- says the Sri Lankan woman in white
 |
| Nanda
Malani - the unparalleled female voice, which is suggestive
of the true voice of the downtrodden, and which addresses
the inner recesses of hearts of thousands of music lovers,
and represents the universal melody of humanity. Her
appealing voice captivated the hearts of people of every
strata of Sri Lankan society. Here are the excerpts from the
interview, the Sunday Observer had with her. |
By Amal HEWAVISSENTI
Q: Your childhood might be as interesting as what you sing. How do
you outline your childhood history?
A: To tell you frankly, ours was an underprivileged family at
Kotahena. My father maintained the family with whatever the scanty money
he made by tailoring. During our childhood, we keenly felt the pangs of
abject poverty. My father, together with his 9 children was relentlessly
struggling to make both ends meet. Even if we were down and out, our
father had a life long dream to see us refined and well educated.
Q: So your father was a massive backup for what you're today?
A: Why not? He definitely was everything behind what I call my
success. Of all my family, I was pretty more insightful into the depth
of the father's hardships. He had shaped our lives in a truly Buddhist
framework. We had to recite Buddhist "Gathas" everyday before dinner
specially. My father never attempted to lie to us. When he had no money
to buy us gram, peanuts or ice cream etc, he would say, "My dear, I
don't have money today". Even at the market place, I was much careful to
buy the cheapest. I had very few clothes and I and my elder sister
interchangeably wore only two uniforms to school. I was popular with my
school friends because of what they called my sweet voice. They called
me by a nickname "Kattaa" merely because of the tapping sound of my flat
slippers. We didn't at all like to upset our father by demanding things
which he couldn't afford to buy, so even now, I'm used to the extremely
simple lifestyle inculcated by my father.
Q: For years, white saree has been your prominent mark. Your
audience often identify you with the white saree.....
A: Yes, the colour of white represents purity and simplicity. I
naturally like this colour. I've been wearing white saree for about 30
years. Now my audience might not even like to see me in colour.
Q: Keeping under a storm of economic deadlock, how did you make
your "Voyage" into music?
A: It was a difficult journey as you say. Earlier I had the skill not
in singing songs but in singing poems. I was labelled "Kavi Kiyana Nanda"
those days by my friends. I grabbed the first place and brought honour
to my poor school at an all island singing competition. Later on I
deeply studied classical music. Next, Karunarathna Abeysekera involved
me in his programme for children, "Lama Pitiya" at SLBC. I was there for
6 years. When I was 9 years, I aired my first song "Budu Saadu" which
attracted a tremendous response from children and adults alike. Some of
my most popular children's hits are "Hurathal Podi Haava", "Bambaro
Tikak Nataapan", "Lassana mal pipila", "Sarungale waral sele", "Wana
bambaro", and so on. However, master Amaradeva, who had traced the inner
traits of my voice, invited me to do a programme named "Maduwanthi"
which we did together. That programme featured most of my popular hits
namely, "Wakkada Langa", Bambareku Aawai", "Sannaliyane", "Paalu andura,
nil ahasa", and so forth. Even now, when I listen to these songs myself,
I begin to be filled with nostalgic feelings. For every programme, I
joined in chorus with master Amaradeva. In fact, my association with
master Amaradeva produced a musical rebirth in me. I felt as if I were
reborn at SLBC.
Q: So your meeting with Amaradeva registered a memorable landmark
in your musical career. Am I correct?
A: Actually, he made out the real vocalist in me. He remoulded my
voice. He undertook the music directorship of "Ranmuthu doowa" the first
ever coloured film to be screened in Sri Lanka. The film bagged almost
all the awards for the year. The movie managed to grab the awards for
the best vocalist, the best lyricist, the best music director, the best
composer and so on. I duetted the song "Galana gangaki jeewithe" with
Narada Dissasekera, who was a recording engineer at SLBC then. The song
doubtlessly revolutionised the screen music at that time. It was
definitely a remarkable turn around in my music world. Ever since, I've
contributed my songs to more than 118 films including "Wesathuru Siritha",
and "Sadol Kandulu".
Q: And most important, working with some of the best music
directors in Sri Lankan music arena, changed your stand point to the
career and the quality of your performance. Can you name some of the
directors you worked with?
A: Assuredly they opened up new dimensions of music for me. I got the
rare chance to work with the full range of music directors from
Premasiri Khemadasa, Somapala Elvitigala, Lionel Algama, Shelton
Premarathna, Sarath Dassanayake, Stanley Pieris, Rohana Weerasingha to
the new generation. I've even worked with Tharupathi Munasingha and
Navarathne Gamage.
Q: How did you make your voice highly conducive to the elevation
of local music?
A: I clearly understood that I was in a position to bring about
dramatic social changes through my music. I made every possible effort
to make music a powerful vehicle of social service. It is highly
practicable because music is a popular medium. It is really a popular
medium of thought, emotions and feelings. What a book cannot do with
hundred pages, is easily and effectively done by a five minute song.
