TV Times

TV Times

Musically yours with Rupavahini
By Susitha R. Fernando
Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) is to fulfill another national obligation. It is to give a hand to promote Sri Lankan music and publicize its history.

The musical concert titled ‘Rev Dun Gee’ on November 28 (today) at 6.30 pm at the BMICH is to felicitate some of our veteran artistes Sunil Shantha, Eddie Jayamanne and Rukmani Devi, Neville Fernando, Wally Bastian and H. R. Jothipala, who are no longer with us. It is organised to commemorate and honouring these great artistes. This show will take the form of a variety entertainment.

The title ‘Rev Dun Gee’ tells how these artistes of yesteryear touched the hearts of their fans throughout the length and breadth of this country.

The question that comes up is who is to sing the songs which these veterans sang so as not to harm their god name. To render Sunil Shantha’s songs that versatile young artiste Ivor Dennis has agreed mostly as a mark of tribute for his ‘guru’. He was one of the ardent pupils of Sunil Shantha so invariably Sunil’s everlasting hits like Olu Pipila, Kokilayange, Lanka Lanka, Handapane and Mihikatha Nalawala will be brought to life by Ivor at Rev Dun Gee.

Well who will sing those catchy songs sung by Eddie Jayamanne? That person will not only have to sing but he should be able to act too. And Bandu Samarasinghe has met the need.

Corrine Almeda will sing nightingale Rukmani’s haunting songs and she will be ably matched by Keerthi Pasqual to sing the duet sung skilfully by Neville Fernando Malbara Himidiriy and Gayana Gayum.

Our pioneer Wally Bastian who gave a new meaning to Sri Lankan Baila will be remembered when Saman de Silva sings some of his famous hits like Mathakai Amme, Muhude Yamu and Yaman Bando.

It was a difficult task to find someone who could even remotely match the popular H. R. Jothipala’s vibrant voice. Yet Rupavahini has not failed to find another to sing those numbers. In Nalin Perera of Marians fame Rupavahini has got a replacement. Will he match? That’ s left to be seen at ‘Rev Dun Gee’ tonight.

It will be the task of Sarath de Alwis to blend the music without distorting the original. The original style will take precedence and he is given priority at this event.

The tickets will be available at the entrance and the proceeds of this meaningful event will be turned over to the Sports Club of SLRC.

Top