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| Sunday, 21 July 2002 |
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by Vimukthi Fernando
A few months later, "mama ahannenam ne rattarane..." the strong of the pain lovers go through facing a dispute catching the hearts of youth and rising high in popularity charts. That was the birth of a new star - Lakshman Hevavitharana, in the field of popular music. It was his guru, Dayaratne Ranatunga who pushed him into singing said Lakshman. Though shy to sing, he was not a stranger to music. In fact, it was the one thing he liked most. Indian music was one of his favourite hobbies during school days. And it was his key-boards, and "Swa Ridma", the music group he lead, during his time in France. "Swa Ridma", under the directions of Lakshman provided music for Sri Lankan artistes visiting France. "It is strange, how things changed", says Lakshman. He is yet reluctant to believe that he is popular among youth. "For 16 years I was in France I visited Sri Lanka only 3 times. However, since 2000 I have come back to Sri Lanka 3 times and this time it is for good, I want to settle here." Why did he think of the song which has become so popular? "Well, it is an experience everyone undergoes - at least once in his or her lifetime. It is an emotion anyone can get close to" And why does he mainly sing love songs? "Because nothing exists without love. Love exists everywhere. Therefore, it is natural that my songs take the theme." It is because of his fans he decided to settle down in Sri Lanka says Lakshman, "I will go back the day they do not want me." He seems quite satisfied with his lot and becomes philosophical "Popularity means danger in other words. Money is something that evaporates. Therefore we should not base our lives on those. I try my best to follow the 'middle path' (of the lord Buddha)." There, the "Sunday Observer" put him the questions on behalf of our readers... Q) What is your idea of success? A) It is basically achieving your goals. You have to have a goal in life which you should try to achieve through all your actions, whatever the obstacles are. Success is neither money and amassing material wealth, nor popularity, but it is experiencing the actual happiness of making your deepest desires, come true. Q) What is your idea of perfect happiness? A) "Perfect happiness is perfect freedom. My happiness is found in the freedom I experience. You need some other things too - to be perfectly happy - such as health, some money and peace of mind." Q) What is your greatest fear? A) Well, I cannot think of anything specific. Shall we say, that I am someone who is ready to face anything, according to the situation. Q) What do you hate most? A) Hurting loved ones. I do not like to hurt those people around me whom I love, but sometime it happens. I feel bad until I meet those people and make peace with them again. Q) What do you like most? A) Aimless wandering. I like to get out of the house without an idea of where I am heading. One other thing I do is to change directions, whenever I think is suitable. If I say I'm going to Matara I might end up in Batticaloa... Q) What objects do you always carry with you? A) Money, a bottle of water and the phone directory. These are the most precious things for me. However, in my car there is always something to eat such as biscuits, a change of clothes and my binoculars. Q) What do you most dislike about your appearance? A) Well, dislikes... there are no dislikes. I'm happy as I am. Q) What do you most like about your appearance? A) I like to see myself smiling Q) Who are your favourite singers? A) Back Street Boys, I like them because they use simple words. Their rhythms are close to our culture and melodious. I enjoy their style. Q) What or who is the greatest love of your life? A) My mother. She is my closest friend. She is my life. She not only takes care of me but leads me and guides me, warns and chastises me if I do wrong. Q) Who is your girlfriend? A) Well, there were so many, but I do have one girlfriend now. But, names are not necessary isn't it? Q) How do you see love? A) Love is a beautiful thing. It is the only thing that can keep us happy. However much we have money or material wealth, if we do not experience the true love of someone, life is meaningless. Sometimes the person whom we love may not truly love us. It might be just a returning of love. We could only be happy the day we find someone who loves us. It does not necessarily need not be the love of your partner, it is the love of that 'someone' somewhere, who loves you from the bottom of his or her heart. Q) What do you think of marriage? A) Marriage is also something that could be described as beautiful as well as wonderous. It is the only thing which keeps you happy when you get old - memories of your marriage and children and grandchildren. But on the otherhand it is also something which is most difficult to maintain and make a successful. People get into marriage thinking that they are compatible but find it otherwise, once they begin living together. The number of divorces are rising, not only in Europe but here too. We see so many divorces, that makes me wonder... Q) Who is your ideal woman? A) Oh! That person I have not found yet. My ideal is someone who is just like me. Open minded, rather selfish and jovial. Who lives by the motto 'main thing is not to worry' and who is happy all the time. Well... almost all the time. I don't much mind the looks, but say... one who has her own individual charm and simple in her ways. Q) Which living person do yo most despise? A) Myself. Because I am very very selfish. Q) On which occasion would you lie? A) When I cannot keep a promise to a loved one, to make that person happy I do lie. The person whom I have told the most amount of lies I'm sure, is to my mother. Q) What is your greatest regret? A) That I waited for so long to make my fans happy. Q) What is your greatest act of courage? A) The decision I've taken to settle down in Sri Lanka. Almost all my friends and relatives, here and abroad discouraged me about this decision. Q) What is your favourite day and time? A) My favourite day was May 4, 2002 the day my cassette was launched. My favourite time has not come yet. Q) When and where were you the happiest? A) There are many such days. But, two memorable times are etched in my mind. One is the day I met the Pope on a visit to Rome. Although I am a Buddhist I regard being blessed by the Pope as a memorable and happy occassion. And the other one was the day I embarked on a tour of six countries in Europe with some of my friends. Q) What single thing would improve the quality of your life? A) Honesty Q) If you were given another chance at life, who or what would you like to be? A) Well, I would like to be myself again. I am quite satisfied with my life. Q) What would your motto be? A) "Main thing is not to worry" the motto I base my life on. Q) How would you like to die? A) In my sleep, without my knowledge. Q) How would you like to be remembered? A) Only as a singer. Not for any personal traits. I do not like people calling me a good person or a bad person or anything. I would simply like to be remembered as a singer. |
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Was
it an accident? Or, could it have been the most daring act in his life?
Tall, bald headed and looking somewhat tough, he smiles enigmatically!
Charming... Yes, the reason behind the sudden vibration of vocal cords
which had been kept quiet for many years is still a mystery. It was not
the joys of love, but the stark reality "aadaraya wage novei aga
hinga danei kooduwe...." (when poverty creeps in love will not be
enough, to cope up with the difficulties you have to harden yourself) was
heard over many radio stations.