Even my poverty gave a radical shape to my voice. I noted the pressure
exerted on common people by higher social classes. But I never hated it.
I'm virtually living with my past and my past experiences have made my
voice it is now. By now I have launched about 28 musical CDs of my own.
I have addressed people through my voice and have conveyed timely
massages to people. I tried to touch the sensitive topics as ethnic
conflict in my music.
Q: The ethnic conflict....How do you view this national threat as
an experienced and sensitive artiste?
A: This is unluckily the most tragic situation today. I simply wanted
to musically address the people who are ethnically biased. The extremist
Sinhala groups and extremist tamil groups are answerable for this war.
Politics too is closely associated with this. How can we, as artistes
stop this? We can do something really.
Q: What you're trying to put across is that artistes too have a
certain role to play in making people aware of the reality. What bearing
does music have on this grave problem?
A: A musician can powerfully communicate ideas to people about war.
Music I believe, can unite people. Not only me, but also other artistes
have raised their voices against war. We can't go to the battle front
with guns and all that. We, as artistes can't address people on
political platforms. Instead, we have a powerful weapon. That is our
voice! It can awaken people to realities. Our voice can produce feelings
of kindness, mercy, love, affection and joy in people.
Q: To take this discussion to a different standpoint.....For the
first time, you sang Tamil folk songs during 1995. How was the response
to it from the Sinhala audience?
A: In 1995, I released a Tamil folk songs cassette labelled "Kunkuma
Pottu". It was popular among Tamil people.I even got telephone calls of
death threats for singing in Tamil. Some Sinhala people said my
pronunciation was wrong. Yes, my pronunciation might have been wrong.
But it was no barrier for mutual understanding between Sinhala and
Tamil people. I aimed those songs specially for Tamil people. For
example, don't we love to hear Latha Mangeshkar singing a Sinhala song?
Do we fuss about her Sinhala pronunciation? I only wanted to build a
bridge of understanding between the two ethnic groups. Our people only
point out faults and mistakes. They don't speak about the positive side
of what we create.
Q: Your songs carry a wider spectrum of themes, ranging from love
to patriotism. What role do the popular themes play in your songs?
A: Well, my songs are based on multiple themes. Some of the most
popular themes are love, broken love, separation, patriotism, children's
emotions, cynicism to social injustice, family issues, heroism etc. I've
often illustrated the beauty of love in most of my popular hits, such as
"Ahasa se oba Ananthai".
I have witnessed the sweet impact love can have on people. I've also
seen many people experiencing pains of broken love. I personally think
my voice best fits the broken love. Some charge me of singing only on
broken love because I have personally experienced broken love and
marriage. Yes. My family and love was cracked. It is true. But what I
want is to tell the audience something meaningful with a catching
melody. In most of my programmes including "Sathyaye Geethaya", "Pavana",
I tried to bring to light the suffering, pains, sorrow and social
inequality in society. I only used the medium of singing to give out the
reality whether it is bitter or sweet. I've used my songs to probe into
pathetic conditions of our society. For example, we always look for
lotions and shadows to decorate our eyes when there are so many people
even without eyes! we ask for beautiful sandals when there are people
without legs! These ideas and the like are what I've been trying to
convey to my music fans. The hit "Udangu liyan gotha bandina" is also of
this nature.
Q: Well. you've employed your voice as powerful medium for a
social mission. How's your standing as a professional songstress?
A: We the artistes have got a voice luckily. Now my music career is
quite successful. Have a look at my house. You'll see it is extremely
simple. I don't even keep a mobile phone with me. I achieved this status
with the money I earned by giving something meaningful to the people. To
tell you frankly, I haven't used my voice just for my benefit. I've
always tried to give the qualitatively best to the people. Then only
people learn to appreciate and enjoy the best music in quality. I'd say
I've used my voice and music to bring about a change in people's
outlook.
Q: You must be a happy grandma who is in seventh heaven with your
daughters' kids
A: Why not. I'm having a good time with them. They are closer to me
than they are to their mothers. I feel I'm reborn with their love and
warmth. My two daughters are always coming to see me. I miss them a lot.
Q: Something about your educational non stop cassette for
children?
A: Yes, As you know, sinhala alphabet is complex and confusing.
English children have a lot of rhymes to practise their alphabet. I had
a deeper discussion with Professor Sunil Ariyarathne and together we
planned a non stop cassette of songs highlighting simple letters. Our
target was small kids. I named the cassette "Sindu Hodiya". The full
credit of the enterprise must go to Prof. Sunil Ariyarathne who helped
me with new experimentations.
Q: However, your silence on the current music arena is a problem
to thousands of your fans. Haven't you released a new album for those
who love your music?
A: An important question! Every year, I make arrangements to release
a CD. The biggest challenge and threat to us are the fake CDs. Once we
release a CD, the following morning fake CDs come to the pavements and
other cassette shops. They are the duplicates of our original CDs. In
today's music industry there is nothing more than forgery of works of
art.
