Crooning to her tunes
Sujatha Attanayake sings to raise war-hero funds :
Uvindu ILLPERUMA
Sujatha Attanayake, whose voice had been silent for many years, will
reawaken her voice in the coming year. The news will definitely arouse
the temptation the fans had for her voice. As Attanayake revealed to the
Artscope she will host a concert to raise funds for the welfare of war
heroes.
Nightingale with a mission
Pictures by Malan Karunaratne |
"When I sang Yuda Bime Avi Gata my son was in grade six. He later
joined the army. I never thought I will have to face the same fate. Now
I feel the meaning of the song I voiced long time ago." Sujatha recalled
old times.
Dedicating a son for a worthy national cause is dignity to a mother
though the suffering of loss will live forever in her heart.
"I went to Pooneryn where my son went on his no-return journey. I
visited some camps close by too. Our sons who dedicated their valuable
youth to a national cause wait for a good lifestyle. I have a right to
talk about them. The progress of welfare programs should accelerate.
That's my idea. That's why I'm going to sing for them." Sujatha said.
Speaking of local music education Sujathat opined the conditions are
in a sorry state.
"Our education system still doesn't give priority to aesthetic
subjects to the extent they deserve. No wonder our young generation is
so much confused. If you want to check my logic simply look at most
students. They are terrible and they don't think or feel the value of a
colleague's life. That's why they assault each other till blood comes
out. I am sure they would not stop the assault till they see the blood
of the victim. That's the status of schools. The situation within the
universities is of course no exception. The principal reason is that
they lack opportunities to immerse their minds in aesthetic subjects.
They don't know how to sing, how to dance, how to draw or how to play a
musical instrument. They are only vulnerable to music which is not
music. That's just a hustle and bustle." She explained.
During the 1971 insurgency no student from any music college was
killed or abducted on suspicion. This was because people living with
music cannot trouble others. Music can bring them sensitivity, virtues
and gentleman qualities.
Sujatha Attanayake |
"On the contrary the modern student engages in music or other
aesthetic subject, and later has to quit the subject as they come to
grade 10. They have to give up music for English Literature. Parents and
teachers emphasize on English since the language is a must. But it will
be too late when the country fathoms the mistake they did by depriving
the students of the opportunity. Since I worked with education sector I
know what it lacks the most is people with common sense to work on
policies and schedules." Sujatha opined.
Speaking on music programs which save the day for electronic media
she expressed her disappointment. "A singer or a musician cannot come to
a higher position overnight. It requires much dedication and knowledge.
But what these TV channels do is crowning an apprentice with a large
number of SMS votes. Crowning is not that necessary. Recognition of a
singer with inborn talents is the necessity. Then those people who can
sing well but have no sound music knowledge should be given that. Since
they are not given with what they need, they come before people as stars
overnight and go into oblivion in no time. According to my perspective
these reality shows are tomfoolery to the very word."
Music comes in association of virtues. Most budding vocalists have no
idea about this aspect. They sing just for money. They want themselves
to get marketed. In fact media should be responsible for this negative
development, Attanayake said.
"You can see how loathsome those girls, who dance showing off their
bodies, are. I was a dancer myself too sometime back. So I can notice
the wrong gestures in these dancers. They mislead the ignorant
audience."
"I am not an artiste who sings hosannas for anyone," Sujatha
stresses, "that's why I can talk in this manner. I have that dignity
being an artiste who is true to what I learned." |