Sinhabumi launched Chitral leaps to fame

By Kurulu Kariyakarawana

Back in 1999 when I was in my Advanced Level class at Ananda College, Colombo we were in a ‘clique’ of several students including now popular artistes Kasun Kalhara and Indrachapa Liyanage.

Even before they walked into the limelight of the Sri Lankan showbiz, I still remember how they sang songs during the free periods and practised their melodies at the last row of the classroom surrounded by us who thumped the desks to rhythmic beats.

One of the latest songs that caught our fancy back then was a theme of a local beer advertisement that became so popular overnight.

A visual depicting the pride of lions majestically roaming across the African Savannah won the hearts of many youth, undoubtedly as it was backed by a powerful theme song belonged to the genre of rock sung by a man in a high pitched voice with lot of passion and energy.

Unique features

Nevertheless, the composition of that commercial with the visuals of that significant beast, which is common to the brand as well as to the country that tried to touch its clientele with a sense of national pride, earned much fame only because of the song and the unique features of the distinctive singer.

Nadee Ganga Tharanaye was the hit that embraced by hundreds of thousands at once because of its well-known melody, revolutionary lyrics apart from the powerful vocal expressions by the Sri Lankan hard rock and heavy metal vocalist Chitral Chity Somapala.

The song which was first aired in 1998 in the form of a television commercial theme that gave Chitral with immense popularity in the local scene, was left untouched for over one and half decades to be released with a music video for its fans who had desperately been waiting for many years.

Music video

After 16 years the song Nadee Ganga Tharanaye was launched last week with a brand new music video with a striking effect, along with Chitral introducing his debut Sinhala music CD Sinhabumi.

Inheriting music from his beloved parents P L A and Chitra Somapala, a much loved and well-respected couple who sang religious and nationalistic duets such as Isurumuniye and Dambulugale, Chandana Chitral Somapala took his first guitar lessons when he was ten. Within a couple of years he learnt to play the electric guitar and by 17 he was a popular figure in the local rock band scene.

Playing with various bands such as Shock and Friends, Chitral’s dream was to become a rock vocalist in the future with his special vocal skills and ability to create the most amazing rhythms by pulling the strings of his guitar.

Original song

During this period Chitral was proposed by his friend Bertram Nihal to come up with his original song. By then Chitral had already started his singing career and in 1998 Bertram Nihal wrote the lyrics of Nadee Ganga Tharanaye to the famous tune of ‘Many rivers to cross’ the historic hit by legendary Jimmy Cliff. The song that comes out to back a beer commercial becomes a major hit overnight.

Chitral who was known only among his peers and friends in the music industry as the son of the late Chitra – Somapala, shot to fame with ‘Nadee Ganga Tharanaye’ as an offspring of Chitra – Somapala family with entirely a different style of music.

Rock and pop fans of Sri Lanka embraced this slender-looking long haired icon with studded accessories, armed with an incredible weapon of unique voice, who had the dreams to become a ‘Scorpions’ or an ‘Aerosmith’ style metal rocker one day.

Chitral who always felt that he was gifted with a unique voice for rock music sensed that by sharpening his skills, he will go places not only in the local arena but in Europe, which is the home for hundreds of rock bands and genres.

Rock artiste

Since the late nineties Chitral had been living overseas and picked Germany to settle down for his work and career as a rock artiste. Engaged himself in numerous tours across the globe to conduct gigs and concerts, Chitral was encouraged by his best buddies to launch a debut Sinhala songs CD and finally to produce a much awaited music video for his lucky hit Nadee Ganga Tharanaye.

Being addressed among his close friends by the pet name ‘Chity’, Chitral feels it’s high time to deliver something new to his Sri Lankan fans. Accompanied by the lyricist Bertram Nihal and his childhood pal since grade one Priyantha Kolombage, Citral launched Sinhabumi with ‘M entertainment’ and the ‘Nadee Ganga Tharanaye’ music video.

Sinhabumi consists of eight songs, namely Sinhabumi, Me Lokaya Ape, Diwyalokayen Igili, Ralu Mawathe, Miringuwa Parada, Sithiwili Pura, Sihinaya Pupura Yai and Nadee Ganga (unplugged version).

Priyantha Kolombage who encouraged Chitral to create a music video for Nadee Ganga Tharanaye said a huge injustice was made to this song for many years. Almost three generations listened to the song but nothing came out through visual media until now.

Red Circuit

Chitral who had played with many international bands such as Power Quest, Civilisation One, Rekuiem, Firewind, Avalon Faro, Domain and David Shankle – Group has his own band called Red Circuit. In the early stages of his singing career was started as a rock artiste, he joined a popular German underground metal act called Court Jester and recorded the album “Forced to Believe’, which received favourable reviews throughout the European press.

Apart from his musical career he is a voice trainer for young musicians and singers who believe in a passionate career in the future. He believes that using only techniques to create a masterpiece is not the sole reason for his success.

“When I work on a creation I contribute 30 percent from the techniques I know. But the rest of the 70 percent I give it from my heart and soul. You have to bend your strings with love and passion to create something beautiful,” he said.