‘Living on the Edge’ by Mario for Lankan Olympic heroes
Olympic, the world’s biggest sports festival was scheduled to hold in Tokyo last year, but for the second year running, the pandemic hit Tokyo Olympic Games 2020 was pushed back to 2021.
Virtual Olympic Day celebration organized by the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOC) was held in June saw the unveiling of the first ever dedicated Olympic Day Song composed and sung by Mario Ananda.
Multi-faceted young singing sensation Mario Ananda Abeykoon, the son of late Gratien Ananda, launched his newest ‘Mario Ananda YouTube Channel’ on April 6, 2021 along with his new sports related song ‘Living on the Edge’ (English) / ‘Randee Nosali’ (Sinhala).
The celebration had its special features like the first ever dedicated Olympic Day Song ‘Living on the Edge’ composed and sung by Mario Ananda and a short film contest which was opened to the general public.
Mario Ananda Abeykoon came up with a new concept to uplift the sports aspect of the country two years ago. He has been engaged in many social services related to children, such as voicing against drugs, alcoholism, smoking, suicide, child labour and child abuse.
His newest song ‘Living on the Edge’ was created to redefine teenage and sportsmanship.
After the one-of-a-kind trilingual sports music video ‘Living on the edge’ released by Mario Ananda in April, he has collaborated in a national level sports production.
Further to the invitation extended to Mario Ananda, by the National Olympic Committee members including NOC Sri Lanka Secretary General Maxwell de Silva and the Media head Ram Pathiravithana, the theme song was produced and released, to encourage the sportsman and women representing Sri Lanka at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. It is also an inspiration for the next generation to follow the dream to the Olympics. This song is also a trilingual music video. The Sinhala were penned by Irusha Shamintha, Tamil lyrics by Bhagawathsing Nithyananthan and English lyrics, Music Direction, vocals and visual direction by Mario Ananda. The production was done by Mario Ananda Productions Team.
Mario believes that sports can help any child to overcome their tragic life styles. Putting focus into sports can build the personality, mindfulness and good health, which is crucial for a person in any age to achieve any goal in life.
‘This song is mainly to encourage the sportsman to keep records in any sport or to break the world records, at least to have the idea to keep them going for the big break. Everything is possible as long as you do not stop believing in yourself’ Mario said.
The entire concept of the ‘Living on the Edge’ was by Mario and was building it for the last three years.
‘My message to the country from ‘Living on the Edge’ is that we are currently living in the era of winners, if you are skilled and if you are committed, it’s time to win. To win you must join, and to become a legend you must try and work hard. I wish good luck to all the members of the Sri Lanka Olympic Team’ Mario added
My sister Dulanjali Ananda Abeykoon was developing the idea as a partner of the production team (Mario Ananda Productions) of this song and the visual. My sister Dulanjali Ananda who’s a News Anchor at the Channel Eye of Rupavahini, directed this visual.
Nalin Sanjaya Suraweera was the Director of Photography’. Recording Engineer was Gayan C Bentharage and presented and produced by Mario Ananda Productions.
The visual was launched on ‘Mario Ananda YouTube Channel’ on April 6 to coincide with International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.
Mario is currently affiliated with projects conducted by ILO, Sri Lanka United Nations Friendship Association, Paralympics Sri Lanka to train basketball for the differently-abled children and Youth Temperance Organization of Sri Lanka.
‘Living on the Edge’, the theme song of the NOC Sri Lanka for Tokyo 2020, is now available on Mario Ananda YouTube channel.