Cultured human voice that dominated music scene

The songstress whose voice is synonymous with the heart beat of the nation:

By Ranga Chandrarathne

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Sujatha who rendered her harmonious voice to over 352 Sinhalese films and 19 Tamil movies is a jewel among songstresses who can sing in eight languages including Hindi, Tamil, Nepali, Gujarati and Islamic songs (songs with Arabic words). She is also a tragic victim of dirty gangsterism in the field of art which dominated the award committees and prevented her from claiming many an award that were rightfully hers.

Sujatha Attanayake’s name will not only be inscribed in the Sri Lankan music scene as the first Directress of Music but also as the only Artist who scarified her son for the protection of territorial integrity of the nation.

Her son Captain Chanaka Sanjeewa Attanayake died in action on September 25, 1992 in Pooneryn. By now her songs have become the soul of collective memory of the nation and linger in the heart and minds of generations to come.

Speaking of so-called award ceremonies and discriminations that she was subjected to, Sujatha Attanayaka recalled she was deprived of an award in Sarasaviya Film Festival of 1969 for the song “Sanda Raginiyane” “Wajambena” Guwana Ara” in the film “Sekaya”. The lyric for the song was written by Karunaratne Abeysekara and music was by M.K. Roksamy. Though the song was listed in the best films, it did not receive the award and the award was given to a song which was similar to a poem.

She says another occasion she was deprived of a Sarasaviya award was for the song “Sudo Mama Adarai” in the film “Mayurige” “Katawa”. Still her fans wonder why she was not given the award for the film. Following the death of her son Captain Chanaka Sanjeewa Attanayaka, she left Sri Lanka for America in 2002.

At the time she left Sri Lanka, she worked as an Assistant Director of Education. Though she visited Sri Lanka from time to time, she did not sing for films.

She fondly reminded with gratitude the Sri Lanka Muslim Artiste Front which presented her with the award “Pan Mai Kokilam” which was received by her brother Susil Perera on her behalf as she was in America.

Of the popular songs, Sujatha believes that the notation of a song should be heart rendering so that it becomes the part of the collective conscience of the nation. However, today there are no such talented musicians and even if there are, they do not go after songs.

Only a handful of persons are composing music for songs of the newcomers. On the other hand public taste of the country has been deteriorating. In this backdrop, it is hard to expect a good notation to come out. She does not think that those so-called musicians would even have listen to good music.

Since three years, she has been helping a Dhamma school in Mahakandarawa in Anuradhapura with material aids such as cloths and stationary. In addition to her forte in music, Sujatha Attanayake who studied Kathak dance under Srimathi Rasadari is also an accomplished Kathak dancer.

Her teacher Srimathi Rasadari who studied Kathak from her Gugru Pandit Wickramasinghe is from Luknow Garana. She is equally conversant with many diverse traditions of music including pieces of Eastern and Western music.

Commenting on the singing and dancing competitions aired on television and radio, she stated for instance, that Sirasa Superstars is good programme which gave chance for budding talents to come to the fore front of the music arena.

However, Sujatha is of the view that the present format of the programme is conducive not to enhancing talents. In the first rounds, the amateur singers sang songs originally sung by popular singers like Latha Walpola, H.R. Jothipala, Victor Ratnayake. After becoming Superstars, they produced their own albums.

However, these songs did not become hits thus confirming that those so called ‘stars’ are actually not superstars.

With songs like “Parawuna Mala Suwanda Aththithe”, “Sadu Danthada” and “Jeevana Wilameda” Sujatha has indelibly inscribed her name in the annals of Sri Lankan music. However, she has remained as perhaps, the most celebrated victim of the vicious gangsterism that dominates Sri Lankan art scene.

Though her songs are popular among Sri Lankan fans, some of the rare songs with classical base such as “Pade” “Kinikini” (Upali Dhanawalavithana) “Ei ata” Pala” (Premanath Jayatilake), “Dedena Pathu” and “Rathi Ragana” (Premakirthi de Alwis) have not been added to the circulation.

Milestones in her trailblazing career

Born in 1942 as third child of Tower Hall actress and songstress Vimala Kantha.

Singing of the song “Malse Dileva” for a feature programme in SLBC in 1950.

Winning the first place in the amateur song’ competition for the song

“Sadu Dantha Da” in 1954 (Devotional song to the sacred tooth relic)

Her first song she sang for SLBC in 1950 for which music was composed by A.J. Careem

The first playback song she sang in 1956 for the Sinhala film “Sohoyuro” (brothers). R. Muththusamy composed and directed music for the film which was produced by M. Nayagam.

Commencement of her formal education in 1961 and in 1966 she graduated a vocalist in the category of Super grade Singer of Tamil songs and earned the coveted title of Visharadha in Sitar and Vocal.

In 1971, Sujatha, as the only Sinhalese artist, presented a recital of Tamil songs a one-woman show at Kathiresan Hall, Bambalapitiya.

In 1979 she presented a one-woman recital of Islamic songs titled “Ilampirai Geetangal” at the Town Hall, Maradana.

She sang a Nepali song in 1980 when King Birendra and Queen Vimla visited Sri Lanka.

In 1958 she became the first Sinhalese singer who sang a Hindi song for the programme “Bal Sakha”. Sivakumar Saroj worded the song while J. Sriyananda composed the music for the song.

She won Swarna Sanka award for the “Duka Ena Kala Peralila” in the film “Yatagiya Dawasa”. Karunaratna Abeysekara wrote the lyrist while music was composed by R. Muthusamy.

Won Sarasavi award in 1967 for the song “Paravunu mal vala” “Suwanda” “Atheethe” in the film “Parasathumal”.

In 1971 qualified as Tamil songstress and in 1972 joined academia as Lecturer of the Teachers’ Training College Kaluthara. Won the best singer’s award for the song “Punchi Dawaswala Nindata Yaddi” (Ajantha Ranasinghe wrote the lyrist and Sarath Dasanayake composed music) In 1973, Sujatha presented a recital of Tamil songs (“Swaram”) as a one - woman show.

Sujatha directed music for the film “Hariyata Hari” as the first Sinhalese directress. The film was directed by William Ohlams. 1979 became the best vocalist scoring 96 marks in the classification done by Mrs. Deepal Nag.

1985 represented Sri Lankan cultural delegation for the SAARC Summit. Following the tragic death of her son, Sujatha Attanayaka launched a cassette titled “Yuda Bima Kandulak” to commemorate the 1st death anniversary of her son and thousands of soldiers who made a supreme scarified for the motherland. She is a Super Grade artist for both Sinhala and Tamil services in SLBC as well as an A Grade classical artist for both Sinhala and Tamil services in SLBC.