Victor’s gift to the next generation
View(s):Kala Korner by Dee Cee
Seeing three generations performing together is not a common sight. The ever popular Victor Ratnayake is busy rehearsing these days to get on stage with his children and grandchildren to entertain music fans at a rare happening.
“My intention is to showcase my creative effort over half a century and provide the fans with a musical evening to remember,” says Victor. Joining him in this effort are his four children and their children.
Victor assures a new experience for the audience.”It will be a mix of song and dance which will cater to all irrespective of age. I am making a conscious effort to provide the little ones with something they can enjoy. My creations for children form part of the show,” he adds.
Music running in the family: Victor Ratnayake with his children and grandchildren
Victor has selected the Museaus College Auditorium for the show. Titled ‘Ira, Handa, Tharu’ (The Sun, the Moon and the Stars), the performance has been fixed for Monday, February 18.
A highlight of the show will be the presentation of songs in Sinhala, English, Tamil and Hindi. Victor’s ‘musical family’ includes two top level musicians – his two sons. The elder, Jayantha has matured into a talented musician capable of conducting an orchestra. Just as he did at the final performance of ‘Sa’, Victor’s solo presentation, Jayantha will handle the orchestra at the upcoming show. It was several years ago that he showed his capabilities playing the keyboard. At the last show of ‘Sa’ it was a treat to watch the father and son duo combining to present the ever-popular ‘podi kumarihamiye’ with Jayantha playing the harmonium accompanied by Hemapala Gallage on the drums.
The other son – Lelum himself is an accomplished musician, playing drums.
A good supporting team has been lined up for the ‘Ira, Handa, Tharu’ performance. Well-known lyricist/writer Bandula Nanayakkarawasam has done the script with Vasantha Rohana, Saman Athaudahetti and Sandamali Hewanayake doing the announcing. All are prominent names in the field. Nilamani Dissanayake is in charge of choreography.
The vast repertoire of songs by Victor always serves as a gentle reminder of the golden era of Sinhala music when we were treated with quality stuff – prior to the ‘raping’ of Sinhala music, as Victor himself publicly declares. No doubt we will hear some of them at the show.
Many were disappointed when Victor announced that he will not have any more solo performances. So here is an opportunity to see a show with a difference with the entire family taking part.“It’s an offering for the future generation” is how Victor likes to describe it.
Nihalsingha’s second ‘raja dekma’
“Seeking permission for the ‘raja dekma’ “ is how the invitation for the launch of a 600+ page biography of D. B. Nihalsingha – the pioneering cinematographer who needs no introduction begins. The first ‘raja dekma’ was when he launched the first ever cinemascope film in Sinhala ‘Weli Katara’ in 1971 which was also his maiden directorial effort of a feature film.
It was a new experience for filmgoer in the black and white era. He was director of photography, editor, co-producer and director of the film.
I got to know know Nihal (as I always called him) closely in the latter part of the 1960s after he produced the award winning ‘Bhakthi’ . I was then Features Editor of the Sunday Observer and also wrote an arts column, I had moved out of Lake House by the time he did ‘Weli Katara’. I had joined Lever Brothers (as Unilever in Sri Lanka was then known) and was Brand Manager for Toilet Soaps. Keen in producing a commercial locally for Lux (‘The beauty soap of filmstars’ was the slogan then) to be screened at the cinemas, he and I got together and did one featuring Swineetha Abeysekera who did the female lead in the film. Snippets from the film featuring the sweltering heat in the sand dunes up North were an ideal backdrop for the product.
I am sure Nihal would have had a lot to say about ‘Weli Katara’ which featured the stalwarts of Sinhala cinema – Gamini Fonseka and Joe Abeywickrema. In the biography Nuwan Nayanajith Kumara had spent months sitting with Nihal, talking to him of his experiences and collecting material for the biography. The Surasa publication will be launched on Tuesday, February 12 at the BMICH.
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