‘Tunes are all I have to take your heart away’

Beatrice talks of life with veteran music composer Rohana Weerasinghe.:

“My pride - has been the quality that enticed him. That’s what he says,” smiles Beatrice, wife of veteran musician, Rohana Weerasinghe. Dance and music, the blend of aesthetics turned into a blend of love, grew as a sapling of a tree, under the shelter of Heywood......

“Rohana was an active member of the students’ Union. He has been creative since he was young,” says the `dancer’ wife about her `musician’ hubby who has made a record in the local music history by composing music for about 3000 songs so far.

Batapola Arachchige Leela Beatrice de Silva was born on July 17 in 1953 to B.A. Themanis de Silva and Aslin Silva.

“I was the fifth of the six siblings. My father worked at the CTB, and we have been living at Wattegedara, Maharagama. I studied upto O/Ls at Samudradevi Balika Vidyalaya, and then entered to College of Fine Arts at Heywood in 1971. I was studying dancing and Rohana was studying music there,” she recalls.

Dancing has been her life long passion. Even since she was a kid she tried her steps on the floor of Kandyan dancing sequences.

“I would have been studious if I concentrated more on my studies, but my passion for dancing came first. Concerts and dancing competitions were my preferences when I was at school. My father died the same year when I entered to Heywood. My mother and other siblings were not that happy about me getting into dancing, but later they okayed it,” she says.

Beatrice learnt Kandyan dancing under Edward Lokuliyanage. She got the opportunity to take part in two stage dramas - Pota veradila-Yaka gahala produced by the Kandyan dancing teacher and Sanni daha ata produced by the Heywood dancing faculty.

At Heywood, Beatrice learnt Low Country dancing. The blend made the pretty dignified young woman to be a perfect dancer. In 1973, while at Heywood, Beatrice was selected both for the State Dancing Troupe under the late veteran Panibharatha, and for the Army Dancing Troupe under Captain Delwala. Both provided her the rare opportunity of going abroad, which Sri Lankans of that era were not fortunate to enjoy.

“First my home people were a bit scared of my travelling abroad. But, they always trusted me and that I would not go a wrong way. I’ve travelled many countries,” she smiles.

Her first teaching appointment was at Velimaluwa Vidyalaya for three years and then she came to St. Joseph’s Balika Vidyalaya, Nugegoda where she stayed for 20 years. “I have been at Royal College, Colombo since 2004. I handle the primary classes there,” she says.

Question: Rohana has been known as a veteran musician. But we heard that he handles a different position at present.

Beatrice: Yes, he has been the Advisor to the President for Cultural and Aesthetic Affairs since 2006. Rohana has been working towards the development of the Fine Arts and Cultural Affairs in the country. He is concentrating on the foreign commercials and teledramas that have been telecast in many private channels in Sri Lanka which directly affect the local industry.

Rohana also took the initiative to bring the Bill to the Parliament under the Intellectual Property Act, to pay the lyricist, musician and the singer of the songs telecast in all the channels both in radio and TV.

He also hopes to bring to the limelight the adverse effects of the Court Order banning operations of loudspeakers after 10 pm, which affects singers and others connected with the musical industry.

The Industry of Compact Discs is also in threat due to the underhand fraudulent activities. A CD manufacturer would spend millions to produce a quality CD paying through his nose payment for the lyricists, singers, musicians and other technology. But, the duplicate could be bought from the pavement for about Rs. 50-100 when the origin would cost about Rs. 400-500 or more.

Question: Do you think he would be able to proceed in his intentions?

Beatrice: He is a courageous person. He gets complaints and grievances from artistes everyday. He is trying to find solutions to them. There are things possible as well as difficult. Trying is always better than doing nothing.

Dimadugodage Rohana Chitra Kumara Weerasinghe was born on February 18 in 1949 to Dimadugodage Henry Weerasinghe, the Village Headman of Blackpool, Nuwara-Eliya and Sapalin Weerasinghe as the youngest of nine siblings. Rohana studied at Nuwara-Eliya Convent and entered Welimada Central after achieving a Grade 5-scholarship. He did his A/Ls at Dharmapala Vidyalaya, Pannipitiya, and entered the College of Fine Arts at Heywood.

