Archives

Renowned Sinhala song lyricist, twice Presidential Award winner, thrice Sarasaviya Award winner, and OCIC honour award winner of the eminent literati, Dr. Ajantha Ransinghe in an interview with the Daily News. Dr. Ranasinghe released a new CD 'Ajantha Geethavalokana' at the SLFI on May.

Q: What provoked you to say that lyric writers are bypassed like street vendors?

A: I went for the recent song recital of the Vienna Boys Choir held at the Sugathadasa Stadium. There the Vienna Boys Choir sang famous numbers from several countries, but in every foreign song they acknowledged the source.

When it came to a song from Sri Lanka, they had aptly chosen to sing the popular patriotic song "Indunil gangulal" sung by Rukantha Gunathilaka, which lyric was written by me and set to music by Rukantha himself. The compere never acknowledged either the singer's name or my name though it was our labour that enabled everyone to enjoy that song that evening. I sat feeling very sad and dejected at being so bypassed.

Q: Why do you say that the media in Sri Lankan society is cruel in its attitude to song writers and artistes?

A: Because they haven't the decency even to acknowledge the name of the lyric writer, the name of the music composer and very often even the name of the singer, whenever they broadcast or telecast a song for the listening pleasure of the public. All private broadcasting and TV stations are guilty of this anomaly. Artistes and their contribution to society is taken for granted especially by the electronic media which today has become more powerful than the print media. All they are bothered about is making more and more money at the expense of the poor artiste, from whose sweat and toil they rake in money without even acknowledging it.

Q: Who else do you think is contributing to perpetrating this high handed attitude?

A: The Advertisers of course. They sponsor radio and TV programs by interspersing songs with their advertisements. People pay attention to their advertisements because they enjoy listening to or viewing the songs that are mixed with them. If the advertisers want to, they can insist that in the programs they sponsor, the names of the persons who toiled to produce that song are mentioned. But not a single advertiser has that amount of ethical values. The program producers are in cahoots with the advertisers who care tuppence for the lyric writer or the music composer or even the singer who laboured to produce that song and place it before an appreciating public. This is a tragic situation. This trend will only discourage the younger generation to try their hand at lyric writing.

Q: What about the present day cassette producers? What are your views about them?

A: Among them there are some vandals and ghouls mutilating Sinhala music. This is today a business gimmick that rakes in a lot of money for these pop cassette mudalalis. We as Sinhala music lovers should boycott buying these cheap cassettes that are robberies and worthless lacerations of decent Sinhala music. By patronizing these types of cheap mutilations we Sinhalese are only cutting our noses to spite our faces. If modern youth wish to create new Sinhala pop music even with rap interludes, they are welcome to do it, by creating new pop songs, but not by mutilating and defacing existing songs loved by the people.

Q: But aren't there any remedies or safeguards for lyric writers and composers?

A: There is the Intellectual Property Act in Sri Lanka, which today is only a dead letter. If no one else does, at least the authorities should see that something is done that such an advanced piece of legislation which is not even in the statute books of most other Asian countries is operative in this country and that due recognition is given. Honour must be given where honour is due.

Q: Having written song lyrics for three decades both for innumerable cassettes and for about 250 films, is there anything special when writing lyrics for film songs?

A: Writing a lyric for a film song is more difficult. When you compose lyrics for a film, you have to understand the limits within which you have to work. Your songs must reflect the essence of the story line and they must be appropriate to each scene of the film. What is more, the songs must be lyrically beautiful. In a film song the lyricist has to satisfy the Director of the film and work within certain parameters. The lyrics must heighten the intensity of the scene and should be in consonance with the general theme of the film.

Further the lyricist has to develop a good rapport with the scriptwriter and also the music director to create a memorable song.

Q: How can you become a successful lyricist?

A: To become a successful lyricist one has to have a lot of experience in life gained personally or through others. Similarly a lyricist should cultivate a number of interests in various branches of knowledge. It is by dint of hard work and dedication that you can reach the top. I grew up and had my early education in a very rural set up in a village off Kurunegala called Thalammahara. It is the rustic mannerisms of the rural folk in my village that inspired me most in my lyric compositions. I get up in the wee hours of the morning to compose my lyrics. This is the best time for creative work.

Q: Finally what advice do you give the younger generation in the area of lyric writing?

A: It is not enough to have inborn talent. You must also have an educational background. You must read very widely, and make it a point to read good literature, both classical and modern and listen to good songs. There is a difference between writing a meaningful lyric that tugs at one's heartstrings, and writing a set of words.

The lyric must be a new creation. And above everything else, you must be sincere to your field of work. As Shakespeare has said, "To thy own self be true".

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager