16th November 1997

A salute for his melodies

Preserving the time honoured local music culture and dedicating over fifty years to classical music, Ameradeva's contribution to the Lankan music scene is immense

By G.K. Mandawala

Pandit W.D Amaradeva, the master of creative Sinhala music needs no introduction to music lovers of Sri Lanka. Undoubtedly it's a long journey of absolute dedication coupled with effort and talent that helped him create music in keeping with the long established cultural heritage and traditions of Sri Lanka.

The beginning of his long journey, spanning over fifty years, still echoes in my ears, when this writer was in his early teens and Amaradeva in his late teens. It was in 1947 when W.D. Albert Perera, as he was then known, sang "Aye Kale Yamek Aaley" and "Bhave Beetha Hera" in the Sinhala film "Asokamala," which were 'musical hits' at that time. W.D.Albert Perera was Assistant Director of music while Mohamed Ghouse was Director of Music in "Asokamala."

"Shantha Mey Rae Yamey" "Peenamuko-Kalu Gange" came over the air during this period of time, followed by many other melodies such as "Udaye Upul Vile" Leladeya Bande Sudu Sele' just to mention a few.

In 1951 Professor Ratnajankar, India's foremost musician visited Sri Lanka to grade our local musicians. It was Professor Ratnajankar who rated Ameradeva as Sri Lanka's number one. This turned out to be the period of transition. Hindi based Sinhala music was gradually replaced by creative national music. At this juncture "Lankadeepa" the reputed Sinhala daily of the 'Times Group' of Newspapers sponsored a scholarship funded by the music-loving public to give Amaradeva the opportunity of going across to 'Shanthniketan', the cradle of music in India, founded by Tagore, the great Indian poet and scholar.

Having had the opportunity of entering Bhathkande University of Music, Amaradeva accomplished this task well ahead of time and returned to his motherland with a Degree in Oriental Music, Sangeetha Visharada.

Whether it was Radio Ceylon programmes, local ballet or local cinema, it was Amaradeva's musical rhythms which vibrated in the four corners of the country. "Hoiya Hoiya", the theme song in "Karadiya" ballet, "Etha Kandukara Himan Arane" in "Nala Damayanthi" ballet are outstanding. "Janagayana" "Madhuvanthi" "Gee Ama Bindu," "Swarnawarna" are some of Amaradeva's notable music scores besides folk songs and Buddhist devotional songs. In Amaradeva's efforts to provide creative national music, one remembers the famous lyric writers, Madawala S. Ratnayake, Chandraratne Manawasinghe, Dalton de Alwis and Mahagama Sekera for their contributions.

Honoured by the Bhatkande University of Music with the title of 'Pandit' for Sri Lankan creative music and Kelaniya University with a Doctorate in Philosophy (Fine Arts), Pandit Amaradeva is a simple man with hall-marks of absolute sincerity.

We salute him for enriching the nation with creative enchanting melodies.

Telling of torment in hues

Nilanthi Weerasekera was a bright student at The Voice of Women's Poster and Painting Workshop 1996. We did not have to push her or plod her on. She loved painting and hardly missed a class. We could see great enthusiasm on her face when she got on to serious work. And she did work hard on it and always seriously.

Her special dedication was to women's issues. She had from her young days felt the isolation of a woman in a society where a second place was carved out for her.

Her final painting in oil on canvas at our workshop was of military rape.

The degradation of womanhood with a background where a helmet, a pair of military boots and a belt spoke for the crime committed by an absent rapist.

It is a powerful painting which spoke silently for the crime committed on the subject.

Nilanthi was aware of the different treatment given to women in a patriarchal society, and was full of questions why it should be so. At our workshop she learnt answers to her questions, and since then has become an advocate against violence committed on women.

She has been selected by UNESCO for the Aschberg Bursary at Knostepdemin in Goterborg in Sweden for further training.

We hope ideologically she will be one of our foremost feminist painters for spreading the message to men and women. She has great creativity and great skill. She is full of vigour and hope.

– Eva Ranaweera

The exhibition will be on at the Heritage Art Gallery, Dharma-pala Mawatha, Colombo 3, from November 15-23.

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