Pandit Amaradeva: Musical genius falls silent
The country’s most celebrated music icon Pandit W. D. Amaradeva breathed his last at the Sri Jayawardenepura Hospital yesterday morning, just a month before turning 89.
The ardent music enthusiast started studying music under yesteryear music director Mohamed Ghouse who was quick to identify his unique talent as a young violinist and absorbed him into the orchestra of the second Sinhala film ‘Ashokamala’ (1947), in which he also made his mark as a playback singer.
The music scores he created for movies like Gamperaliya, Ranmutu Duwa, Ransalu, Getawarayo, Delovak Atara, Akkara Paha, Sadol Kandulu, Thun Mang Handiya, Parasathu Mal, Saravita and Madol Duwa speak volumes of his musical matchless expertise, while his evergreen songs like Ira Handa Payana Loke, Rathna Deepa Janma Bhoomi, Sasara Wasana Thuru, Swarnamaliye, Bamaraku Awai, Adawan Woo Denethin, Pera Dinayaka Ma Pem Kala, Heena Hathak Meda, Mala Hiru Basina,
I have been using every available opportunity to share the knowledge I acquired in music with the young generation of this country
Sannalaiyane, Mindada Hee Sara, Maha Wessaka, Paloswaka and hundreds of other hits will always remain masterpieces in Sri Lankan music.
Having joined the select band of Philippines Ramon Magsaysay award winners in 2001, Pandit Amaradeva clinched Asia’s Nobel Prize for his outstanding contributions to music in the local and international arenas. In 1963, he bagged his first Sarasaviya film award for the music direction of ‘Ranmuthu Duwa’ and his winning streak has continued for more than five decades since then, with him being the undisputed SLIM awards winner for the most popular singer for ten years in a row since 2005. In the intervening years he won several key awards and honorary tiles including India’s Padma Sri award in 2002, the French government’s prestigious honour – the Chevalier, Kala Keerthi (1986), Deshamanya Honorary title (1998) and several other awards including the ‘Pandit’ title bestowed on him by Bhatkande Institute of Music in India, degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PH.D) – Fine Arts ‘Honoris Causa’ in 1991 by the Kelaniya University and the degree of Doctor of Literature (D Litt) in 1993 by the Ruhunu University.
“I have been using every available opportunity to share the knowledge I acquired in music with the young generation of this country. In the fifties I was sent to India on a scholarship raised by funds by the people of this country. The scholarship fund spearheaded by the late legends D. B. Dhanapala and Prof. Ediriweera Sarachchandra was organized by the ‘Lankadeepa’ newspaper.
“It is the people of this country who contributed towards this fund to send me to India where I enhanced my knowledge in music under great Indian music gurus. Therefore I always believe that I belong to the people of this country and I am grateful to them. I am a people’s singer,” Pandit W. D. Amaradeva said in his last interview with the Daily Mirror a few months ago. His funeral will be held with full State honours at the Independence Square in Colombo on Saturday, November 5.