Monday, December 3, 2018

Sinhala Songs from a Bygone Era - 1

As you know, we have had long periods of "droughts" which have turned out to be a nightmare personally to me as the Blog Administrator. I am referring of course to "droughts" as far as new posts / contributions are concerned, and not the dreaded droughts which we have been facing in recent times - natural disasters.

I have been thinking hard as to what I should do to keep audience interest and enthusiasm alive during such times. I am well aware that at least some of you, even those based abroad, still enjoy old sinhala music from the past. I can name a few of them from the top of my head because we have exchanged private e-mails on the subject culminating in publishing on the blog, some of those songs which we felt were worth sharing with a larger audience. Among such batch colleagues are Speedy (Mahendra Gonsalkorale), ND (Nihal Amerasekera and Zita (Zita Perera Subasinghe) who are all Professional Consultants in their chosen fields (Neurologist turned Geriatrician, Haematologist turned Radiologist, Ophthalmologist etc.)

Even under that large topic, I count old sinhala film songs, not so old ones and of course singers belonging to two main eras, as distinct categories. Examples of each such category are: Mohideen Baig, Rukmani Devi, CT Fernando, Sunil Shantha, Nanda Malini, HR Jothipala, Sunil Edirisinghe, Milton Mallawarachchi, TM Jayaratne, Angeline Gunatilake, Sujatha Attanayake, Neela Wickramasinghe, Gunadasa Kapuge, Sisira Senaratne, Indrani Wijebandara , Clarence Wijewardene, Athula and Samitha Mudunkotuwa, Bhathiya and Santhust to name a few.

I propose to use them as "fillers" when there is a lull and all our regular contributors have gone into a shell. Sriani Dissanayake Basnayake has already gone into a shell. So are Lucky Weerasuriya, Razaque Ahamat for reasons of ill health. Then there are others who still remain active - Indra Anandasabapathy, Srianee (Bunter) Fernando Dias who contribute in fits and starts and the ever active Speedy, ND and Zita. Although he doesn't make any contributions as such, AHT Sumathipala hardly ever fails to make a comment under published posts.

Today, I start the new series with this lovely song "Mihikatha Nalawala" . The original version is by Sunil Shantha (his worthy successor being Ivor Dennis). But what I am presenting today is a largely unheard of version by a new singer with different musical accompaniments. It is from the Sinhala Teledrama called "Sakuge Kathawa". If you are not a Sinhala Teledrama fan, I strongly recommend that you become an addict today. There are also some very good TV programmes which feature new, emerging musicians. Look out for violinist Dinesh Subasinghe! All local TV channels could be viewed online by those based abroad.


8 comments:

  1. An excellent idea BAd (Lucky is not bad!) I look forward to more. Are we allowed to send you suggestions, and possibly YouTube links so you can post them? The one you just posted was sent to me only 2 days ago by none other than our own Zita and you know what? I hugely enjoyed it. (I am using current jargon such as"you know what" and "huge" as everything is "huge" these days!

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  2. Lucky
    Age is catching up with us all. Health issues and other commitments make regular contributions that much harder. Nothing, as they say, is forever. With time this blog will finally come to an end. Give some thought to what will happen to this wonderful collection of memories, music and poems. Is there a medical school archive? Is organisations like ComSAA able to take on the task of retaining this valuable collection of digital memorabilia. It will be a shame to let it perish and lose it all. Mahen, Srianee, Zita, Sumathi and all other well-wishers, put your thinking caps on and give us your thoughts.

    About the music - Great idea as we all are attached to the music of our youth. Some of the old music is now sung by their children or others giving it some 'oomph' and better arrangements and more refined accompaniment.

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  3. Thank you for your comments. Of course, suggestions from viewers would be most welcome. That includes YouTube links. Now that ND has brought it up, I was also wondering what would eventually happen to this valuable collection after our time. Any ideas?

    On another subject, I was at an IMPA CE programme last evening where the Guest Lecturers were Pulmonologist (Chest Physician) Dr. Kirthi Gunasekara who spoke on COPD and Cosmetic/Plastic Surgeon Dr. Kavinda Rajapaksa whose topic for the evening was "Burns". The lectures are always followed by Fellowship and dinner. I was seated with four Paediatricians and enjoying a drink prior to dinner. The Paediatricians were Sanath Lama, Maxi Fernandopulle (of the "300" batch) and Naomal Gunaratne who had graduated in 1956. Sanath mentioned that Naomal is the oldest living practicing Paediatrician at 89 years of age. Naomal (who is still quite hale and hearty) said that he had received a letter from Durdans to the effect that he is too old to practice his speciality! Food for thought.

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  4. Lucky!
    You got spelling of Geriatrics,inadvertently.We don't use the word geriatrics that often.It is worded as Physicians with interest in old age or Gerontology.Geriatricians were considered as second class physicians.That Speciality was so unpopular,the whites avoided becoming Geriatricians,in the days bygone.It is no longer a taboo.Now,they look after patients with strokes,Dementia,frequent falls etc.I am sure,Speedy has no regrets that he was ignored,when it came to his favourite,Neurology.Sorry,Lucky,I am not taking mickey out of you.I enjoying,posting comments,as I am no good in writing poems and biographies.


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  5. Thanks Sumathi. I have corrected that error.

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  6. Thank,you.Hope you are not crossed with me!

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  7. Absolutely beautiful,
    simple in instumentation. and beautifully sung. I wish someone would translate the song.
    ia

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