Singing Sinhala in Melbourne

Jayanthi LIYANAGE

A Sri Lankan singer, frequently seen on Melbourne Channel 31 and Nandana Vindana program, has brought out her newest trilogy of songs.

For Tilaka Rupasinghe, this follow-up to her 2005 CD release Aradhana is yet another stride in a singing career taken off with a dash when she settled in Melbourne 20 years ago.

Visuals are now ready for the trilogy, of which, two are Ma sujatha vu Sri Lanka and Kandulu kada written by Bandula Nanayakkarawasam with music by Rohana Weerasinghe. The third is Sith mal yayama sonduruy written by Mahinda Dissanayake Divulgane with music by Jagath Wickremasinghe.

Duve Rushani

In Aradhana, Duve Rushani composed by Tilaka herself, and Philip doopatha with lyrics by Chandrasena Range, became popular among music fans. In this CD, she dueted with the late Clarence Wijewardhana and Vijitha Amarasekera while music for the songs was created by Sarath Dasanayake, Mahinda Bandara and Victor Ratnayake.

Other lyricists of the CD were Saman Chandranath Weerasinghe, K.D.K. Dharmawardhana, Keshava Edirisinghe, Pethum Chandana Thilakasiri and Sisira Dissanayake.

In Sri Lanka for a brief stretch a week ago, no sooner than she had touched our soils, she was invited to be featured on the Chat N’ Music TV program. She had also sung the theme song of the tele drama Avurudu Nekatha, accompanying Rohana Bogoda.

Sebaliya

Tilaka derives fulfilment singing for charity. She was among the female leads in Sebaliya, the Pilisarana Inc. Association event held at Besen Centre, Berwood in Victoria last year, in aid of the retired of the army women’s corps. She also sang for flood, tsunami and cancer victims.

Melbourne was virtually a launching pad for Tilaka as a singer. “When I was in Sri Lanka, my family did not fancy my taking part in radio competitions like Pibidena Gayaka Parapura”, Tilaka recollected although her school days had involved many an undertaking in singing. “I gave up my dreams voluntarily.”

This was in spite of the fact that as a kid, she used to yodel Ajare, the Hindi theme song of the film Madhumathi almost constantly, provoking predictions from her home fans that she could go a long way in singing.

Melbourne boost

Joining music bands in Melbourne boosted her image. She remembers Daya Silva, leader of the Melbourne band Dinkum Lankans, as a patron figure who introduced her to the stage. She also commends her husband Nimal for backing her continuing as a singer.

Her first appearance on stage was a musical show featuring Clarence Wijewardena and Indrani Perera. “That lifted my spirits,” says Tilaka. In Sri Lanka’s 61st Independence Day celebrations held by Sinhala Cultural and Community Services Foundation at Clayton Hall in Clayton, she figured prominently, singing patriotic songs.

“My main repertoire is patriotic and Hindi songs and old hits,” said Tilaka. “Audiences in Melbourne like them. Before going on stage, I find out what songs my audience would like to hear.

I sing songs that would give them the highest enjoyment. I don’t often sing songs which I like but my audiences might reject.”

On which principle, she reverts to fast track, up beat songs of Dalreen, Mariaselle and Indrani Perera at dinner dances.

She does not project her energies on playing instruments saying, “The one thing I do, I must do well.”