‘Amaradeva, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow’:

Maestro made happy

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

Pandith W. D. Amaradeva

Amaradeva, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow’, a grand felicitation ceremony to felicitate Pandith W. D. Amaradeva and to mark his 85th birthday will be held at Nelum Pokuna, Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre, Colombo 7 at 7 pm today under the patronage of Defence and Urban Development Ministry Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. Secretary to the President Lalith Weerathunga will be the Guest of Honour. Here are the views expressed by the organizers of the event Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) Director General Lakshman Hulugalle and the Managing Director of ‘Star Events’ Sudharma Neththikumara in an interview with the Daily News.

Q: What is the main objective of organizing this event?

A: Pandith W. D. Amaradeva is the icon of Sinhala music. During last five or more decades Pandith Amaradeva was the live wire of Sinhala music. He turns 85 this year. I think we have an obligation to honour a person like him. This show will not only be a National tribute to him but to the fields of arts and culture too. There are many other senior musicians to whom we have to make the same tribute but there is only one Amaradeva. During our life time, we will not see another Amaradeva.

This is why we are happy to organize this show. This show has not been organized to earn profits. We have invited many leading personalities who really love Pandith Amaradeva’s songs to enjoy the show. We are going to make a significant contribution towards him on his birthday. Whatever proceeds collected will go to him. We have asked a few sponsors to cover the show not with the intention of making profits. Our main intention is to make this a national event. Pandith Amaradeva will perform on the occasion.

One day Ms. Neththikumara met me and proposed this idea. I thought this is the need of the hour and it is a National event. Therefore, I decided to offer State patronage for the event. I am really happy to be involved in this show. I have had the same idea for a long time and was involved in organizing similar shows during the last three decades. For the last two years, I have been organizing the Ranaviru Real Star.

Q: President Rajapaksa always pays attention towards the well-being of the elderly, sick or needy artistes. Why are artistes so special?

A: President Mahinda Rajapaksa is a people’s President and he loves people. He knows the value of Pandith Amaradeva and similar personalities. That is why he personally visits them. He was very happy to learn about the felicitation show. The President has felicitated significant personalities in all fields and not only artistes. President Rajapaksa, unlike previous leaders, does not ask artistes to visit him. He visits them. President Rajapaksa visited Pandith Amaradeva on many occasions. It encourages people.

Q: How do you see the connection between arts and peace?

Sudharma Neththikumara

MCNS Director General Lakshman Hulugalle

A: We need peace of mind and peace in our country to do everything. It is not only for arts, cinema etc. Peace is required for development. During the past 30 years, people did not go out and enjoy life because of terrorism and bomb blasts etc. People lived in fear. In 2005, the President promised to bring an honourable peace to the people of Sri Lanka. He kept his promise. Peace dawned in 2009 and has brought large scale development to the country. A lot of Sinhala films are now being produced in the country. Many outdoor musical and cultural shows are taking place all over the country. Artistes have a lot of work. Arts are directly connected to development and a lot of people earn a living through arts and connected businesses. Without peace nothing will happen. Peace has its price. We did not have an International Theatre,but, today we have Nelum Pokuna.

Q: What do you think about the success of the Ranaviru Real Star?

A: Ranaviru Real Star is the most successful and popular mega star show in Sri Lanka. It was Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa who introduced this concept. There are a couple of reasons behind the success and popularity of the show. The main reason is discipline. The show displays the talent and discipline of the members of the three Armed Forces. Other similar shows do not have this high standard. In 2011, the show received over two million short messages (SMS) and this number increased to four million SMSs this year (2012). This shows how popular Ranaviru Real Star is and how the people appreciate it. It shows that the people love good and disciplined programmes.

Q: How do you selected the organizer?

A: Sudharma Neththikumara who is the Managing Director of ‘Star Events’ is a well experienced organizer. ‘Star Events’ organized International level mega shows such as ‘the Sonu Nigam Show’, Rukantha-Chandraleka live concert, Nirosha Virajini’s ‘Love’, etc in Sri Lanka which were very successful. She has already produced two Sinhala tele dramas, ‘Ganga Addara’ and ‘Bharyawo’ and another teledrama ‘Diya Matha Liyami (Writing on water) in the production at the moment. She has a good professional team to organize these types of shows. I offer guidance and recognition. I offer my fullest support. This is a national event. A state owned media organization should have done this show.

Q: Why did you decide to get involved in this special show?

A: (Sudharma Neththikumara). My favourite singer is Pandith W. D. Amaradeva and I had this idea of felicitating him for a long time. My favourite song is ‘Aradhana’(Invitation) sung by him. This special show is entirely different from all the other felicitation shows because Amaradeva Master sings during the show. He sings after a lapse of time. The show will be held in keeping with international standards and the tickets have already been sold out. This shows how popular it will be. I have organized many other similar shows before.