"Maamai- Baanai", 1980s popular show by veteran musicians Rohana Beddage and Bandula Wijaweera will return after twelve years. The show will go on boards at the Lionel Wendt theatre at 3.30 pm and 7.00 pm on July 11.

Back in eighties’, veteran musician Rohana Baddage and Bandula Wijeweera togther started the ballad musical drama ‘Mamai Baanai’. The show became a hit and went around the country and staged for more than 300 shows until it stopped in 1996.

After a decade of silence ‘Maamai Baanai’ will be back on stage with many new features ushering to the present audience. For the show background music provided by Rajith Balasuriya, dress designed by Irangani Goonawardena, stage backdrops by Abmangala Goonawardena and Edward Chandrasiri is the production manager and. Jude Srimal is the chief organizer of "Maamai Baanai"

‘Maamai Baanai’ came on stage as far back in 1981 with Rohana Baddage and Bandula Wijeweera popular traditional artistes. ‘Mage Raththaran Helena’ and ‘Kulagedarin Dumbara Kandu Watiye’ were the solos that they mark their separate identities as singers. Apart from being singers the double were very good actors on stage as well as in mini screen or television. They performed in ‘Narin Bena’ and ‘Madura Jawanika" stage shows, which was popular at that time and they were very closely working with the veteran stage drama producer Dayananda Goonawardena. As well as the stage, the duo were well known artistes in television as well.

'Nandana Vindana', the most popular music programme on TV in early eighties featured songs like ‘Mage Raththaran Helena’ and ‘Mage Sudu Mamandita Buddhan Sarane Saranai’. To go on a public show was a result of popular demand and the name ‘Maamai Benai’ was a suggestion by veteran dramatist Dayananda Gunawardana.

Both artistes were also involved in many teledramas at the initials stages of our teledrama history. ‘Palingu Menike’, ‘Manik Nadiya galabasi’, ‘Bodima’, ‘Bodinkarayo’, 'Pinkada Simona’ were a few dramas in which they contributed.

The show not only attracted local audience but abroad as well and it made a number of shows in Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Middle East. Expatriates were impressed by 'Maamai Benai' show specially for its music with traditional drum beats and uncommon singing style. The show also attracted many foreign music lovers.

The return of ‘Maamai Baanai’ will definitely be happy news for music lovers in Sri Lanka.