Man behind those lilting melodies no more

Kala Korner by Dee Cee

We have been singing 'Kumatada Sobaniye Kandulu Salanne' – the eternal favourite in 'Nari Bena' - for the past nearly five decades. The creator of this lilting melody, Lionel Algama bade farewell exactly a week ago. A top grade musician, he believed in getting about his business with the least fuss.

Lionel Algama

'Nari Bena' was the result of two teachers getting together. Algama and playwright Dayananda (fondly called Jubal) Gunawardena, who predeceased Algama several years ago, were both teachers at Thurstan College. Algama was of course, the music teacher and Dayananda having graduated from Peradeniya had started teaching before moving over to radio. He first taught at Kegalu Vidyalaya. When he landed at Thurstan, he met Algama who also hailed from Gampaha like himself. Both had a stint at Veyangoda Central as students too.

It was the golden era of Sinhala theatre. There was plenty of activity after 'Maname' in 1956. Dayananda had produced 'Swarnatilaka' at Kegalu Vidyalaya followed by 'Parassaya' with the National Theatre Trust in 1959. But the 'hit' was 'Nari Bena' which was produced as a school play for the year end concert in 1960. To this day Lionel Algama is also best remembered for his pioneering effort in composing music for Nari Bena. He based the entire score on 'raban pada' which ultimately turned out to be a huge success.

'Nari Bena' gained countrywide plaudits when Dayananda formed his own theatre group, Adhunika Natya Sangamaya and presented the popular folk play with Salaman Fonseka playing the key role of the fox and Sriyani Weerakoon (now Amarasena) as the daughter of the gamarala.

Algama was picked by producer Chitra Balasuriya (also from Gampaha) to handle the music of his film 'Parasathumal' directed by Gamini Fonseka. He had made his mark in the film music scene when the film was released in 1966. He had earlier directed music in 'Patachara'. Many others followed.

Though Amaradeva composed and directed music in Chitrasena's best known ballets, 'Karadiya' and 'Nala Damayanthi', Algama was very much in the forefront in both productions. He was credited with the title Assistant Music Director. He was considered "a composer of great promise".

Though best known as a music composer and director, Algama was a reputed singer, broadcasting since 1958. He excelled as an instrumentalist particularly on the sitar and the sarod. A product of Shantiniketan, his continuous research helped him to reach the status of Visharada.