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| Sunday, 30 November 2003 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Musical crusade against darkness Annesley, Indrani and Gypsies band together for a worthy cause next Saturday. In an age when the conventional "Sinhala pop" has been largely influenced by the Western trends of rap, reggae and disco, two leading lights Annesley and Indrani have consistently kept themselves in the public eye with their many hits from the '70s enjoying enduring success.
Two years ago they came together on stage at the BMICH to perform the well loved favourites from their Moonstone and Three Sisters era which sent their fans in a packed hall into an ecstatic mood cheering for encores. "We had new fans too on that day, those who came through sheer curiosity" recalls Annesley Malawana. This time on Saturday December 6, at the BMICH Annesley and Indrani re-unite to sing for a worthy cause. The Gypsies themselves a household name will be in full flight backing the two singers through a well planned an interesting programme. The show sponsored by the Sunday Observer is presented by the Lions Club International District 306A and according to the District Governor Lion Marcella Silva the proceeds from this show will be channelled to their "Lions gift of sight special programme" - their untiring crusade against darkness. With something like thirty years of musical success behind you what kind of a programme can your fans expect on Saturday?
"We will be singing the hits of The Moonstones, The Three Sisters and the Super Golden Chimes. Some of the favourites scheduled are Ramani, Dunhinda Manamali, Mango Nanda, Kalu Mame, Dilhani, Obe Sayana, Kalu Kelle Mamai and Ha Ha Hore. From the Super Golden Chimes repertoire we've chosen songs like Udarata Niliya, Vanabambaru and Sihina Pathum. We'll be having a surprise act from Sunil Perera and that's all I'm allowed to tell you, no details please," says an enthusiastic Annesley Malawana who is looking forward to the show with the eagerness of a teenager. The concert will be compered by Vijaya Corea. How confident are you that the youth of today will be with you and Indrani at the show? "The youngsters know all our songs and I'm sure they will be there. I know they are rap fans but whenever I perform at concerts they come and meet me and tell me that they know my songs because they have grown up listening to these songs of the '70s. Their parents play our music ever so often. We've had many inquiries, people love to hear these songs. The Stars of '70s shows have always been sell outs. I started the series in 1997 and it took me three months of hard work to round up the singers for the first show. Now Indrani and I sit back, and are happy with the success we've achieved." Indrani Perera the 'Dilhani' girl who took the Sri Lankan music scene by storm with her mellifluous rendition of the song which received excessive air play in a short period of time and created major upsets in a static music scene was first introduced to Clarence Wijewardena by Annesley and soon joined the Moonstones to further her career, then moved over to form her own group The Three Sisters. After the tragic death of one of the sisters Indrani decided to go solo. Now as a freelance singer, a star in her own right, Indrani Perera has achieved a level of commercial success, not only here but on stages abroad, success most singers only dream of. -Mahes |
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