Importance of being original

The wonderful voice of Victor is revived:

by Nilma Dole

Legendary maestro Victor Ratnayake has recorded his golden songs on a Compact Disc album titled 'Gahanu Lamai Ne'. The best of Victor's voice will be kept in this album that gives the listener a walk down memory lane.

From the time he grew up in Kadugannawa till today, the renowned music composer and violinist has always been fascinated with every genre of music. He was attracted to the songs in films of yesteryear and started learning and playing music under the guidance of the great Cyril Perera.

Later, he went on to produce amazing masterpieces of music with his Japanese violin and performed for distinguished musicians like Amaradeva, Somadase Elvitigala and D.R.Peiris. It was after this that he started his extremely popular one-man show which was deemed so successful that fans stole his handkerchieves, his locks of hair and virtually anything he owned because they were so overtaken by his magical melodies.

He started a show on local radio and thereafter he carved his niche as a superb musician.

His amazing work captures the audience with meaningful lyrical content and emotionally moving rhythms that have been his forte. His first song was 'Sara Suduru Mal Pataleeya' for the movie "Hanthane Kathawa".

Some of his renowned work includes 'Deno Dahak' with Nanda Malini 'Monero'with Lata Walpola, 'Api Katadah Baya' with Freddy Silva.

By the end of December Victor Ratnayake will release his much-anticipated album CD in collaboration with 'Seyatha FM' (Voice of Asia Network) and CIFL (Central Industries and Finance Limited) and most of all, massive supporters of his music.

This will encompass the best of his work that will bring in nostalgic memories of the past. At the launch last Friday, 7th December, the great Victor advised, "Originality is important especially today where everyone is copying the work of the artists of the past".

The CD producers stated that when reproducing Victor's wonderful voice, the old cassettes and tapes were nearly destroyed and were not in use hence it took much determination and skill to piece together Gahanu Lamai Ne to bring it to the patrons of golden music of the days gone by.