Actor turned lyricist par excellence
Geesha Munasinghe
BOOK LAUNCH: The book on Lucien Bulathsinhala titled "Lucien -
Noothana Geethaye Rupaka Rachakaya" written by Samudra Wettasinghe will
be launched at the "Sevaneli Nomakenam" show at the John de Silva
Memorial Theatre, Colombo on February 23 at 6.30 p.m. The compere will
be Prof, Sunil Ariyaratne.
Veteran artiste Lucien Bulathsinhala has not only enriched the
Sinhala song geneology with various facets and experiences of love and
romance but also added a veritable deluge of meaningful essays to
singing verse by using concepts and figures found in classical
literature and reports, usages and proverbs found in the Sinhala
folklore. Therefore arrangements made by friends and fans to felicitate
this great artiste should be highly appreciated.
Bulathsinhala's first publicity medium was the stage. An actor and
dramatist he is a creative man who injected novelty to the stage with a
mixture of noorthi and theatre traditions. Bulathsinhala who displayed
artistic talents from his school days first came to the limelight as a
classic lyricist. After successfully exploring the stage, radio, cinema
and television he has today confined himself to song writing only.
After his primary education at Dharmaloka Vidyalaya, Ratmalana,
Bulathsinahla passed the SSC Examination in 1957.
Ambition
His ambition to become a painter made him join the Aesthetic
Education Institute in 1958. But destiny obstructed him. Economic
hardships encountered by his family made him give up higher education
half way.
Enroling himself once again as a student at Dehiwala Madya Maha
Vidyalaya he studied in the H.S.C. classes with the intention of
entering university. This period helped to change his life's course.
While studying at the Dehiwala MMV he wrote and produced the drama "Mannadiya"
in 1959, playing a small role in it as well.
This drama which centred round a 'fishing village' became a much
talked about play. Passing the HSC examination Lucien registered himself
at the Peradeniya University as an external student. He raised his own
funds for university studies by working as a clerk. At Peradeniya Lucien
came under the influence of Prof. Ediriweera Sarachchandra, Bandula
Jayawardena and other eminent dramatists and assisted them in their
drama productions.
As an undergraduate he ventured into lyrics writing by writing his
first light song Sitha Perena Duruthu Reye in the latter half of the
1960s.
This song sung by Indra Kumari Wijeratne to the music of M.G. Perera
became an instant hit.
Songs written by him earlier for his 'Mannadiya' drama however faded
into insignificance.
In 1964 Lucien produced a drama named 'Nonivena Gini' which entered
the final round of the State Drama Festival. 'Nonivena Gini' which was
eliminated in the final round was selected as the invitation drama at
that festival.
Lucien who graduated from the Peradeniya University in 1964 continued
his clerical job to earn a living. In the meantime, he contributed
towards stage dramas as an actor when time permitted. He played leading
roles in Sarachchandra's, Chula Dramas, 'Elova Gihin Melowa Awa', 'Pemathi
Jayathi Soko,'and Bandula Jayawardena's 'Bhivunu Bosatha' which
character earned praise from many quarters including critics.
Dramatist
Lucien Bulathsinhala is a veteran dramatist and lyricist. But he says
he had no intention whatsoever to be a lyricist. He never wrote poetry
although the majority of lyricists in this country were born from poets.
He was deeply moved by the Hindi film 'Albela' which he viewed in his
childhood his sole ambition was to become a reputed artiste in the field
of drama, cinema as an actor, producer or a director. The character
'Gavan' in Albela who encountered a crisis in life due to poverty, later
became a singer. This role deeply moved him and energised him to be
creative.
In 1971 he bade goodbye to his clerical job and joined SLBC as an
announcer. Later he became a program producer and his production 'Sandella'
made him famous.
While at the SLBC he produced the drama 'Rathu Hettakari' in 1974.
