Moved by love, he writes

By Dilrukshi Handunnetti

Penning his emotions remains close to his heart. "When I am moved, I put down my feelings and then I block my mind to that emotion," he says. 'Ruwani', his soon-to-be released first CD and cassette captures in song many of these emotions.

For him, cold as it may sound, 'the intensity of feeling' is momentary. It is in that fraction of a second that he sits to write, giving vent to his feelings. The lyrics simply flow because they aren't forced. Perhaps that's why he hardly has to amend the first bit of writing.

Each song has an 'incident' behind it. Mettasena admits he writes best with first hand experience whenever his emotions are' jolted'. He believes that in the humdrum of daily life, it is these feelings which bring him to the reality of life_ love, hurt, rejection and anger. 

Admittedly, unrequited love has always appealed. It does to everyone, he says. 

" If I actually won her, all these feelings would have sated and perhaps subsided. It is not that serenity of feeling which makes me write, but the raw bleeding rejection. I think all artistes thrive on this because it aids their creativity. 

"Losing in that sense has more value to an artiste than actually gaining something," he opines.

And there are times when Mettasena feels like Aravinda of Martin Wickremesinghe's celebrated novel Viragaya- a sort of a recluse. "There is a strange kind of solace I find in loving from a far- with detachment. But it's love without lust. That feeling supersedes everything," he says.

Mettasena has tried to express his emotions, feelings differently through the visual arts. His photographic exhibition "Rajasthan" was one effort to depict what he saw in that beautiful Indian state. Yet some things remain unexpressed. 

"Words have incredible power, and when coupled with the human voice and a combination of melody- the product can be startlingly touching," he says.

His collection of songs cover a variety of subjects like the plundering of natural resources, prostitution and Buddhist themes like impermanence and detachment. Yet amidst all this lies a female concentration. And he doesn't deny that. "Maxim Gorky said the world was created by the sun's rays and a mother's love. From the womb to the tomb, our objectives are achieved thanks to female inspiration. 

"In truth, we always try to impress and win the admiration and love of the female clan. They set the music, we sing. So my lyrics say much about the women who have touched my life."

Even his other lyrics away from the popular love theme, are not critical. They are more a quiet appeal for preservation, caring and love. 

And as to whether an artiste should create for creativity alone or whether it entails a certain civic duty- a duty to educate, Mettasena believes that creativity stems from 'genuine feeling'. From there, it is a journey towards wisdom and awareness.

"What matters here is that you display your creative prowess and not scholastic abilities. 

"A simple message , clearly and succinctly written could yield more results than all intellectual pursuits," he says. 

The artistes associated with "Ruwani" are Victor Ratnayake, Christopher Paul, Malini Bulathsinhala, Edward Jayakody, Neela Wickremesinghe, W.D. Ariyasinghe,Victor Kandanaarachchi, Jagath Wickremesinghe, Uresha Ravihari, Iman Perera and Dayan Witharana.

The melody makers were Rohana Weerasinghe, H. M Jayawardene, Mahinda Bandara, Navaratne Gamage, Sarath de Alwis and Tharupathi Munasinghe. 

Produced by Vidarshana Munasinghe for M.CD Switzerland distributing Sri Lankan originals worldwide, "Ruwani" will be launched on February 16, at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute (SLFI) at 4.p.m. 

The cassette will be available at a special launch price. 

More Plus

Return to Plus Contents