Sisira's melodious songs still mesmerise listeners

Sisiraesa
Sisira Senaratne
Abhinandana
Edited by Vijitha Gunaratne
Published by the Sri Lanka Customs Welfare Association

Reviewed by R.S. Karunaratne

Sisira Senaratne and Indrani Wijebandara played a pivotal role in ushering in a new era in Sinhala music in the 1950s. Most of us who were students at the time used to listen to Sinhala songs sung by Indian singers such as Jikkhi, A.M. Raja and P. Susila.

Most of them could not pronounce Sinhala words properly. The situation would have continued for a further period if not for the warning sounded by the Muslim MP C.A.S. Marikkar. Consequently, Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike prohibited making Sinhala films in India.

Gradually local singers came forward to sing for Sinhala films.

Foremost among them were Dharmadasa Walpola, Latha Walpola, Susil Premaratne, Christie de Mel and H.R. Jothipala. It is around this time that Sisira Senaratne started singing for Sinhala films. He sang his maiden song Me Loke Navathaena Ve for the Sinhala film Podi Putha.

However, he became popular after he sang a few songs for Lester James Peries's Rekhawa.Having started his musical career as a playback singer Senaratne began to direct music for Sinhala films.

For the first time he directed the music for Handapana for which he won the prestigious Sarasaviya award. However, he directed the music for only 10 more Sinhala films preferring to work as a playback singer.

Fresh

Senaratne has not sung many songs but the few songs he sang remain fresh. He became more prominent as a singer when he started singing duets with Indrani Wijebandara.

Some of the songs such as Sudu Pata Mal Nela, Nuhura Nupurudu Rahasa Pilibanda, Gaya Geethayan Wel Eliye, Nil Pethe Thuru Vel and Piyamba Yayi still remain popular.

Senaratne did not achieve fame overnight by singing somebody else's songs in a reality show. In fact, when he started his singing career there were no television or reality shows.

He learnt music the hard way and honed his skills as a singer over the years.Sisiraera contains a number of articles written about Senaratne. Some of the contributors are Malani Fonseka MP, A.D. Ranjith Kumara, Dr Ajantha Ranasinghe, Tissa Liyanasuriya, Tony Ranasinghe, Thilani Shanika Vithanachchi and Aruna Gunaratne.

Lyricist

George Robinson de Silva's Sisira Senaratne Gee Mina has enhanced the value of the felicitation volume. This is perhaps the only authentic collection of the songs sung by Sisira Senaratne and Indrani Wijebandara.

As a lyricist Senaratne has composed many songs for other singers such as H.R. Jothipala and Angeline de Lanerolle.

Senaratne will soon be an octogenarian. The felicitation volume is a fitting tribute to him and his wife Indrani Wijebandara.