16th November 1997

Musician of the new generation

Quiet. Unassuming. Helpful. Extremely tal ented. These qualities have made Rohana Weerasinghe the most sought after musician today whether it be to provide background music to a teledrama, write the melodies for 12 songs for a cassette or conduct the orchestra at an awards ceremony. In recent years he has made a great contribution towards improving the quality of Sinhala music.

Rohana came into the limelight in the eighties. When D.B. Nihalsingha decided on a musical for his second teledrama, he got Dr. Sunil Ariyaratne to write the lyrics and Rohana to direct the music. Rekha with a semi classical touch was voted the best teledrama of the year (1982) with Rohana winning the award for the best music director. He was adjudged the best music director at two consecutive State Drama Festivals for Talamala Pipila (1988) & Maghatha (1989). His scores in the films Aradhana ( 1980) & Adara Hasuna (1983) were voted the best. In 1990 he created a record when his score in Saharawe Sihinaya was adjudged the best in all three topmost award ceremonies - Swarna Sankha, Sarasaviya and OCIC.

When Dr. Carlo Fonseka wrote 13 songs for a cassette (Kalochita Gee) Singlanka selected Rohana to direct the music. The cassette became a collector's item. The song Rohana sang with Nanda Malini (Rattaran Duwe) hit the top for successive weeks in Rupavahini's Gee Hatha hit parade last month. Incidentally, Rohana began as a radio singer in 1971 and as sitar player in Victor Ratnayake's orchestra in the early 70s.

His cassette Thema is a fine collection of teledrama theme music which shows his versatility in creating the music to suit the theme of a teledrama. (One of the best examples is Giraya). The melodies he has created cover a wide range from classical ragas to the most popular tunes. Ajutapara la hila based on the popular kaffrinja and Nanda Malini's Sukiribattiange geetaya based on baila rhythm are examples of his ability to produce popular tunes.

Rohana is the musician of the new generation. While all the big names in the field have sung for Rohana, one name stands out among the performers - Sunil Edirisinghe. The tally is in the hundreds. They form a fine duo as seen in the immense popularity of Sunil's one man performance Sandakada Pahana.

Upcoming performers

In spite of the heavy rains Navarangahala was packed. The occasion was Piyaneguma IV, the musical presentation by the students of Kalabhumi, the aesthetic educational institute run by three talented young men - Rohana Weerasinghe, Lakshman Wijesekera and Ananda Weerasiri. All three are well known in the music field and the show was ample proof that they are putting a great effort to maintain and build up on our traditional arts. This was the fourth time that the students' talents were being exposed.

The show proved that there is immense potential among the young. Whether it be traditional dance form, music based on folk themes or innovative presentations they are capable of giving their best once properly directed.

The right mood for the evening was created when over a hundred young men and women joined to make a plea for harmony as taught by the Great Teachers. It was a creation by Professor Sunil Ariyaratne extracting the essence from the Tripitaka, Bhagavat Gita, the Holy Koran and the Bible.

One thing stood out throughout the show - the discipline of the performers on stage. All the items featured huge groups and their ages ranged from five to the late teens. Hats off to the teachers who had done an excellent job in training them.

Rare feat

Fifty years continuous singing. Playback singer in nearly 500 films. A tally of over 5000 songs. This is the proud record of Lata Walpola-'our Lata' as against the Indian Lata (Mangeshkar) who celebrated half a century in her singing career a few days back.

She began in the early forties as a girl of 16 singing Namo Mariyani, popular to this day. Her first film came in Eda Re (1953). Immediately after was Prema Tarangaya, which not only paved the way for her to become a popular playback singer but also that's where she met her future husband, Dharmadasa Walpola. Dharmadasa and Lata become the most wanted playback singing duo for many years to follow.

Those were the days when the entire cast and playback singers had to go to India to make Sinhala films. Often the music was directed by an Indian. Lata counts at least 36 trips to India. Once a ban on Hindi tunes was enforced Lata got a chance of singing for the local music directors.

Lata's voice is still fresh. Now she sings with her son Damith. We wish her many more years of melodious singing.

Like father like son!

Reading through the write-up on tal- ented young sitar player Pradeep Ratnayake last Sunday, pleasant memories of the wonderful Peradeniya days in the early fifties came to my mind. Pradeep's father Bandula was a live-wire of Mela, the university's oriental music society.

As the first freshers in Peradeniya (1953) and residents of Jayatilleka Hall, we had guidance from two great scholars who were our wardens, first Professor J.L.C. Rodrigo and then Professor Malalasekera. We felt proud of our hall (named after Sir Baron Jayatilleka) and were quite conscious of the need to protect it. Bandula with his keen interest in Sinhala music was among the pioneers helping to build up values and traditions in keeping with the Jayatillake name. In addition to his involvement with the Mela, he would keep us entertained many an evening after dinner playing the violin or the sitar.

Review

Never never boring

PETER PAN by the students of Wycherley International School

"Second to the right or right? and straight on till morning" and you find yourself in the enchanted world of Peter and the Never Never Land where the students of Wycherley International School have been spending the last three nights. Peter Pan is a childhood classic and one wonders why boredom never sets in even after repeated viewing.

Certainly under the expert hand of Ms. Samantha Abeywira de Soysa and the enthusiastic cast of nearly 70 children, "Peter Pan" came to life again.

From among the cast I think my favourite was tiny little Fatema Saifudeen adorable as Tiger Lily. Anoli Ratnayake made a lovely and convincing Wendy while Graham de Hoedt as the boyish Peter Pan was a run - away hit-especially in the solo " You Gotta Believe". The supporting chorus was specially good right through the play but even more so when they sang "Yes We Believe" as they moved through the audience. I loved Captain Hook so elegantly portrayed by Devinda Arangala. The visual effects and props were absolutely stunning as well they might be expected to be in the hands of veteran Jith Pieris. Quick changes of scenery were effected most professionally and the Mermaid scene in particular drew delighted oohs and aahs from the audience.

Similarly the Red Indian Camp which had kiddies clapping excitedly to the tom-tom beat of the spirited dances choreographed right through by evergreen Oosha Saravanamuttu. Costuming by Mitabi Gunawardena was lavish and colourful and beautifully executed. Shehani Fernando's musical direction was most impressive. Finding children who can both sing and act cannot be an easy task for any producer but this seemingly impossible hurdle was brilliantly overcome by Wycherley International with their plethora of highly talented kiddies who rollicked through "Peter Pan" hugely enjoying every moment.

Their enjoyment communicated itself to the happy audience of parents, grandparents or just people like myself who love watching children perform. But whether one was an uncritical relative or just an outside visitor there was no disagreement as to the fine performance by Wycherley International School. "Peter Pan" was a hit Colombo will long remember. - G.G.

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