Creative tunes

Their main aim is to produce music with a touch of originality. The members of Dee r cee – a band with an interesting array of creations, they have managed to make quite an impact in the local music scene. Dinesh Subasinghe, Ranuka Sudam and Chandumal Samapriya, interestingly, seem to have used the first letters of their names, to coin the title of their musical outfit.

Dee r cee, apart from their many musical achievements, have also introduced two unique instruments into the Sri Lankan music scene. Possibly the first two recorded instruments in world history, they are called the Rawana Hastha and the Kingiri – made using coconut, Indian bamboos and goat's skin. According to Dinesh, these instruments have been mentioned in the Ramayanaya and the Mahabaratha ancient texts as well. "They can be bought at quite a low price in India, but are quite hard to play and use in performances," says Dinesh. He is the first Sri Lankan to do an instrumental CD, using this instrument.

Most would probably be familiar with the song "Monaliza," which was a hit song for the band, being featured in local musical charts throughout 2004-2005. "We have also released more music videos for songs such as Sonduru Nimnaya, featuring artist Baby Shanika and model by Sachini Ayendra. It was quite popular among Country and Western fans, being a country song released in Sri Lanka after many years."

They also released another hit tilted Mei Adarayada, which became quite popular among school children and youth. Written by Mahinda Namal, with the melody done by Rev. Anton Jayananda, it was especially for those lovers who take relationships to extremes. This was also the No.1 song in most music charts on TV. Most recently, the band released Ira Bahina Handawa, which was shot at the Galle Fort, which once again reached the No1 spot on a chart on TV. While this was the first song they recorded with Antras sound effect and a RnB beat, they do most of their latest recordings in their own, fully equipped studio.

"Chandumal is our main vocalist, and has a voice resembling Western artists such as Enrique Igellesious and Mark Anthony, Ranuka is the guy who can sing like Kumar Sanu and Rukantha, and is able to imitate Elvis and Jim Reeves too! We do these crazy things only for dances and functions," said Dinesh. Their CD which is ready to be released in the near future, as soon as they find a producer, and is recorded with quite a large orchestra in that CD they have planned to release their hit song for 2006 mei adarayada also, Dinesh is getting ready for his debut music direction for a Sri Lankan movie by popular Channa Perrea, the one who did blockbuster Angelika.

Making quite a name for himself in the television circles, young composer Dinesh has composed music for around 19 Sri Lankan Tele Dramas, with a few of them being hit tele dramas such as Siri Sirimal, telecasted on Rupavahini and Shoba, Kiri Pabalu Wila and Sarada Sugathan on ITN. The first tele drama he composed music was Hummane telecast on Swarnavahini which was a creation of Chandraratna Mapitigana.

He has also done a haunting score for international stage drama director Wolfgang Strangs' The Memories of Monkey Boy produced by Anoja Weerasinghe and HSBC, performed last September. Dinesh was also invited by Sunil Costa to compose music for a mega Tele drama series produced by Sirasa TV for 2008.