Melody maker and lyricist

Galagedera MMA Haq:

Aravinda HETTIARACHCHI

Galagedera MMA Haq, an old boy of St. John's College in Yaalpaanam (Jaffna) joined the Palali Teachers' Training College in early 1970s as a young English specialist teacher. He was earlier an English Specialist Teacher at the Guruthalawa Muslim Maha Vidyalaya.

Galagedera MMA Haq

Haq used to hum popular songs. A young student at St. John's was also fond of humming. Having heard of the humming of Haq, the boy asked the teacher from what film was the tune he was humming.

The elder replied that the particular tune was not from a film but a melody he tuned himself. The lyrics was also by him. One of the lyrics Haq wrote was in Thamil.

Composing melodies

He composed the melody too. Later this became a popular song in Sinhala - 'Dakina Dasune Denetha Randune.'

MMA Haq is indeed an excellent melody maker and a fine lyricist. He is his own unique melody maker even though he is not an accomplished artiste of learning music in a systematic manner.

Former students of St. John's College, Jaffna introduced this versatile person to Joe Devanand, a filmmaker who was on the lookout for a person who could spin some catchy tunes for his Tamil film - 'Paasa Nila.'

Exact notations

However, Haq's way of melody making was different as he was totally depending on his vocal chords. To meet the rituation musician T Latheef was brought in to compose Haq's melodies into exact notations of music.

It is noteworthy to remember that Haq's first set of melodious songs were performed at the Westminster Theatre in London. It was well received and appreciated as they were aesthetically satisfying.

Haq was quick to point out that "Allah's blessings gave me this talent. He did not teach me the notations. He only showed me a photograph in an Album of a woman." She was Nooruf Ameena, his wife who left him at the end of the 70's, said Haq.

Sudden inspiration

He was just a music lover then humming Tamil and Sinhala songs. Suddenly an inspiration came his way when in one of his visits to a relative's place where he saw an album of photographs. While turning the pages of the Album he was amazed in seeing the photograph of an exceptionally attractive young women. He was inspired and this led him to break into the world of music with his romantic lyrics and melodious songs. This 'Dakina Dasune' was born. There followed a cascade of lyrical rhythms springing like a waterfall.

However, he couldn't bring forth all his imagination into a stream of film songs. His contribution to the Sinhala cinema through his songs since 1970s has now become widely known.

He married Ameena and had a son and a daughter. After four years of marriage, Ameena and the children left Haq. Haq lamented that evil spirits came into our love relationship and separated us. Yet I am inspired by her image. I like to be friendly with her but she wouldn't allow me to visit my adult children".

Remembering Shakespeare he said that beauty is not in the object but in the beholders eye's. Although he could not own his wife any more yet he can create beautiful melodies remembering his former wife. He created popular melodies in the 70s. Dakina Dasune, Chandana Allen Nala were just to mention two numbers.

Technicalities of music

He composed music for such films as Geeth, Sujeewa and Obai Mamai which were very popular in the 70s.

He is still awaiting the arrival of his wife, but he has no peace to Haq even for him. He continues to learn the technicalities of music. He learns the notation system in music. He is a dreamer of music and melodies.

He dreams and visualizes every move of his deserted wife and then recreate melodies representing her gentle movements in lyrics and melodies.