Unforgettable

by Aditha Dissanayake

Wagner in one of his letters to Listz complained of "people who come in dozen packages". He might well have been referring to some of today's musicians. They come and they go. To quote from a lyric now topping the Sinhala music charts "giya, giya...gi...yaaaa" (gone, gone,...go...ne).

How would Baddaliyanage Don Joseph John have reacted to a song like the above? Would he have cringed in disgust? Would he have held a press conference and denounced the singer? Or would he have shrugged his shoulders and bent his head over a broken radio, trying to repair it in order to feed his family?

Bent over the radio. That's what he would have done had he lived today. Or perhaps not, for if he had lived today he would have been ninety-two years old too old to repair radios, but not too old to talk about songs like 'Oolu Pipeela' and 'Kokilayange'.

You must surely know by now, who I am talking about (in spite of the strange name and the reference to the broken radio).

Yes. Sunil Santha (note that he wrote his name with only one h). Soon it will be that time of the year once more, (his birth and death anniversaries fall on April 14, 1915 and April 11, 1981, respectively) to remember him, and already there are two events lined up (see the boxes) to pay tribute to this great singer, hailed by Professor Ediriwira Sarachchandra as one who "marked the beginning of a new chapter in the history of Sinhalese Music" (source: Mahinda Thenekoon, Island, July, 18, 2004) and described by Tissa Abeysekera as a musician who strangled himself (July 11, 2006, Dinamina) The latter, is perhaps one way of describing Sunil Santha's strong sense of pride - pride in his abilities as a musician, pride in not letting money rule his world.

When Radio Ceylon invited Professor Ratnajankar to advise Sri Lankan musicians on how to create a musical tradition, in 1952, Sunil Santha rightfully refused to face the test conducted by the Professor because he realized that a foreigner who did not know our culture, our folksongs would never know what kind of tradition should best befit our country.

"It is stupid to expect a jack tree to bear coconuts". He said, boldly stepping where other musicians feared to tread.

He paid for his defiance by losing his job at the Radio Ceylon. To feed his three sons and daughter, he started to repair radio sets, gramophones, and even sell dried-fish. Premasara Epasinghe in the commemoration address he delivered on the 24th Death Anniversary of Sunil Santha recalls visiting him at Dehiyagatha.

"His home can aptly be called a Kukul Kotuwak (a chicken coop). There was no chair to sit. A booruanda(camp bed) and a table were the only luxury items. All over the place there were many radio sets, gas stoves and various electrical items brought in for repairs.

He welcomed the two of us. "For a moment I thought that two police officers from Seeduwa and Ja-ela have come to record my statements regarding my possessing unlicensed radio sets.

Every now and then they come and question me and they are trying to take me into courts. I'm doing the radio repairs and other electrical repairs to keep our home fires burning. Leela my beloved wife who is like my shadow and I have to feed three sons and a daughter."

When offered a blank cheque inviting him to take part in a radio programme called Aradana he had refused saying. "Mr. Epasinghe now I cannot articulate musical notes (swara) properly and sing. It is not fair by you and the Bank of Ceylon for me to take this assignment. One day, I must die as Sunil Santha. I do not want to tarnish my good name.

It is true that I am financially in dire straits. I am so sorry that I cannot sell my name for rupees and cents and to be a mockery to myself. I am not haughty. I value principles. Please thank Mr. A.S Jayawardene (the then Governor of the Central Bank) on my behalf."

This was Sunil Santha - the stormy genius of the last century, a singer who was larger than life in his generosity, his pride, his anger and above all his music - the imprint of which will remain indelible.

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Geethamaya Sunil Sandava

In an attempt to introduce Sunil Santha to the present generation, the Nature Explorer's Club of Sacred Heart Convent, Galle will present an evening with Sunil Santha titled Geethamaya Sunil Sandava at the school hall on March 30, 2007 at 6pm.Beginning with his first song - Olu Pipeela, around forty students, trained by Wilson Kulasooriya will take the stage rendering voice to such hits as Mihikatha Nalawala, Kokilayange, Valakulen Basa etc reawakening the sweet melodies of the past.

The music, the dancing and the singing lined up for the evening promise to keep you humming throughout the night and well onto the weekend.

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Dinner with legendary artistes at the Punchi Theatre

Namel Malini Punchi Theatre Arts Circle is launching a continuous program of monthly Musical Events of Legendary Artistes followed by dinner for the public to experience at the end of each month through out the year, commencing from 31st March 2007.

The Arts Circle has lined up twelve Artistes to bring out their silver voices at the end of each month supported by a beautifully enriched orchestra. The dates of each performances will be announced and given publicity every month indicating, who the legendry Artiste would be.

The opening legendry Artiste of this program is Ivor Dennis. He needs no introduction to the music world as the foremost disciple of the maestro of Sunil Santha of yester year's beautiful and disciplined melodic renderings. This event is named as Legendry Sunil Santha's Music via Ivor Dennis, and is scheduled to go on the boards at the Namel Malini Punchi Theatre on 31 March 2007 at 6.45 p.m.

In the following months Indrani and Sisira Senerathne, and Rohana Beddage are scheduled with a host of others of similar caliber.

Punchi Theatre takes the view that such artistes are unfortunately seen by modern society as people of the past.

Punchi Theatre Arts Circle considers this as a sad drift and believes the new generations have to know our past, our culture and history for us to survive as a civilized world. It is because of this belief that the Punchi Theatre Arts Circle has taken the initiative to launch this program and thereby create an atmosphere to promote the audiences for classical and semi classical music.

The distinguishing feature of the monthly program is the novelty of giving the audience another "musical session" of a 'Padura' (dinner) in the company of the Legendry Artiste at the Reception Hall after his main event is over at the auditorium.

By this process, Punchi Theatre Arts Circle's intention is to pave the way for the audience to come in close contact with the Artistes through heart-to-heart chats. This will provide a friendly and cordial atmosphere, giving a wealth of mutual happiness to both parties concerned.

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