Ranwala Brigade ready to attack

"Yuddhetath Evith" the latest concert of the Lionel Ranwala Troupe will be held at 6.30 pm on May 7 and 8 evening at the BMICH.The show in a way of a 'cultural war' is intended to attack the spreading alienisms and eroding of traditional values of the country.

The latest in the series titled 'Gama Aulanggang' is staged in a bid to instil nationalism and an attack on those against indigenous values and embraced alienisms.

The concert is organised by 'Ranwala Balakaya' (Ranwela Brigade) which is made up of several organisations including 'Thalama Jathika Padanama', 'Senkadagala Jana Gee Kandayama' and 'Matuparapura'. These groups include former students of Ranwala Padanama.

"Yuddhetath Evith" comes following a number of successful foreign tours where the troupe received a tremendous response from both foreigners and Sri Lankans. Among the highlights of the latest show late music master's little known song on Sri Lankan traditional drums and it was written by Jayatissa Boralugoda. 'Hela Manale Yak Kula Mage Kumari' is a poignant song dedicated to a young girl from Yaksha, a tribe in ancient Sri Lanka. The lyrics is written by Dhammika Hettiarachchi. A song consisting colloquial expressions of the outlying village of 'Panama' and another lyric describing 'Angampora', a Sri Lankan traditional martial art style also in the concert. 'Herali Rasai' is a song sung in the calypso style and 'Nabara Re Sanda' is an outcome of a research where minimum number of music instruments, two guitars and a percussion. This is a song especially designed for youngsters who can enjoy the music with a guitar.

The songs came in their previous show 'Gama Aulanggnag' consisting original composition of late Ranwala too included in "Yuddhetath Evith". While singing the troupe will make colourful performance bringing much attraction to the show. Keeping another step forward, the latest show aims not only popularising folk songs but also to convey the idea that people should show more concern about the history and the future of the country.

'Ranawala Padanama' was started by late musician and actor Lionel Ranwala who strived to popularise Sri Lankan Folk songs single handedly.

Following his footsteps with the leadership of his son Sahan Ranwala the troupe aims to bring folk songs into the mainstream realm of music and to compose music based on traditional songs such as various types of 'Kavi' 'Wannam Gee', 'Prasasthi' etc which we find in our folk music.

With the sudden demise of Lionel Ranwala, the troupe strived hard not only to preserve the work that the late maestro initiated but also to carry out the much-needed research in folk music which is close to the heartbeat of the nation and to make creations based on researches. So far they have conducted the concert in many parts of the country including Vavuniya and Omanthai.