Top lyricist

Lyrics writer Dr. Ajantha Ranasingha is certainly no stranger to the local music scene. For over five decades he has been among the few professional lyric writers and today remains as one of the top oriental lyric writer in the country.

He has also in no mean way contributed to journalism by his wide experience.

Dr. Ranasinghe in an interview with the weekly news tabloid ‘Watch out’ speaks of his experience.

Ajantha was born in Thalammahara a beautiful village in Kurunegala and was brought up in an environment consisting of beautiful fields and ponds.

His father was a western medical practitioner while his mother was a sub post mistress in the area. He first attended the government mixed school in Pannala.

From his young days, to traditional Jana Kavi, Govi Kavi, Nelum Kavi and Seepada and was happy watching the ‘ threshing of paddy’ by buffaloes and listening to the verses sung by farmers.

Later he attended St. John’s College Nugegoda. Where he took a liking to literature, music and arts.

Among his favourite singers was Dharmadasa Walpola. He also liked A. R. M. Ebrahim and I. S. Joharsa who sang the song ‘Mahabodhi Mulai’ and cherished Kokila Devi Weerathunga who sang ‘Mavupiya adi sonduru samaje’ with H. W. Rupasinghe master.

He later contributed articles to the ‘Radio Sangarawa’ (Radio Journal) compiled by the popular film director K. A. W. Perera and also took part in radio programs and contributed lyrics for children’s programmes and for programmes conducted by the late Karunaratna Abeysekara or ‘Karu Aiya’.

He remembers contributing lyrics to Nanda Malani’s fist song recorded on a 75 r.p.m. gramophone record in the late fifties.

In the meantime he wrote to the newspapers.

Ajantha worked at Lake House for ‘Sarasaviya’ which carried articles on films drama, sculpture, and art. Later he was attached to the Silumina and in June 1966 to the Dinamina.

Asked how he first met his wife he said while working in the Sarasaviya he interviewed Kokila Devi Weerathunga then a leading female vocalist on the subject of behaviour of the modern girls.

While the interview was in progress her younger daughter brought tea. He saw her, fell for her and married her in 1968.

Dr. Ranasinghe is a father of two children. The eldest daughter is employed in a leading bank and married to a Deputy Civil Engineer while his son has just passed the entrance exam for the university in commerce.

In the seventies he wrote many lyrics.

His first film song was ‘ Pokuru Pokuru Mal Sanakeli Omari Latawiya sung by Late Walpola to the music of Premasiri Khemadasa at the request of K. A. W. Perera for the film ‘Wasana’. His second film song was ‘Bonda Meedum Kanduralle which he wrote for the film ‘Duhulu Malak’ The third was for ‘Walmathvuvo’ (The strayers) for which he wrote Malin Male ron Popiyana Ragana bamara geevithe’.

Ajantha who began as a reporter with the Dinamina later rose to the rank of Deputy editor in 1993. Before that he was the editor of the Nawayugaya.

He received the Presidential Award for the best lyrics writer for the lyrics of ‘Heen Sare Oba Awa’ sung by Amaradewa and Sunetra Sarathchandra for the film ‘Wasanthaye Davasak’(One day in a spring time)

He also received ‘Sarasaviya Awards’ on four occasions.

In 1994 he was awarded the State Literary Award for the best lyric writer of the year for his book ‘Sopakala’ which included his best collections of lyrics in Sinhala.

Previously he had published books such as ‘Thunpath Rata’, Wikasitha Pem’, ‘Pahan Dorin’, and ‘Uduviyanak Se Hiru Ras Dahorak.

In 1995 March he received his doctorate from the International Open University in New Delhi — award presented each year to two outstanding personalities from abroad who had contributed much towards literature.

Ajantha released his first CD in 1999 with 18 songs under the tag ‘Vikasitha Pem’. The music director was Premasiri Khemadasa. It contains all time popular hits.

His latest CD includes 17 new songs except for ‘Mangala Mal Dama Patha Indimi Mama’ and will also include two new songs by the late H. R. Jothipala.

Asked for his opinion on younger lyric writers he said that everyone can’t become an artiste. One should be gifted by nature. Then you study and improve on that talent

To become a good lyric writer one must read and read listen to good songs with creative lyrics.

When asked about the critics who are hard on local musicians he called it wrong. He said singers like Clarence, Jothipala, Sunil Perera, M. S. Fernando and Nihal Nelson were badly criticised by some critics but not the listeners. These critics, most of them are those who should have become artists but failed in their attempts.

In conclusion he said an artiste must always develop new creations to guide people on the correct path.