Music was his forte, but Football was his interest, and played for the school team. His first music composition was for the late celebrated singer Malani Bulathsinghala her popular hit, ‘Ran Tharu Mini Muthu’ which he did while studying at Heywood in 1970-71. The number of songs he composed music so far is innumerable.

Rohana has worked as the music Director of 40 odd films, 3 to 4 stage dramas and more than 300 teledramas so far. The number of awards ; ‘Sarasaviya’ Awards, President’s Awards and ‘Swarnasanka’ Awards would be between 30-40. Rohana has composed music for almost every singer in the local music industry.

By this time, Rohana though he had earned a name in the field sensed the need of a sturdy strength for his personal life as both his parents had passed away, and was looked after by his brothers. With his unbreakable love for Beatrice for seven years, the football player cum musician tied the knot with the pretty dancer at Sea View Hotel, Colombo on December 1 in 1977.

Kalindu Gajaba and Chirath Kanishka are the two children born to them, and Kalindu’s marriage took place last year to Sri Lankan born and Australian brought-up Chalani Thilthi Hettige.

Question: We would like to know about your children?

Beatrice: Kalindu is 27 years now. He studied at Ashoka College and then at Ananda College, Colombo. He is a Management graduate at Monash University, Australia. Though he has the Australian citizenship, his heart and soul is still in Sri Lanka. He is a good singer and musician as well though we encouraged him to select a different career.

Loku Putha could find a job here, but, since his wife has done radiography, it’s bit tough to find a suitable post for her. She has been in Australia since she was two years, but has grown up to a typical Sinhalese girl with all the good qualities we can ever expect from a daughter-in-law.

Question: Oh! you flatter your daughter-in-law?

Beatrice: (Laughs) No, I’m telling the truth. Our youngest also studied at Ananda College, Colombo. He is 21 years now, and following a Diploma in Computer at ACBT. He might also go to Australia for further studies (smiles).

Question: How do you compare Rohana and yourself?

Beatrice: Well, I’m a person who never gets agitated easily, and can apply a lot of patience and self confidence to any difficult situation. Rohana has been a very good husband who has provided everything for me in life. We’ve married for the past 30 years, and I’m very happy that I married him.

Question: Any special qualities you see in him?

Beatrice: He loves to sleep (laughs). Due to his hectic work schedules, he looks for a chance to lie down and relax. He thinks about the family a lot and whenever he gets a holiday he loves to travel to relax with us, his family.

When we go out abroad only can he enjoy a real vacation as he has a 24-hour life of a ringing phone (laughs). He sometimes develops anger, but it diminishes within no time. I have heard him working with his music tunes, but he never sings at home as people generally do.

Question: Rohana has been mingling with female companions, especially in the field. How did you face the gossip that commonly go around a famous personality like him?

Beatrice: I have not heard any thing so far. Thanks! But, however, I believe that every wife should keep an eye on her husband, and it’s her duty. That is my message for the younger generation as well. Be vigilant! (laughs).

Question: Rohana has been one of the most veteran and best music composers we have. What are the favourite tunes or songs of his as well as yours?

Beatrice: He has composed a lot of tunes for the celebrated singer Sunil Edirisinghe.

My favourites are among Sunil Aiya’s, and ‘Nathi Bari Mohothaka Pihitata Enne....’ comes first. Rohana too prefers Sunil Aiya’s songs and his favourite is Sunil’s ‘Sada Kalika Lokayaka....’, the song for which he has composed the melody. He says he likes the words and tune which mix with Sunil Aiya’s melodious voice.

Question: His melodies would become evergreen.

Beatrice: Yes, it is already. The old songs are still in the market. Rohana has been in the field for about 30-35 years rendering his talented service to the local music enthusiasts.

Question: Your future plans?

Beatrice: We are Buddhists, and following a good life. We are running a centre for aesthetic studies `Kala Bhoomi’ at Nugegoda since 1985, which provides youngsters to learn Eastern and Western music and also the vocal training.

We are not getting much profit out of that, but run with the intention of passing the aesthetic education to the younger generation. Both our sons might settle down in Australia. So, both of us might also be with them someday, not immediately, but once we grow little more older (smiles).