A great day for Victor, a great day for music lovers
View(s):Kala Korner By Dee Cee
A birthday celebration – a family get-together – a pool of talent. This three- in- one event was ‘Ira Handa Tharu’ – the Victor Ratnayake family show. It was Victor’s 71st birthday. Most of the friends and well-wishers were not aware that it was his birthday. They had come for a novel musical show where three generations were performing. The talent of the pool ranging from five to 71 years was simply amazing. In fact, Victor virtually took a back seat. He showcased the capabilities of his family.
The show was totally different to ‘Sa’ – Victor’s pioneering one-man concert which played to full houses through four decades. The songs Victor had selected the evening weren’t the ones we used to hear in ‘Sa’.
Doing their grandfather proud: Victor’s grandchildren
‘Ira Handa Tharu’ played to a full house at the Museaus College Auditorium for two and a half hours non-stop providing excellent entertainment. There was total commitment from the entire group of eleven youngsters. They were disciplined in their singing. They had absolutely no stage fright. They had trained hard with determination to make it a memorable night. And they did. The little five-year old Vinuja was so cute. A proud grandfather was watching from the sidelines how the juniors were performing.
Any show those days was a ‘variety entertainment’ even if it was a mere song recital. Here was a variety entertainment in the true sense. Victor’s sons and daughters (four in all) sang what Victor used to sing. Elder son Jayantha showed his talent in conducting the orchestra, singing and directing the group. Lelum’s versatility was seen when he sang the Beatles number ‘Yesterday’ in addition to joining in the medleys they sang together, The girls showed their adaptability by singing ‘Somewhere’ from West Side Story and playing Lara’s theme from ‘Doctor Zhivago’ taking over the instruments themselves. When Victor’s granddaughters Hansika and Harini sang a Tamil song, Chetani and Sejini accompanied them with a dance based on classical Bharata Natya.
In the programme were songs for which Victor had composed the music but sung by others including Pandit Amaradeva. What a variety it was. The juniors helped to bring back memories. It’s only when the juniors did a medley that we realised Victor’s contribution towards children’s songs. And Victor showed his love for Hindi songs by singing Mohammed Rafi’s ever-popular number ‘Meri kahani bhholane waale’ from ‘Deedar’ – a 1951 film which created a sensation when we were students and rushed to see Hindi films. Victor had sung it several decades ago at the Kandy Lake Club and impressed some maestros of the day including R. A. Chandrasena – a big name in the music scene then.
An acappella item relating the story of a river (with matching visuals being projected on a wide screen) was the highlight of the evening. The entire group – sans Victor – joined in the effort using only their voices without instruments. It had the desired impact.
It was a great day for Victor Ratnayake – a day which any other artiste may find difficult to achieve – at least not in the near future. In an era when no one seems to know exactly where our music is heading, it’s consoling to find that there is at least one man who is attempting to take the new generation on the right track.
Victor confessed he is proud of the family. He should be!
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