Mario sings
‘The Holy Grail of Chinese Wushu’
Multi-faceted young singing sensation Mario Ananda Abeykoon, the son of late Gratien Ananda, released his a special trilingual music video titled ‘Living on the Edge’ (English) / ‘Randee Nosali’ (Sinhala) in April last year with the intention of motivating children to take up swimming as a lifestyle sport.
After this release Mario made headlines launching the official National Olympic Song which was an encouraging song for children to achieve Olympic level goals. The song had its special features like the first ever dedicated Olympic Day Song ‘Living on the Edge’ composed and sung by Mario Ananda and a short film contest which was opened to the general public. After the one-of-a-kind trilingual sports music video ‘Living on the edge’ released Mario has collaborated in a national level sports production.
In 2022 Mario is documenting another significant sport. After his last production released from Mario Ananda Productions, he has been training in Wushu under his coach Leel Dharmapriya of Lilan Sports Academy. Mario has directed a documentary film on Wushu narrating the significance of training Wushu and its benefits with testimonies of the students of Mr. Dharmapriya. It is titled ‘The Holy Grail of Chinese Wushu’.
Parallel to the documentary film, Mario has also produced a theme song for ‘Wushu’ written, music directed and sung by himself. Significance in this new project is Mario collaborating with his student Kinon Angelo a 19 year old, who has written and raps a segment in the same song.
The documentary film will be released on 4th February commemorating a special kind of independence.
‘It’s the freedom to live life to the fullest as healthy, intelligent and humanitarian citizens in unity both children and parents for the betterment of the nation’ he said.
The documentary ‘The Holy
Grail of Chinese Wushu’ will premiere on Mario Ananda Youtube channel on the 4th of February.
Mario is the visual director, script writer, music director of the background score and theme song, visual editor and it is a production of Mario Ananda Productions.
The director of photography is Nalin Sanjaya Suraweera.
Mario respectfully remembers his master Leel Dharmapriya and his wife Mrs. Badra, Kavinda de
Zoysa, with gratitude, and all the resource persons and the students for participating in this production amidst the pandemic situation with great dedication, passion and enthusiasm to make it an amazing success.
The launching event will be held on 4th February at 4.00pm at Lilan Sports academy, Polgasowita, With the participation of the coaches, students, parents and press followed by fellowship and refreshments.
Mario is currently affiliated with projects conducted by ILO, Sri Lanka United Nations Friendship Association, Paralympics Sri Lanka to train basketball for the differently abled children and Youth Temperance Organization of Sri Lanka.
‘ I’m a vegetarian who never drinks, smokes or take drugs. I have proved the Sri Lankan music scene that a singer doesn’t need drugs or any sort of stimulation to sing or dance, while being energetic throughout the show. And similarly I wanted children of the next generation to see that.
I’ve been training myself under professional trainers for the last few years to get ready for this visual in certain sports like swimming, running, kick boxing, cricket and basketball. Any sportsman or upcoming sportsman would grasp the idea of the song when they see that the artiste himself who’s singing the song knows what it takes to undergo such painful training sessions to be outstanding’ he said. Sports can help any child to overcome their tragic life styles. Putting focus into sports can build the personality, mindfulness and good health, which is crucial for a person in any age to achieve any goal in life.