Ahasin Polavata'. In 1975, Rukmani sang "Pem Rajatahane" with
Milton Mallawarachchi. Rukmani has made duets with amateur singers since the 1960s, such as "Ada Handapana Paya Hari Lassanai" with
Sujatha Perera (Attanayake), "Gang Ivuru Paduru Gane" with Sidney Attygalle, "Kokilaya Keviliya", "Denna Piriye Dethata Oya Detha" with
H. R. Jothipala, and "Ithin Palak Nehe Kumariya" with
J. A. Milton Perera. In the mid-sixties, she joined the Sinhala
calypso musical group 'Los Cabelleros' led by the late Neville Fernando. They recorded ever-popular Sinhala songs such as "Malbara Himidiriye," "Menike Obe Sinawe," and "Sandak Nage.". Rukmani Devi was also featured prominently on the airwaves of
Radio Ceylon, the oldest radio station in South Asia. ==Death==