Comedy and tragedy of "Super Stars"

by Prasad Gunewardene

Clarence Wijewardene	H.R. Jothipala	Milton Mallawaarachchi

Having viewed the performances of both "yesteryear stars" and of the "Super Stars" created by the contest on "Sirasa" Television, it moved me to pen these few analytical lines. Though few months have lapsed after the contest, I do not feel it is belated, because time is a factor that helps one to make an indepth study or a good analysis. The TV contest was fine. The modus operandi of the selection is certainly open for debate. In my view, the winner was "Dialog GSM-SMS". I say this because even the final SMS count was disputed by the very fans who voted for the two finalists, Malith Perera and Ajith Bandara. Let us now examine how the twelve contestants in the final group emerged as "Super Stars".

"Stars" are many but, there could be only one "Super Star". Now, the term - "Super Star" - has been undermined as the very people who introduced this contest seem to call all the twelve "Super Stars". But, the contest revolved to elect only one super star. Leave alone that, the young men and women Presenters of those programs are clueless. Like the "Super Stars" they too appear to have seen the light of this world in the mid 1980s. They do not know the names of yesteryear singers who sang the originals now sung by the so called "Super Stars" moulded into fame by their own TV station. Recently, the heart throb of the "Super Stars" who was not even among the immediate runners-up, Shihan Miharanga Bennet, sang a song of the late J.A. Milton Perera. But, the young female Presenter said, "Shihan will now sing "Sihina Devduwe" sung by Milton Mallawaarachchi. She became the laughing stock of many who knew who the original vocalist who made that song popular for the younger generation to take that legacy.

Now, I will come to the "Super Star", Ajith Bandara. This young man can certainly sing. Like his eleven companions in that contest, all of them are good singers unlike others who produce CDs and Audios at their own expense to call themselves singers. Ajith Bandara had specialised in Priya Suriyasena's songs. The "Sirasa" TV failed in one aspect, that is to give credit to the composer of the song that made Ajith Bandara the Super Star. The composer was the late great, Clarence Wijewardene. Priya Suriyasena sang it. This song is well over four decades old as it was composed by Clarence and given to Annesley Malawana during the "Moonstones" days. But, Annesley never liked to sing that high pitch number. Later, Priya recorded it. This failure by "Sirasa" TV has put the original singers in shame. Recently, Priya Suriyasena sang this number "Etha Ran Viman" composed by Clarence at an open air show. When he alighted from the stage, young girls asked him why he sang Ajith Bandara's song. He was embarrassed. We cannot blame the young, born during the past two decades. They do not know the history. If due credit was given to the creator of such beautiful compositions and the singer, the original singers would not be embarrassed.

Ajith Bandara	Malith Perera	Shihan Mihiranga.

Sirasa TV needs commendation for unearthing this hidden talent in the country. These men have emerged as "Super Stars" over the shoulders of original singers. Space do not permit me to mention them by name as none of them were spared during that lengthy contest. Though all of them performed to satisfaction, there were some among them who were outstanding though they lacked stage performance. They were Amila Perera, Nishantha Nanayakkara, Malith Perera and schoolboy, Dharshana Pramod. They did well in all styles of melodies. They only lacked stage performance. The man who was best at stage performance was undoubtedly, the heart throb of the contest, Shihan Mihiranga. This handsome tall lad captured the audience from day one though his singing was not upto perfection. I would make this assessment from the experience I gathered being a close friend of the late Clarence Wijewardene for nearly three decades, who introduced the Sinhala pop style to Sri Lanka. Certainly, he is a good "market product" and that was why fortune smiled at him over the other 'super stars'. "Super Star", Ajith Bandara, a good singer who gives voice aplenty certainly did not look a 'market product'.

Now let us examine the damage caused to the stars of yesteryear. These young men continue to sing the numbers of original singers both on stage and on programs on Sirasa TV. Even the deceased, H.R. Jothipala, J.A. Milton Perera and Milton Mallawaarachchi are not spared. Sinhala pop music legend, Clarence Wijewardene must surely be turning in his grave as some of these young men 'kill' his style unable to match the style of Clarence that had variations. Another heart throb of yesteryear, Rukantha Gunetiilleke, who was also an adjudicator of this contest surely must be disturbed in his sleep when Shihan sings his song "Mata Nida Ganna Ba." Rukantha, is a talented musician who sings to emotion from the mindand body. None could copy or imitate him.

These "Super Stars" are said be charging exorbitant rates to appear on stage. Such rates are paid to hear what?.... Nothing but those lovely songs of yesteryear singers. The tragedy is that these so called "Super Stars" make a living over the souls of late singers while those alive lament in their homes being deprived of their bread and butter.