Ruddrha - experience Sinhala Rock!

Ganga Illeperuma

Ruddrha is a Sri Lankan pop rock band from Malabe, formed in 2008 led by Gayan Mahesh (Lead vocals and Guitars). They have been through a lot of challenges, wondering how to establish themselves as rock boy band in Sri Lanka. Together with Pamuditha Suneesha (Vocal and Guitar) Anushka Nilanthajith (Base Guitar) and Neranjan (Drums) this four member band comprises very young and enthusiastic school leavers.

They are guys with a huge interest in Rock. But this kind of music has a small audience in our country. ‘It’s so hard to find out who are actually interested in rock music. Basically it is limited to in such night clubs with limited crowds and high budget family parties.’ says Gayan.

‘There are many rock bands in Sri Lanka but they are mostly heavy metal bands. Most of them play it to get accepted and appreciated. Since the last decade only a few rock concerts happened with a reasonable crowd. A rock mania then stormed in to embrace the youth’ he said.

‘What we’re playing here is not our own thing. It’s music composed in the United States. Over 90% people of USA are in to rock music. I don’t think we can promote it in Sri Lanka. But as human beings why can’t Sri Lankans enjoy it instead of getting stuck on one kind of music?’ was the idea I gathered from the conversation with them..

I think people have this notion that listening to rock is not a means of relaxation but it makes just a huge noise not easy to listen to or enjoy. ‘We can’t change their minds. So that we planned to do something special. We play Rock music as a balanced fusion with our own traditional music of Sri Lanka.

‘What we hope to do besides playing Sinhala Rock, is to use a blend of our traditional instruments. May be now our people will have an opportunity to listen a different, more traditional rock with sounds that are not alien to us.. we have a huge responsibility not to harm the reputation of Sri Lankan traditions.

We always have it in our minds’ they voiced their opinion about their new blend of rock. Within one month we will be releasing our debut audio track ‘Mal Pokurak” and soon the music video too will be produced. We are also planning to hold a big rock concert which promises to be a hit in Sri lanka making a music revolution. Its our dream to take our small country to the world said the leader of the boy band Ruddrha.

By the looks of it ,they have a concept worth trying out making a difference in the local music scenario.