This drama won the best script and best actor awards at the State Drama
Festival that year. During this period he played various roles in
Premaranjith Tillakaratne's "Konthare", 'Muhunu Sayaki', 'Rukadayaki', 'Wahalak
Nethi Geyak', and Serade Seetha, Sugathapala de Silva's "Dunna Dunu
Gamuwe', 'Muthu Kumari', 'Thuranga Sanniya', "Deweddo', "Nandivisale"
and Santhuwara Sebalane, Padmaseela de Silva's 'Umathu Sanwarsawa',
Upali Wanasinghe's, 'Shailasanaya' Ariyaratne Vittanage's 'Magul Hatana',
Bandula Vithanage's 'Beckett' and Prof. Sunanda Mahendra's 'Pokuru Wessa'.
Until 1981 he confined himself to song writing without attempting
drama productions.
On the request of Sujatha Attanayake he wrote the song 'Sanda Besa
Nehe, Pavasak Sande' for one of her radio programmes. This song won
accolades from late veteran Announcer and Lyricist Premakeerthi de Alwis.
Then at the request of Austin Munasinghe he compiled the song "Dam
Patin La Handa Besa Yanawa' for a light songs program. It was sung as a
duet by Austin Munasinghe and Anula Bulathsinhala.
The producer of this program was the late Gunadasa Kapuge. Lucien who
was greatly enamoured by Kapuge's song 'Sitha Kopamana we' later
obtained the words and tune of this song from Austin Munasinghe as a
source of inspirations. There after he has written lyrics of over 200
songs for popular vocalists.
These include Raja Meduraka Ipadee Sitiyanam (Malani Bulathsinhala),
'Pipunu Male Ruwa' (Nanda Malini), 'Kolomtota' (Pandit Amaradeva), 'Widuli
Mini Pahan' (Visharada Kapuge), Pinibara Yame (Sunil Edirisinghe), 'Amma
Wethi Mata' (Victor Ratnayake), Peni Kurullane (Milton Mallawarachchi),
'Dedaru Landuni Mata' (Victor Ratnayake), 'Siri Yahane' (Edward Jayakody'),
'Mini Mini Pode' (Neranjala Sarojini) and
'Serasili Gokkola' (Abeywardana Balasuriya).
Experience in life
The special feature of Lucien Bulathsinhala's songs is that he had
written most of them around his own experiences in life. Bulathsinhala
who returned to his home in Ratmalana after graduation met his girl at
the beach at sunset. 'Dam Patin La Sanda Besa Yanawa' was based on this
experience. Teaming up with musician Dr. Premasiri Khemadasa was a major
turning point in Lucien's life which made him venture into new heights
of fame and acclaim as a song writer.
Lucien Bulathsinhala has contributed some epoch-making stage (drama)
songs which will never fade away. Examples are the songs in "Ratu Hetta
Kari" and "Tharawo Igilethi" which are perennial favourites. Lucien who
ventured into the radio (SLBC) through stage was able to make some
memorable contributions to cinema too.
Having his debut in Vasantha Obeysekere's Vesgaththo' (1967) he later
played roles in "Chuda Manikyaya", "Dandu Monara", "Aradhana", "Kiri
Kavadi", "Hathdinnath Tharu" and "Sira Kandawura" which is still
awaiting release.
Screenplay
He also contributed to "Situ Diyaniyo" by playing a role and writing
the screenplay.
In 1981 Lucien was attached to the nascent National Rupavahini. The
Rupavahini Corporation was still in the offing when he was given
training abroad as a TV producer and confirmed in the Rupavahini
Corporation.
At Rupavahini too he was able to create many programs and teledramas
which captured the imagination of viewers. His teledrama 'Tara Devi'
bagged 9 out of 11 awards at the Vijaya Tele Drama Awards Ceremony.
Lucien who was unfortunately suspended in 1990 was again reinstated
in 1994. But this opportunity was short lived as he was discontinued
from service in 1997 in a most unfortunate and unexpected manner.
He has also written several books including "Pipuna Male Ruwa', 'Minisa
Bala Sitee', 'Sevaneli Nomakenam', 'Khemadasa Niya Bhavithaya ha
Aragalaya' and 'Sinhala Opera Dekak'.
He always included 'wonder', 'reality' and an underlying theme in his
creation and showed his prowess on stage, radio, cinema and Rupavahini
(Television). His song writing also deviated from the beaten track and
conquered new vistas. He is a veteran artiste in the true sense of the
word. |
