Vulgarising Amaradeva's creations

By Prasad Gunewardene

Any music lover would agree that Pundit W.D.Amaradeva is a national asset. His creations are no doubt national treasures. On Friday, a private FM radio channel played a non-stop cassette produced by some unheard pop band of today that vulgarized a beautiful creation of this great singer.

Amaradeva's creation- "Santha Me Re yaame, Kumudumale siriya" is a much loved popular song of the musicotherapy style that heals and sooths a stress mind.

I was travelling in a bus when I heard a band vulgarising those beautiful lyrics in the following manner to the same melody on that private radio. The so called singer sang - "Shantha me re beela... pissu natai vedila, Mulu gama natavai pissa".

The gentleman seated next to me lamented and queried as to what has happened to the cultural values of our country.

The tragedy that has befallen our nation today is that there is no standard or quality in what is approved for public consumption. Certainly, we cannot stop non-stop cassettes being produced.

But, those who produce such audios or videos should not allow those unheard, unqualified bands to distort lyrics of beautiful compositions. The Ministry of Cultural Affairs should appoint a Censor Board to approve the production of musical cassettes, Compact Discs and Video CDs by the private sector.

Don't let Pundit Amaradeva and many other national assets like him shed tears by ignoring this menace of vulgarising their beautiful creations. Musicians and vocalists are born and not made. Its not too late, Mr. Minister of Cultural Affairs... Amaradeva is a national asset. Only you can protect him and his creations.