Two albums of his melodies unveiled to mark anniversary
Since he became a sensation as a school-boy songwriter in the 1970s, Sunil R. Gamage has built a tremendous career with accolades and a massive fan base for his bitter-sweet songs about love, life, regret and parting.
He marked 40 years of his illustrious career with a grand show featuring some of his most popular classics sung by top-notch Sinhala singers. His massive repertoire that leans heavily on semi-classical genre has turned him into a living legend. The bulk of his most memorable songs were unveiled in two albums to coincide with the anniversary.
Writing songs linking two generations of singers from Sujatha Aththanayake and Sunil Edirisinghe and to chart toppers of the younger generation like Janaka Weerasinghe, Predeepa Dharmadasa and Deepika Priyadarshini, Gamage has made his presence felt as one of the most talented artistes whose contributions have enriched Sinhala lyrics and inspired song writers.
In a television interview, Gamage who was born in a beautiful village in Verahera, remembers vividly the impact his rustic environment – swathes of rice paddies, the river and the temple – had on him and the images of this enchanting landscape leaving a lasting impression in his works. Weaved into this rich tapestry of serene life are his ballades about love crafted with rare lyrical beauty.
Justifying why most of his melodies are on the joy and torturous side of love, he says his songs are based on true events he has witnessed and heard, adding that ‘we cannot avoid the effects of love in and around our lives’.
The very first song he wrote in 1971 as a school boy while on a visit to the Studio Five of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation was a pure accident, according to him. Singer Sujatha Aththanayake was to record some songs at the studio but she was short of one, and Gamage, who was known as a budding song writer by then, was asked to pen the lyrics. “Mangala Kasi Salu is my first song and that was also the birth of Sunil R. Gamage, the lyrics writer,” he said. Music was provided by late Neville Fernando and the lyrics were inspired by a cousin sister who got married a few weeks ago.
Gunadasa Kapuge’s song ‘Obe Pem Karana’ (The One You Love) is a real life story of two of his classmates who fell in love in school, went to the same university and taught in the same school but found it difficult to live as a couple. The song is an attempt to unravel what happened to such a seemingly enduring romance.
Karunarathne Divulgane’s ‘Pivithuraya Palamu Pema’ (How Pure is First Love) was about two classmates who fell in love and could not marry due to caste issues but decided to live as a couple separately. Even after their retirement they continued to meet regularly. “I have watched them meet at the Butterfly Bridge in Galle and was moved by their love for each other retaining the same closeness of their younger years.”
Some songs about love and its redeeming grace and incomprehensible pain are portrayed in such classics sung by Deepika Priyadarshini – Kaviya Oba (You are the Poem), and the mournful balled of lost love in her Sudu Hansini (White Swan), evocative of Swan Lake in a broader sense.
Karunaratne Divulgane’s Oba Ma Hamuwena (Meeting You) is an ode to a lover of his youth pleading her to be near his death bed, while Sunil Edirisinghe is on a totally different kind of love, trying to teach good from the bad to his naughty son, punishing for his wrongs to make him a good person, while at the same time hiding his sadness for being tough on him.
Deepika’s Hudukalawu Pemwathaneni (Lonely Lover) has a Toronto connection according to Gamage. Rohana Weerasinghe wrote music for this melody in Toronto while touring the city with some singers. When the members of his troupe went on a trip, the musician decided to stay at home and compose the tune. Incidentally, it was Gamage who wrote the first melody for Rohana who is also a very talented singer.
Despite their massive contribution to enrich native music, Gamage believes that song writers are a neglected lot ‘without any commercial value’. “A melody is remembered for its singer than the lyricist or the music director. Hardly anybody thinks that it is the man who writes lyrics combining his experience, knowledge of literature and rhythm is its creator. It is sad to be ignored like that, but that is reality!”
Gamage says he likes to help young songwriters and new singers by providing guidance based on his experience of four decades. His contact number and email: 0094-777-748850, sunilrgamage@yahoo.com (Newstrails.com)
