‘Saroja’ attracts international attention

Priyanka KURUGALA

Deepika Priyadarshani

Sri Lanka’s Sangeeth Visharad Deepika Priyadarshani was chosen for the Gusi Peace Prize, Philippine. She had been honoured for her vocal performance of ‘Saroja’ penned by senior lyricist Mahinda Chandrasekara. Rohana Weerasinghe composed music to the song.

Sri Lanka had faced terrorism for 30 years.

Every citizen was affected by terrorism. The song is written about the tragedy. Mahinda Chandrasekara penned his own experiences about terrorism into words. He sighted too many tragic situations caused by the terrorism. Parents without children came to see him. Saroja music is Rohana Weerasinghe at his best. He had done justice to the words of sorrow. He changed the melody a number of times in his attempt towards a perfect production.

“I don’t take much time to compose for a song. I’m naturally in it. But ‘Saroja’ stood before me as a serious attempt. Honestly speaking, it was difficult. Those lines made me tired. I badly felt that I must do justice to the words of melancholy. And at the end, I was happy. So happier than my other attempts.” Rohana Weerasinghe recalled.

The award is for the whole country, as Visharada Deepika Priyadarshani notes.