Pradeepa’s concert: Songs about building bridges

The last time Pradeepa Dharmadasa had a solo concert was more than seven years ago. Between then and now, the country has gone through some major changes particularly seeing the end of a protracted conflict.

It is in this new era that Pradeepa will be staging a concert as well as releasing a CD of her new songs, with the intention of doing her part as an artist to mend the broken relationship between the country’s different communities caused by the war.

“We all have a social responsibility to fulfil. Artistes in particular have to do their part to heal the wounds caused by war. The pain felt by all communities of loss and grief is the same and this is the message I want to convey through my latest songs,” Pradeepa says.

Her song “Yal Devi” included in the new CD, resonates of the strained relations between the Sinhalese and the Tamils.

“For me the “Yal Devi” was not just another train. It was the train that linked the north and south, the bridge of friendship that keeps the communities bound,” she says.

The song is also close to heart as it is a favourite of her husband Minister Dullas Allahaperuma. “He was the Minister of Transport for a brief period and one of his dreams was to get the “Yal Devi” train line running. He made a special request for me to record this song,” she says.

For Pradeepa, the switch from being a stage drama actress to a singer came after becoming a student of music maestro Premasiri Khemadasa. “I decided to become a singer after I was given the opportunity to sing the theme song of the popular tele drama ‘Veda hamine’.” Both the drama and the theme song become instantly popular giving her singing career a boost.

She recollects with great admiration the youthful vigour of Khemadasa with which he inspired and groomed many hundreds of youth to develop their talents.

Pradeepa’s concert to be held at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Nelum Pokuna Theatre will see her perform both her old favourites as well as songs taken from her new CD titled “Hendawata kalin enna”.

Some of the songs have been composed by well-known lyricists like Dr. Sunil Ariyaratna, Ratna Sri Wijesinghe, Mahinda Chandrasekera and Bandula Nanayakkarawasam. A song written by her husband on a mother’s longing for a daughter is also included in it. “We have two sons so he composed a song on a mother’s longing for a daughter. But it also reflects his feelings,” she says.

The Music Director for her concert is Rohana Weerasinghe while several well-known singers such as Edward Jayakody, Amarasiri Peiris, Lakshman Wijesekera, Kasun Kalhara and Nadeeka Guruge will join her in performing duets.

The show will be held on February 18 at 6.30 p.m.