Master (that's how everyone prefers to call maestro Premasiri Khemadasa) is as active as ever. He is happy he is still in demand. With all the new talent in the field in music, some still look up to him to provide an effective score. They believe he will always do something different – add colour to their productions, be it a teledrama, film or stage drama.
His most recent assignment was to provide music for a tele-movie 'Sadisi Taranaya' directed by a newcomer, Devinda Kongahage. Master has enjoyed doing the score for a novice whom he describes as "a highly talented young man." He has once again tried to do something innovative and is happy about the outcome.
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| In the studio: ‘Master’ Khemadasa with young film-maker Devinda Kongahage |
Equally happy is the enthusiastic youngster Devinda who confesses he never expected such a marvellous score. "Master saw a rough edited version just once and that was it. I don't know how he did. He has turned out some superb stuff.”
Khemadasa was impressed with what he saw and gathered the talent he knew would do justice in providing music to a quality product. In the orchestra were seasoned musicians Amarasiri Peris, Lakshman Joseph de Saram, Samantha Perera among others.
Devinda watched how Master set about the task. "One morning he walked in with a single piece of paper. He distributed it around, briefed the musicians what he wanted and then asked them to play. Except for a few changes here and there, they had done exactly what he expected them to do.
As Devinda started laying down the track, he was amazed to find that the 15 music pieces Master produced fit in exactly the different sequences with no need for adjustments. "He had grasped the emotions and feelings of the different individuals as well as the different moods in the film so well and created something unique. He has performed a miracle.”
"I had certain misgivings in getting Master to handle this job,” Devinda admits. "After all here was a novice approaching a maestro. Will I be able to have a dialogue with him to get the result I had in mind." As he hesitated, those around him convinced him that Master would be the only one able to handle such a complex theme. So he decided to give it a try. And it has worked better than he expected. He believes the music score has uplifted the whole production.
To the Master it was yet another challenge. Here was a young man with new ideas coming to him. He had to deliver. "I remember how Jayantha Chandrasiri started and the vast strides he has made over the years both on stage and the small screen,” Khemadasa recalls.
In recent years Khemadasa has not been in the best of health. Yet illness doesn’t bother him. He has virtually forgotten that he has had a kidney transplant. He doesn't even think about the heart ailment. He wants to be busy the whole time. Amidst his regular classes at Jana Kala Kendraya at Battaramulla, 'Sadisi Taranaya' offered him a change.
Khemadasa feels relieved to have a permanent abode to train his students. Three years ago he was invited to use the Jana Kala Kendraya premises at Battaramulla. He was asked to house the 'Premasiri Khemadasa Music Academy' there. He planned a one year course to train youngsters in performing arts. "We have trained two batches so far. I am most satisfied with their progress," he says. He picked up most of them for ' Agni', his latest operatic creation. Another batch of thirty is following classes right now.
Master's most significant contribution has come in the form of developing talent from remote areas and training them to be voices "that could excite the audiences even at the Sydney Opera House", to quote him.
It was a trying job for many years, particularly when he had to use the open garages at the BMICH to train them. He didn't mind. His perseverance and determination to succeed kept him going. Lack of facilities never deterred him.
As for the tele-film, (Devinda insists there is a distinct difference between what we see today and his creation) will it be a long wait to see this much-talked about creation or will the viewers be able to enjoy something fresh soon? |
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