Gratien Ananda: An innocent musician

Prasad Gunewardene

Almost on the eve of the New Year, the country lost another versatile musician and vocalist. He took a sentimental journey to the land of his faith where he believed that he has a permanent home. He passed away relatively at a young age in his musical career that spanned nearly three decades.

It was quite sudden as the time table had more space for this youthful looking bright artiste. When a glamorous figure who has earned popularity at national level taking the country by storm makes such an exit, it is even more carved in our hearts. He was the heart throb of Sinhala music, Gratien Ananda, the innocent musician and vocalist who inspired all segments of the society after the demise of legendary singer, H R Jothipala.

Gratien Ananda

Gratien Ananda inherited a smooth pop flavored style of vocals that expanded to the country's boundaries overnight and it kept the genre alive in all types of music that embraced the audience. Gratien kicked off his music career as a vocalist singing a sentimental duet with the ever green Neela Wickremasinghe - Aatha duraka desa pawena-, a song that became popular overnight. Minutes before his coffin was closed, Neela sang a few lines of that duet by the mortal remains of Gratien as a tribute. Gratien was blessed with a voice that had much harmony, extended even beyond the average but difficult three part point, to sing to any pitch or scale.

Admirers

This versatile singer, who filled the void of a film playback singer after the demise of legendary Jothipala, traversed the streets and mingled with the people in the manner Jothipala did during his music career. The tens of thousands, who flocked to the cemetery at Borella when Gratien made his final journey, amply demonstrated how much he was admired and loved by all segments of the society. A devout Catholic by faith, Gratien Ananda never missed a Tuesday mass at St Anthony's Church, Kochchikade in Colombo. He was a complete human being with a large heart. To music lovers, he sang the melody with a sequence into a sense of pitch, which truly moved the audience to emotion. Awards and mementos to his credit today stand solemn at his residence moving his beloved wife and children into more grief.

Gratien was introduced to me by my life long friend, Sinhala pop music legend, the late Clarence Wijewardene. Gratien was a guitarist at that time. He walked into our midst at a Bacchus in Nugegoda town when Clarence and I were discussing a song written by my journalistic colleague, the late Kithsiri Nimal Shantha on a concept experienced by me. At the first meeting, I gathered that Gratien was a man with a large heart who possessed enormous musical talents in him. From that day, Gratien was a close friend to me. A year ago, Gratien walked into my office carrying a framed photograph of Clarence Wijewardene.

He said he came to get my permission to present it to Clarence's wife Sheila. I asked him why he wanted my permission. "This photograph had been first presented by you under your name to Sheila on the third month remembrance of Clarence in 1997. I got her permission, re-did it under my name as another copy to be given her if you don't mind", said Gratien in a humble manner. I told him to go ahead as Clarence belonged to all of us who were nearer to Clarence during his lifetime. Gratien Ananda held high morals and practiced decent ethics in life as a persevering man.

Charming

In music, he was a vocalist never chary to lead from the front. His characteristics were charming. Gratien knew the art of singing and the chemistry of composing soothing music to melodious styles.

That was why the chivalry of his musical compositions was embraced by fans. He earned many bouquets from the people for his charming human qualities that gained repute in an unprecedented manner. Gratien was a noble man among men.

The musical elegance of his presentation, blended with the rhythmic eloquence offered a melodious momentum to the listener and it attracted a larger audience. He was competent and compendious on the curriculum of music. Goodbye Gratien, your sweet melodies will continue to echo ever than before. They will bring back your mellifluous smile to renew old memories of you. You were a musician in full and deeper meaning accompanied by significant progress. Your voice will ring a thousand years in our ears.

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