Arts / culture

The legend is remembered

by Mahes Perera

The Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation has organised a mega musical show Samanmalpiyalle and Swarna Jothi Felicitation to remember the singing legend H. R. Jothipala whose contribution to Sinhala pop music has been immense.

The musical show is staged today 6.30 p.m. at the BMICH. Those leading lights participating in this extravaganza are Gratien Ananda, Angeline Gunathileke, Nuwan Gunawardena, Ravindra Randeniya, Keerthi Pasquel, Priyankara Ratnayake, Champaka Ramanayake, Kasun Kalhara, Kithsiri Jayasekera and Shanika Wanigasekera.

Choreography for the show is by Channa Wijewardena and the dances will include performances by popular actors and actresses.

At this twentieth commemoration event the Golden Jothi award will be given to the best lyricist, music album, musician, music band and best male and female singer.The proceeds from this event will be channelled to the H. R. Jothipala Fund.A quick spool back and we know that he was a prolific playback singer for the Sinhala cinema.

Jothipala was considered best at singing transcribed Hindi songs for the male lead roles in films. His domination in this area spanned two decades. He lent his voice to stars like Eddie Jayamanne, Ananda Jayaratne, Gamini Fonseka, Vijaya Kumaratunga, Sanath Gunatilleke, Ravindra Randeniya and to the young stars then, Damith Fonseka and Lal Weerasinghe.

According to reports he made his debut as playback singer in Surathalee where be sang Siriyame Sara, and later worked with name directors in Sri Lanka.

Of significance is his work with Dr. Lester James Pieris' Sandeshaya where he sang Puruthugeesikaraya, composed by Sunil Santha and Arisen Ahubudu which today has gone into the book of musical history.In his musical career Jothipala sang in many films and at a rough count more than seventy five in number.

Normally singers of his calibre would have been nurtured in music at home, but in Jothipala's home they had no radio and in his young days he grew up listening to songs in the tea kiosks in his home area and to think that when the 70s and 80s came around no musical show was complete without H.R. Jothipala.

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Sadaham Sisila

The Moratuwa Arts Forum is organising a recital of Buddhist devotional songs on Friday June 29 at the Prince of Wales grounds from 6.30 p.m. onwards.

The songs that will be sung at the recital Sadaham Sisila have been composed by the MAF members, Sarath Gunawardena, C. L. Fonseka, Lalith Kalubowila, Eranjan and Viranjan and Berty Dixon. The musical arrangements were handled by Sarath Gunawardena.

The programme is open to the public and the students and staff of Prince of Wales College will be featured along with the MAF singers. A dance sequence called Bawa Ranganaya will be presented by Janadari Salgado and the whole programme will be covered by Derana.

Pahan Ridma

In his objective to preserve the old sinhala hymns so that future generations may be able to listen and appreciate the musical quality of the hymns, Fr. Edmund Tillekeratne of St. Michael's Church, Koralawella together with Prasantha Fernando has released the CD Pahan Ridma recently.

The CD contains the melodies of sixteen such hymns played and mastered by Prasantha Fernando with the musical arrangements, compositions and direction handled by Fr. Edmund.

"Apart from the fact that the CD is for posterity, the music as I intended is music to tranquillise the mind of those who have had traumatic experiences or even for those under stress due to heavy pressure in today's life style" comments Fr. Edmund.

Compositions by Fr. Marcelline Jayakody like Nelum Pipila, Penibara wana mal, Paduwa Nagaraye, Sapiri Sema and lyrics written by the Franciscan Brothers of Maggona are included in the CD. In creating this successful aura of tranquillity in music clever use of organ, sitar, tabla, violins, clarinet and guitar has given the arrangements a certain ethereal sophistication that is soothing.

M.P.