Mirror Magazine

Mirror Magazine

Rocking to rhythm
Priyanwada Ranawaka breaks the silence of Bathiya and Santhush with a discussion of their latest in store for fans
One of them is fascinated with old car models while the other is eternally craving for funky jeeps. While one seems quite settled with the way life is, the other is out to get the very latest. Two different phenomenons. When they work together, theirs is the power of one. Bathiya and Santhush. The two of a kind.

For nearly two years they kept everyone wondering where they were, only to break the prolonged silence with a new album. “Being on TV and radio all the time, doesn’t mean you’re better than others, it’s not exactly that,” says Bathiya as Santhush adds, “The flow of the whole thing can be kept if you keep your talent going.” This time, we are certainly going to make a difference.”

“Just because we were not to be seen doesn’t mean we were taking a break and relaxing,” smiles Santhush while Bathiya went on to explain how eventful the last two years were for the two of them. “Our first aim was to build our own studio, for we have been using several studios for our recording purposes. While constructions were going on, we could not devote ourselves totally to creative work,” he says seated in their spacious new studio. After completion of construction, the duo took back their mikes and headphones.

Working both here and in India, they worked on two albums at the same time. “One project was to put together an album containing Hindi versions of our hits from previous albums,” explains Santhush. Collaborating with a group of Indian artistes, musicians and lyricists, Bathiya and Santhush modified some of their past tracks targeting the Indian market. The album will be released to the local market shortly.

“Then there is the movie which is due in 2005 for which we composed the music,” Santhush says. The two created the music arrangements for Udayakantha Warnasuriya’s Hiripoda Vessa. It was the first time for the singers to be involved with composition for a cinema production.

And then came the world tour. Although they were not to be prominently seen in the local music arena they toured around the world visiting their fans in more than ten countries. Starting from Australia, they held concerts in Melbourne, Sydney, Bangkok, Malaysia, Canada. Dubai, France, Sweden, Denmark, Venice and in the UK. And what about their local fan base? Both Bathiya and Santhush agree that their fans remain loyal to them, assured by the number of fan mail they get everyday.

Keeping to their promise, the talented duo are now back with a much more promising album. ‘Neththara’ as it is called will contain 16 new tracks, the biggest number of tracks included in an album by them thus far. Picking things up from where they left off, with previous album ‘Tharunnyaye’, the artistes speak to the hearts of the youth. The new material according to them is quite different from what they’ve done so far and is assured to inspire both youth and those who are young at heart.

Working on this album required them to work together with many artistes, both local and foreign. “We wish to extend a big ‘thank you’ out to everyone who helped us in realising this album,” Bathiya says. So how strong are they as a team? “It’s not about the two of us anymore,” affirms Bathiya. “Now ‘we’ includes everyone working along with us,” Santhush explains. And a split is the last thing on their mind. “All that we have in mind, the stuff we want to do in the future comes under the umbrella of Bathiya and Santhush,” affirms Bathiya.

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