A Tribute to Pandith Amaradeva

                       

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Sunday Observer Magazine
03 December, 2000

 

Hail Amaradeva!
by Geesha Munasinghe

We are living at a time when our ancient cultural values are fast eroding. This has caused us much anxiety about the future of our younger generation. In this context the need for an extensive program to cultivate social and moral values in them by diverting their attention to culture, arts, aesthetics and history is urgently felt today. In the education sector a concerted plan has to be launched somehow to encourage children to draw their minds' attention to the aesthetic field as well.

The time has come for the public study in-depth the identity of an artiste in the pessimistic environment of aesthetic and arts and the position he occupies in it.

It is in this background that music maestro Pandit Amaradeva, a national treasure of international fame, who has made music and song his soul, celebrates his 73rd birthday on December 5 this year.

It is very rarely that great men who give life to his motherland and the universe are born to this world. Amaradeva who was born at Koralawella, Moratuwa on December 5, 1927 has been a beconlight to the field of music. While continuously learning music Amaradeva mastered the Sinhala language by associating himself with grammarian Munidasa Cumaratunge and his fellow teachers and extensive reading. One has only to listen to a song or lecture rendered by him to fathom his great knowledge and learning. Amaradeva has earned animmortal name by utilising the knowledge he gathered at the feet of Gandharva music teachers of India to create songs of an indigenous style and nature.

Amaradeva who made the violin an integral part of his life was categorised as a grade one vocalist by Pandit Ratnashankar of India who arrived here to grade Radio Ceylon vocalists. Since that time a majority of songs he rendered had been classical and quality songs. He has rendered a great service as a vocalist, musician and composer for the past several decades.

The music and musical compositions he made for ballets such a "Sama", "Vijaya", and "Nala Damayanthy" made them exclusive works of art in this country.

The sons he created for Sinhala films, 'Ranmuthuduwa' (1962), 'Gamperaliya' (1963), 'Delovak Athara' (1966), 'Ransalu' (1967), 'Akkara Paha' (1970) and 'Madolduwa' (1976) are considered musical masterpieces.

The playback songs he rendered for 'Ranmuthuduwa' (1962) 'Daskama' (158), "Sath Samudura' (1968), Tun man handiya (1970), 'Bakmahadeege 'Senasuma Kothanada' (1966), 'Ransalu' (1967), 'Sarungale' (1979) and 'Siribo Aiya' (1980) are perennial favourites which keep listeners spellbound.

Pandit Amaradeva who earned a foreign music scholarship in 1953 under a find mooted by Newspaper doyen D. B. Dhanapala on the initiative of late Prof. Ediriweera Sarachchandra reciprocated the opportunity given him by launching 'The Amaradeva Foundation' to help building vocalist of the younger generation.

The foundation was launched with a fund raising musical show titled "Amara Uwasara" organised by the Colombo Ananda College Old Boys Association. Amaradeva now plans to enhance the financial stature of the foundation by organising a musical show in Colombo on his birthday this year so that musical scholarship could be awarded to younger musicians. The assistance of music lovers, especially Amaradeva fans will be vital for this noble endeavour to bring forth talented musical personalities to the nation.

Observer Magazine while extending greetings to Amaradeva on his birthday, wishes his endeavour to uplift the standard of music all success.

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