Stanley Omar - a versatile musician

By Nilma Dole

The inspirational Kalabooshana/Kalasoori Stanley Omar has taken the music industry to greater heights and has even uplifted the Malay music scene in our country. He comes across as a charismatic and passionate musician who has offered his best to bring new variations in music.

“I attended Ananda College and under the guidance of my music mentors Proffessor Sangeeth Wisharada and Edwin Samadirakaran, I learnt the wonderful world of music”, reminices Omar. “The first musical instrument I learnt was the violin which my father presented me” he said. Further he moved onto to playing various instruments like the mandolin, guitar, flute and sitar.

“I found myself as an English stenographer at the Ministry of Industries and owing to the job security I worked for a long time there” says Omar about his career.

“I indulged in my favourite hobby by joining the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation as a musician with my own show and for various children’s programmes”, Omar remembers nolstagically.

Omar has been responsible for bringing H.R. Jothipala to life with memorable music and he has worked on several films as a music director. His popular song ‘Mage Ran Raje’ was a hit on the J. Cader’s production ‘Suratheley’. He has also contributed immensely in stage dramas namely ‘Janaleya’, ‘Semisayasa’ and many Henry Jayasena productions where he has led the orchestra.

Not only being versatile in the Sinhala but he has composed his own Malay songs which are sung today by the Sri Lankan Malays in Sri Lanka. These songs have uplifted the Malay language for the present and future generations and have been helpful to highlight the Malay language.

He has won several film and music awards like the Sarasivi film music award and the TV Star Choice awards. Stanley Omar provided the smooth melodies for the stage drama ‘Suba Saha Yasa’ by Saiman Navagaththegama which was directed by renowned actor Sriyantha Mendis.

The audience were enlightened with Stanley Omar’s magical music which received an outstanding ovation. About the future Omar highlights “I have opened a music academy called the ‘Jothi Music Institute’ where one can learn any instrument and I have personally taught many notable people like the previous Malaysian High Commissioner”.

Stanley praises his wife Mohshina for being supportive every step of the way and his children for providing support and holding their 50th anniversary celebration in Canada.

Pic - Priyantha Hettige