Multifaceted Nithi makes music too
Influenced
by the Pop music scene in the West, a group of Lankan young people got
together to popularize Tamil songs in a way deviating from the classical
and folk modes. Critics then thought that Tamil popular music has come
to stay in Lanka. But it was not to be as it was short-lived. And yet it
encouraged many young people to perform differently even though based on
Tamil film songs.
Back to Niththi Kanagaratnam. His first appearance as a Pop singer
was at the Thinakaran (our sister paper) Festival in 1967. He exhibited
his talents as a singer, lyricist, composer and a guitarist. He remains
a singer for the past 43 years. He told us two weeks back that he had
sung in Tamil films produced in India, mentioning films like Panthayam,
London Maapillai and Kandaen Seethaiyai. He has six albums of music to
his credit.
Studying in the English medium in Yaalpaanam (Jaffna) and Colombo
mainly in the science stream taught for sometime in Central College and
Ooraavathurai (Kayts) St. Anthony’s College science subjects. That was
during 1966-67. Then he joined the then Hardy Technical Institute in
Amparai specializing in Botany and qualifying with a degree in
Agriculture. Later he obtained his Masters degree.
Essential info |
* Skilled:
singer, lyricist, composer and guitarist
* Influenced by the West Pop music scene
* Composed and sung the first Tamil pop song Chinna Maamiye
* First appearance as a pop singer was at the Thinakaran
Festival, 1967
* Fellow musicians were Rukmani Devi, Indrani Perera, Mohideen
Beig and Clarence Wijeratne
* Lyrics are themed on love and family relationships
|
He told us that he is interested in multidisciplinary studies and
music was one of his interests.
Nithi Kanagaratnam performing abroad |
When he was young he used to visit Christian churches to hear music
and also attended Saiva (Hindu) Thevaram Pannisai (devotional hymns)
classes in Jaffna. Beginning from his 10th year he was absorbingly
interested in music. Enjoying reading poetry in Tamil he made attempts
to compose music for them and even vocalized those lyrics.
“I learned to write lyrics, compose tunes and sing those in my spare
time,” he said. He could even draw and paint at a young age, he prided
himself. However he admits that he has not learned music in a scientific
sense but could understand the nuances of musical notes by hearing only.
In 1965 he entered the music world in English. He claims that he has
sung with the late Rukmani Devi. Guitar was an instrument he tried to
master playing. In countries abroad he plays the guitar and sing. In the
west he puts himself as a singer of western ‘pop’ music, he underscored.
He is thankful to fellow musicians and singers for the support they
give him. That include the late Rukmani Devi, Indrani Perera, Clarence
Wijeratne, Claude Fernando (who composed music for Nith’s lyrics), the
late Mohideen Beig, Papa Miskin and not forgetting the Lankan Tamilian
pop singers in the calibre of A. E. Manoharan (who popularized the
evergreen Sinhala song: Surangani - in Indian Tamil films), Kalavathy
Chinnasamy, Rajendran, Sathiyamoorthy, Muthalagu (who is a popular
singer in Sinhala as well) and the famous duo Parameas-Kones from
Thirkoanamalai (Trincomalee) Nithi Kanagaratnam informs that so far he
has composed music for 33 of his own lyrics and sung 24 of them in
public performances. His lyrics speak of love and family relationships
he explained. He did not have the opportunity to sing songs written by
others in his musical career of 43 years.
He recalls that when ’Pop’ Music came into the scene in Tamil Stanley
Sivananthan, A E Manoharan, Amuthan Annamalai, S Ramachandran, Emmanuel
and K S Balachandran were in the forefront with him. He pays tribute to
the Tamil Commercial Service of the Radio Lanka for popularizing Lankan
Tamil Pop Music.
He mentions the names of some presenters of that period- B H Abdul
Hameed (he is now internationally known host in Tamil Musical programs
the world over both on stage and the TV), Nadarajasivam (head of a Tamil
private radio), Puvanalojini Nadarajasivam, Mylvaganam Sarvananda,
Ramadas (popular actor and producer of plays in Tamil for stage and
radio), Appukutty Rajagopal (now in U K) and Kumar Kanagaratnam
(electronic engineer) He opines the Sinhala Pop Music scene has reached
a high degree of sophistication and music all over the world has assumed
new dimensions with modern electronic devices. “In my time we didn’t
have such facilities” he regrets. He advises that the world is just one
entity and spiritual inclination could gorge unity amongst us.
Presently Nithi Kanagaratnam lives in Australia and is engaged in
researching in Etymology on the roots of Tamil words in the Pacific
Ocean area. He wants to write a thesis to an Indian University on the
subject.
He is writing a book on scientific terms the culinary art of the
Tamilians. Although he is engaged in the field of agriculture in
Australia, he is also an associate professor pharmaceutical medicine for
the past 16 years in the Victoria University, he told us.
He has visited Lanka after six years and his mission has been in
regard to spiritual engagements he said. He wants to know at first hand
the problems in education, health and social matters with a view to help
our people. Nithi Kanagaratnam has travelled widely in foreign
countries. Maybe he could be of use in our country if he decides to come
back for good.
[email protected] |