[ SUNDAY COMMENTARY]

From Chandrika’s `Raakamma’ to Ranil’s `Sinnore’!

Prasad GUNEWARDENE

Taking a break, having often written much on politics, war and peace, today’s commentary is meant to recall nostalgic memories and moments of some of our ‘glamorous’ politicians of the previous decade. And, to be specific, those memories and moments go back to 1998.

Ranil Wickremesinghe	Chandrika Kumaratunga

People certainly hate the sound and fury of our politicians on stage and inside the Chamber in Parliament. But, they do not dismiss the right and privilege of politicians to sing and dance to melody and music. The majority of our politicians are no professional musicians.

The musical talents of those politicians recalled to memory today, are certainly far and distant from the brilliant features of a Vaughan-William Symphony or a Mozart Concerto of the grand old days.

Neither does it go parallel to a Jim Reeves styled, bosonova scale, three part harmony hit of their times like - “I have lived a life of sins, in this world I am living in, And I have done forbidden things I shouldn’t do” - (Across the bridge), a song that fits some of our politicians of all times.

As it does go by practice, when our politicians do sing, the musical cords are brought into a jumble of discords, as it is often done, in the field of politics.

They cannot keep to timing, nor gear their voices between interludes and verses to meet the tempo. But, they are experts to sing the chorus convenient of their choice. That is the brilliance of political tongue-twisting, which the masses yet fail to understand.

Spellbound

In writing this with humour, and malice towards none, let us for a moment ignore the history of music as an Art, that showed us that music and melody consists of one set of ideas, built upon another, introducing something not previously there, but related in some measure to the whole.

However, the romantic harmony, melody, vocals to the six eight beat that emanated from the “President’s House” one night during the days of Chandrika Kumaratunga’s presidency, could well be rated at a higher level, over the sound and fury of today’s vulgar music that has taken the centre stage with meaningless, anti- language, anti-social, uncultured and shameful lyrics like ‘Mata Kottu ona, Lime ona’, the trend of a megalomania, which has brought the entire country’s music into utter disrepute.

It was in a backdrop of a `Politico-Musico Concerto’, our late ministers Dharmasiri Senanayake and Richard Pathirana took the floor as lead vocalists, at the President’s House that night. President Kumaratunga who arrived from Paris that evening hurriedly made arrangements to throw a dinner party to her coalition members in the government. PLOTE and EPDP members were among the early arrivals to the venue.

Dharmasiri and Richard held the audience spellbound till the ‘happy-go-lucky’ Health Minister, AHM Fowzie demanded the popular hit of 1950s ‘Nurse Nona’, to be sung by Dharmasiri and Richard. Fowzie backed up his request saying, “Madam, I love the nurse nonas’ and Chandrika burst into laughter.

President Kumaratunga moved by the six eight beat that went in heat, with ‘fine spirits’ at hand for all on that thrilling night, requested PLOTE and EPDP members to sing her favourite Tamil song- ‘Adi Ennadi Raakamma’.

Siddharthan and Douglas Devananda took the floor alongside Richard and Dharmasiri to oblige the President. As the song progressed in exciting style, Chandrika began to clap to the beat moving her lips to the chorus of the song.

Gen. Anuruddha Ratwatte, the usual lead vocalist of the “President’s House” “People’s Alliance Band” at political functions, who sang and danced waving his walking stick, was a silent spectator. The Mullaitivu military debacle that happened a few days before, seemed to have had troubled his mind.

As the hours progressed into late night, the crowd broke into groups to sing different songs. The younger group, known as the “Mulberries” was led by young Nalanda Ellawala with the backing of Dilan Perera, Dullas Alahapperuma and Kesaralal Gunesekere.

When the young ‘Mulberry’ voices did certainly outsmart others in grand style, and Nalanda Ellawala introducing ‘fresh’ lyrics to old melodies, President Kumaratunga announced it was time for dinner.

Music, fun and frolic came to an abrupt end with the executive order. SLFP veteran D.M. Jayaratne in a lighter vein quipped, ‘Richard, balannako madam ape somiya kaawa’ (See Richard, madam `ate’ our fun). That was an entertaining night of fun and joy at the “President’s House” while the nation and the people, stood gripped by the threat of terrorism, as many military camps were overrun by the enemy during that time.

Political vocalist

It was the same period that ‘political vocalists’ crept into the 119th ‘Battle of the Blues’ of the Royal-Thomian cricket encounter played at the SSC grounds. Sajith Premadasa arrived at the Stallions Tent to watch the match.

As he entered, UNP Parliamentarian, the firebrand Lakshman Seneviratne, an opposite political pole to his late father,the moderate Capt. C.P.J. Seneviratne, was singing merry with the music band in the tent.

All Thomians and Royalists surprised with the presence of Sajith, launched an immediate investigation to ascertain to which of the two schools Sajith belonged. Sajith was known as product from the prestigious Hill Mill School in London, during the presidency of his late father. The inquiry revealed, that Sajith was a junior Thomian at STC Prep., Colpetty for four years and, later two years at Royal College.

Seneviratne, sacked from the UNP by Sajith’s father, President Ranasinghe Premadasa over the abortive impeachment motion, was a rival of the Premadasa family. He was annoyed by Sajith’s presence.

He inquired as to what right an ‘outsider’ had, to gain entry into an exclusive tent. His friends calmed him down saying that Sajith belonged to both schools, therefore, fully qualified for entry.

As Lakshman concluded his favourite Royal-Thomian hit- “Mahaweli Ganga Ainey”, Sajith took the microphone to move the tent to surprise with his singing talents. Seneviratne, in ‘fine spirits’ took the floor to dance. Watching Lakshman in full swing, his friends cracked in a lighter vein, ‘See, now Lucky is dancing to the Premadasa tune’.

As the songs and dance progressed, former Royalist, Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe was seen walking towards the Stallions Tent from the “Mustangs’ in the company of the then Indian High Commissioner, Shiv Shankar Menon, who was a special guest of Ranil.

On seeing the UNP leader, Sajith Premadasa chose to sing ‘Sinnore’, a popular hit of Sunil Perera’s band ‘Gypsies’.

As Ranil stepped on to Stallions, the crowd joined Sajith to sing - “Paradune Mann.... Nathiwune Mann..... Umbalata nan... mokada ithin” (It was me who was defeated, and lost everything...so what concern do you have?). Srimani Athulathmudali’s brother, the late Haren De Saram, a former Thomian appeared thrilled over the timely lyrics, that spelt out the story and fate of a defeated politician. Ranil, sporting a mischievous smile on his face made an early exit, to return to the Mustangs Tent with Shiv Shankar Menon, followed by brothers in business, Mano Selvanathan and Hari Selvanathan.

And, that was the melodious musical episode of ‘Ennadi Raakamma’ of Chandrika Kumaratunga’s choice and ‘Sinnore’ to Ranil Wickremesinghe’s taste all the way.