Arts

Profound message in sharp visuals and melodious voices

A world filled with humanity should join hands together

Glamorous way of conveying it

By Ranga CHANDRARATHNE

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"Through the doors of senses
A secret stranger has entered
Disguised by the name HIV
stop the hurt and isolation
Let us join all the hands
and take the lead
It only takes a moment to change
The lives of innocent people
Stop hurt and isolation of
Millions of people
We protect you with care and love
Today, tomorrow and forever
A world filled with humanity
Should join hands together"

The world AIDS Day of 2008 was marked with a birth of a remarkable song titled "Living with Hope Song" which is dedicated to an equally remarkable personality; late Dr. Kamalika Abeyratne who died of AIDS. She was the founder President of Lanka +, organisation for people living with HIV in Sri Lanka.

Like a poem, a song is associated closely with the heart and mind of the listeners and viewers. Apart from the melody and evocative words, a song etches in the heart the message encoded in it. It is not meant for cheap entertainment. Throughout the history of humanity songs have been used for the benefits of the mankind, to fight against oppression and to educate and raise awareness of the masses on matters of national and global importance.

Aesthetic excellence in communication

The evocative lines of the song bear testimony to the warmth with which award wining actress Nita Fernando produced the song with the Standard Chartered Bank and SLBCS for Lanka +. The song carries the message with the aim of raising awareness of the masses on HIV/AIDS and of putting a full stop to social stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS. The lyric of the song is by Wasantha Kumara Kobawaka and music is by Jagath Wickramasinghe. With the apt visuals, the song is directed by Senesh Dissanaike Bandara. Deepika Priyadarshini Peries, Jagath Wickramasinghe and Dayan Witharana, Mariazelle Gunatilaka, Dalreen Suby, Nirosha Virajani and Nilukshi Weerasingham rendered their voices for the song. For the performance in visuals, Nita Fernando the Goodwill Ambassador for HIV/AIDS in Sri Lanka, Sashini Ayendra, Suresh Gamage, Upeksha, Chula Padmendra, Menaka Rajapaksa and Danu joined in the song.

Technically the song is marked for its high visual quality and song was shot with a red camera for the first time in Sri Lanka. The proceeds of the DVD will go to the making of a film in 2009 and income generated by the film will be utilised for the construction of shelter for Lanka + or the people living with HIV in Sri Lanka. Unfortunately due to the social stigma of HIV/AIDS in Sri Lanka, people with HIV/AIDS were often thrown from pillar to post and some have to travel from provinces to Colombo for ARV treatment and find it difficult to stay in Colombo. People living with HIV/AIDs will be able to stay at the shelter. The shelter will also provide a space for Lanka + to conduct workshops. Significantly it is the first time that a Sri Lankan actress has come forward to raise awareness with the air of stamp outing social stigma and discrimination against people living with AIDS and HIV.

"Living with the Hope Song" commenced with Nita Fernando climbing a fleet of steps with a bowl of water with a symbol the red bow. The red flowers and red bow have been effectively mingled with an immaculate white background. It is obvious throughout the visuals that the message of universal friendship and care and protection for people living with HIV and AIDS was encoded in almost every footage. In no uncertain terms, the visuals and the song urges the people to stop hurt and discrimination of thousands of innocents who have been affected by the HIV and AIDS. Time is rife for people to consider HIV and AIDS as a disease and to treat the AIDS patient and people living with HIV like the community treat any other patient.

Significantly the visuals evoke a remarkable sense of friendship towards people with HIV and AIDS rather than evoking sentiments of pity or demonizing the AIDS. However, it has also been emphasised, the fact that the spread of HIV/AIDS should be stopped. Visuals are extremely sharp and contrasting has been done with near perfection. Using red camera for the first time in Sri Lanka would have helped this higher degree of professional excellence of the production. All the singers have done their home work well and it is also obvious that they have posed for the visuals with a deep sense of friendship towards people living with HIV and AIDS and with firm resolute to stamp out the social stigma and to make a Sri Lankan caring community which will guided by the lines

"We protect you with care and love
Today, tomorrow and forever"

Jagath Wickramasinghe should be commended for composing the music. He has particularly made it with simple notes enabling it to be universally sung.

As the message should convey to all communities, the song is in three principle languages; Sinhalese, Tamil and English with English subtitles.

Visuals have been directed by Senesh Dissanaike Bandara with a precision which I would say, is peerless while Yolanda Weerasinghe who also subtitled the song in English in her role has fine tuned it as the Production Executive.

Deepika's melodious voice mingled well with the male voice of Dayan Witharana.Weerasingham's contribution as well as Mariazelle and Dalreen Suby are magnificent in lines which are sung in Tamil and English respectively.

Nita Fernando is the Goodwill Ambassador for HIV/AIDS in Sri Lanka, raising awareness and distributing a red flower with a red bow with Mr. Kishu Gomes, CEO Chevron Ltd and Dian Gomes. The evening was also co-sponsored by Sri Lanka Business Coalition on HIV and AIDS and Standard Chartered Bank.

Dr. Kamalika Abeyratne and her husband Dr. Michael Abeyratne were leading figures who had produced a generation of medical officers and consultants.

Following a tragic accident, she was given a sample of blood contaminated with HIV. Subsequently she became a crusader against the social stigma and discrimination of persons living with HIV and AIDS. She founded the Lanka +, an organisation for the people living with HIV and AIDS.

Sri Lanka Business Coalition on HIV and AIDS is an organisation dedicated itself to raising awareness and reducing social stigma on HIV and AIDS. It has launched an innovative media campaign with corporate celebrities like Dian Gomes and Kishu Gomez and with Nita Fernando aimed at creating an inclusive society transforming attitudes shaping positive perceptions towards people living with HIV/AIDS. The Campaign is endorsed by National STD and AIDS Control Programme. It is also a member of Asia Pacific Business Coalition on HIV and AIDS. The launch of the DVD and World AIDS Day ceremony was organised by Lanka +, an organisation for people living with HIV and AIDS.

The organisation was founded by late Dr. Kamalika Abeyratne and thus lighted torch has been passed on to its President Princy Mangalika who has built the organisation as a heaven for people living with HIV/AIDS.