TV Times

TV Times

Victor’s New venture
By Randima Attygalle
The sensuous voice behind the 'exquisite insanity', the 'melodious lunacy', his famed 'Sa' series was often referred to as, is to touch the hearts of many a generation once more who almost venerate his delightful melodies, through his latest musical venture.

This music legend who was one of the pioneers in bridging two extreme disciplines of music- classical and light in mid 60s, the first Sri Lankan artiste to hold a solo performance in 1973 and the second local artiste to be honoured with prestigious Life Time Achievement Award in the US (after silver screen legend Gamini Fonseka), Victor Ratnayake has once more entered the annals of local music sphere with the launch of his latest CD Detholanga Sinaha early this year- first CD of a local artiste to claim a web site.

"Although many local artistes have their own web sites, this is the first time such a site has been specially designed for a CD," said Mr. Ratnayake emphasizing that it is essentially a tool which encapsulates the essence of this collection of songs and not a portfolio of Victor Ratnayake the artiste.

Comprising ten hits of yesteryear including Detholanga Sinaha and six new songs- "Nila Nil Pehe", "Himikari Obai", "Aluth Davasaka", "Ama Diya dahara", "Nil Upule" (duet with Nelu Adikari) and "Digu Kesha Kalyaniye", this latest music endeavour is promised to be an antidote to many a 'Victor lover'.

"There were often accusations from my fans that very few new hits of mine are heard and most of my old melodies hardly find their way to a CD or a tape today, thus Detholanga Sinaha which is a fusion of both, will fill that void," explained Mr. Ratnayake with a smile.

Composed by eminent lyricists such as Bandula Nanayakkarawasam, Geethanath Kudaligama, Rathna Sri Wijesinghe, Buddhadasa Galapathi and W.A.Abeysinghe, the six new melodies blend harmoniously with "Koheda Koheda Ape lowak", "Obata Pamani" (duet with Pundit Amaradeva) "Sina dolak wan" - some of the classical hits of Victor Ratnayake.

Recalling the chain of incidents which gave birth to the CD, Mr. Ratnayake said, "During my visit to the US last year to receive the Life Time Achievement Award, I met Dr. Lalith Jayasinghe and his wife from Cincinnati who suggested I do a new CD, a fusion of popular old songs and newly composed ones- an undertaking they thought to be a timely one," smiled Mr. Ratnayake.

Talking about the selection of old hits, Mr. Ratnayake said, "they are essentially the choice of Dr. and Mrs. Jayasinghe and they came to a mutual agreement with me as to whom the lyricists of the new melodies should be."
According to Mr. Ratnayake, another specialty of this CD is, that even old songs are recorded in tune with the latest digital technology as opposed to mono-technology. "Songs of my contemporaries and mine preserved at SLBC (then Radio Ceylon) are recorded on mono-technology used those days and such songs which are found on few CDs and tapes today are often found in the same mono format.

However, for this new CD, all hits shaped on mono-technology were re-recorded in tune with digital technology," explained Mr. Ratnayake who believes that this change may sometimes pose challenges. "However much we strive to achieve the status of the original song employing the identical beats, instruments, there may be something more or something less in the new melody both vocal and instrumental wise," said Mr. Ratnayake adding that this is inevitable with the demise of the musicians who contributed to the original hit.

"It is not a question of talent, even today we find equally talented and professional musicians, but the reality that there is only one original song and one set of original musicians who backed up that particular number," explained Ratnayake.

Detholanga Sinaha distributed by Dinara and Gigiri is available at all leading music stores and the special web site can be accessed by logging on to http//www.dinaramusic.com. -Pix by J.Weerasekera

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