We have got to grapple with the rogue music companies. How can we go
forward with our limited capacity. It is really an organised crime.
We've got to spend about 700,000 rupees to produce a musical CD. What
really happens is that fakers copy our CDs and they make a huge profit
damaging our income. We too have a commercial target in our music
career. Prof. Sunil Ariyarathne, Mahagama Sekara's son and I have even
gone to the courts against these fakers. However, we won the case last
year. We took trouble to win this case which had been heard for 2 1/2
years. The governments and relevant authorities must remedy these
unpleasant situations.
Q: Don't you find that the biggest challenge is finding a good
sponsorship for a proper publicity of your works?
A: Yes. Really. I'm badly in need of a responsible sponsor. Without a
sponsor we can't deal with music rackets which are in full swing today.
The music industry itself has gone upside down. Everybody thinks that
he can sing well. People engaged in music industry are more careful to
promote cheap music rather than exploring new musical trends. In short,
the modern technology is used to hide the defects of the voice of
certain singers today. Personally I'm of the view that as a professional
songstress, I must raise my voice against this flagrant violation of our
rights.
Q: Nanda Malani....A veteran singer who is in a clear position to
guide the current generation on to the right track. Unfortunately the
new vocalists and music makers are not exposed to what we term 'good
music', both local and international. How do you view the current
generation's fad?
 A:
It is by far an interesting question. I personally believe that the
trend for selecting singers by SMS voting is a national disaster. I must
say I am in no way involved in panel of judges in this type of
competitions. But I must mention something important here. Many children
with marvellous talents take part in these SMS competitions. They are
really talented I must say. What is tragic is that many youths seem to
dropout in the middle of the competitions as a result of indiscriminate
SMS voting. We can't expect that the most SMS senders represent a group
who have a sound knowledge of music. Most of them send SMS without
careful judgement. But apart from these singers, there is a special
group of singers in the new generation. They emerged on the music scene
not by mega competitions, but by their commitment and dedication. They
have displayed an astonishing skill and talent in music. We must work
with them. We must identify their talents. They are well aware that they
cannot keep a sound stability in the music field without a deeper study
of music. They have read books, have explored other musical styles and
have understood their level of performance. While they are on popular
trend, they try to educate themselves with classical music. They came
with their own identity before these SMS competitions invaded our music.
I'm now 63 years of age and you won't believe, I still practise my voice
everyday. Unless otherwise I can't play my role properly as an artiste.
For example, Janaka Wickramasingha, Krishantha Erandaka, Uresha
Ravihari, Nirosha Wirajini, Jagath Wickramasinha, Deepika Priyadarshani,
Samitha and many more have raised themselves to the top of the music
field with their own identity. They did not achieve their popularity
overnight. They laid a sound foundation to their popularity with
dedication and a wider understanding of the art of music. But what has
happened to them? They're just like me. Deepika is the best songstress
who is unique in her voice. I personally like her talent very much.
Recently she told me about her difficulty in releasing her own songs,
What to do? we're all in the same boat.
Q: But you seem to have happy memories in the past.....
A: Yes, why not. Ours was a very lucky time at SLBC. Those days the
newspapers would carry a heading "Ada Nanda Malinige sarala gee". People
earnestly looked forward to the time the musical programme was
broadcast. The following morning they would say "We were listening to
your programme with lights turned off. You nearly mesmorised us with
your catching music". Most often I received many letters of compliment,
from them.
Even now a strange sensation chills me when I recall my time at SLBC.
All the records of best voices are at the SLBC. It is a national
treasure. It must be protected under government sponsorship. When we
were recording songs at SLBC, music producers were impatient to
broadcast them. We had a lot of fun at the recording studio too.
Q: Finally, you've embarked on a national mission to educate
younger generation towards developing a good taste. How's your music
academy?
I train students under 4 Categories. They are doing exceptionally
well. I often have to train them using my top voice. Under these
circumstances the voice might go flat. In short, I'm risking my voice.
But it is a great pleasure for me to see them showing steady progress.
My prime objective in this venture is inculcating higher values and good
taste in the younger generation. Then only they learn to identify their
parents, relations and respect teachers etc. Then only they make good
choice of TV programmes, listen to a limited number of songs, and learn
the art of decision-making. I have a collection of songs, poems and
drama clips for them to enjoy. I've decided not to charge any amount of
money from children of poverty-stricken families and war heroes. In my
academy, I give my top priority to school syllabus in music. I take
particular care to provide them basic training for the syllabus. I'm
proud to say that there are students who spend the full time of four
years with marvellous dedication. I prepare the advanced group for
Indian examination in music. In my academy there are many children of
army solders. When these children are at home, they are always exposed
to the news of unpleasant experiences at the battlefront. But here they
are under sound mental health because music brings to their lives a
great deal of joy and meaning.
I'm proud to say I'm very active though I'm a grandma. I tidy up the
whole house including the bathrooms. I don't feel the stress of life at
all. I can cook well. However, I'm quite satisfied with my music life. |
