Printing the voice

Handa Radio Magazine

Edited by Tilakaratne Kuruwita Bandara
Published by Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation
Reviewed by Kalakeerthi Dr. Edwin Ariyadasa
It is the province of knowledge to speak and it is the privilege of wisdom to listen.

- Oliver Wendell Holmes US jurist (1841-1935).

When you are presented a print-medium work, titled Handa (Sound) your senses are quite likely to experience a slight jolt. “Sound in print?” - your mind may whisper to you with a tinge of due disbelief.

But this migiving is easily allayed.

What I have received is a copy of the Quarterly, published by the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation. The main commodity of this Corporation is of course ‘sound'. Given this situation, when this Corporation brings out a corporate organ, it has inevitably to be “Sound”.

The current issue of this publication is a special volume dedicated to the life, times and the oeuvre of a remarkable genius, who brought into being a totally new era, in the history of Sri Lanka's music. Sunil Santa, by name, he turned out to be an ardent centre of a wide-spread cult.

Logical step

Delving into the contents of this special issue, may very well seem, the first logical step, we should take when attempting to assess the substantial contribution made by this publication.

But, prior to that, we have an inescapable duty to perform.

In the lusty days of Sri Lankan culture – the decades of the 1940s and 1950s – it was the cadenced voice of Sunil Santa, that musically echoed the inner glee of the youthful generation of this land.

The deep, lilting rhythms of Sunil Santa's lyrical effusions, penetrated the youthful souls of the day, awakening and stirring kindred waves of joy within their inner beings.

That exuberant and joyous generation may have passed away by now. But, even if a few still survived, they must be in the ranks of the ageing and the aged.

Musical evolution

We cannot help but be grateful to Handa, for the effort it so rivetingly makes in the pages of this special issue, to try and recapture the vanished Sunil Santa era of Sri Lanka's musical evolution.

Although Sunil Santa is the pith and the core of this special commemorative issue, the reader, sauntering among the material arrayed within this anthology, will invariably discover stunning surprises. Handa, as the chief editor of the publication records in the leader, is the SLBC's tribute to Sunil Santa, on the occasion of his birth centenary.

The chief editor – battle-scarred veteran journalist, musical aficionado – Tilakaratne Kuruwita Bandara, provides the rationale for this special issue: “When comprehensively considered, Sunil Santa is a product of sound broadcasting. In the same breath, he is the pride of sound Broadcasting. That explains why Handa pays him a tribute on the occasion of his birth centenary.”

Special issue

This special issue, devotes a good part of its space, to display learned and academic studies, relating to the special brand of Sunil Santa's music.

Sunil Santa's creative heroism, consists mainly of his exploration of a truly indigenous musical tradition. As a musical researcher, Sunil Santa, traced the earliest beginnings of a musical system, that was specifically our own.

His engrossed dedication of musical stream, that originated in Sri Lanka, made him, at times appear to be an ultra-nationalist. But, with a relentless discipline, Sunil Santa developed his search and revealed notes, rhythms and even musical sounds, that could unabashedly be termed specifically Hela, (Sri Lankan).

Musical odyssey

This aspect of his musical odyssey is dwelt upon, in several contributions, that have been accommodated in this special version of Handa. While the main area of this issue is in Sinhala, an extensive essay written by Dr. Tissa Abeysekera in English, establishes the Landmarks of Sunil Santa's aesthetic journey.

Sunil Santa's views about his philosophic and theoretical position, in relation to Sri Lanka's age-old practices and thought-movements in the field of music are reproduced from his works. Sunil Santa was not merely a practitioner of music. Going beyond that limited arena, Sunil Santa quite vividly articulated the beliefs he held about certain staple concepts that dominate learned discoures on music.

Versatile Pandit Amaradeva co-seekers of an indigenous tradition of music pays an impressive tribute Sunil Santa, in an essay composed in lyrical prose.

Human soul

Although Sunil Santa worked hard to fill the human soul with his memorable musical accents, his own life to a great extent, was overshadowed by a whole series of personal tragedies. But, his inner strength never yielded.

My colleague and intimate friend Prof. Vinnie Vitharana, records the highlights of Sunil Santa's chequered career, studded with defeats and victories from early days on Vinnie Vitharana, extended his patronage to Sunil Santa.

Vinnie, a pioneer of the university Musical Mela, set up, way back in 1947, introduced the music and the appealing personality of the then young Sunil Santa to the University community. Sunil Santa's handsome presence, cast a lasting spell a the co-eds of the day as I vividly remember. Sunil Santa's lyrical vocalisations, added lustre and life to varsity trips and get-togethers.

All told, Handa, is exceptionally high in quality as a praiseworthy tribute to the memory of this musical stalwart. The publication, has an encyclopaedia depth to it.

The listings of several Santa songs, the musical notes provided as an aid to those who would need them and the assiduous editing of the contributions taken in ensemble, elevate this publication to a profound time.

Impact

The series of photographs and illustrations that support the text, impart an archival value to this issue of Handa.

As for its historical significance – one particular article could be quoted as an outstanding instance. This specific piece traces the origin of the first-ever introduction of the FM mode, to Sri Lanka's sound broadcasting.

But, the astonishing surprise of them all, to my mind, is the pricing of this valued work. The product bears a price tag of only Rs. 150. When everything is said and done, the Sunil Santa issue of Handa, deserves extensive recognition as a rare publication of a State – level corporation.

The academic, and learned circle will especially appreciate this effort, while lovers of music will deem it an esteemed business.