A quiet performer

‘Leya saha Laya’ – Amarasiri, Janani and Jayantha Chandrasiri

It’s encouraging to see that most – if not all – sons and daughters of our well-known musicians are following the footsteps of their parents. It’s equally heartening to see that the TV Derana music program ‘Leya Saha Laya’ features these artistes, giving the younger generation an opportunity to expose themselves. 

Presenter Jayantha Chandrasiri makes it lively by inspiring comments on the singing and by chatting with the performers on their musical career. The orchestra led by Jayantha Ratnayake adds to the success of the program. Viewers also get to know about the somewhat tedious journey of the musicians to reach where they are today. 

Listening to Visharada Amarasiri Peiris recently, I realised I had not listened to most of the songs he sang in ‘Leya Saha Laya’ along with his daughter Janani. I must, of course, confess I am not a regular TV viewer. Neither am I a listener to the radio. 

It was interesting to hear Amarasiri talking about the early days when music fans got to know about singers either through gramophone records released by Cargills or through Radio Ceylon, the State-run only radio broadcasting station. 

His father, Albert Peiris had been a musician who had studied under Rupasinghe (H W) Master, one of the earliest names in the local music scene. He released his first record in 1928. Ten years later the duet he sang with Rukmani Devi ‘Siri Buddhagaya Vihare’ (her first recorded song) was liked by fans and is popular to this day. 

Amarasiri remembered how when he was a child, his mother helped him to play the harmonium which the father did not allow him to touch. Since he was not tall enough to reach the foot-bellows, she did the needful!

He had spent six years at the College of Fine Arts (Heywood) – later University of Visual & Performing Arts – five years to learn the violin and six years for singing, concurrently. He had then joined Radio Ceylon (later SLBC – Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation) – where he was both a vocalist and a violinist. He rose up to be the director of music before quitting. 

My first recollection about Amarasiri was when he played in maestro Premasiri Khemadsa’s orchestra. He participated regularly in Khemadasa’s concerts and whenever he directed music in films. His first film song was in ‘Sirimedura’.  

Most of us remember ‘Landune’ – lyrics by Ranbanda Seneviratne, lawyer/lyricist from Raja Rata – as his first song which became an instant hit. (It is still in the top list of his creations.) His first song, however, was ‘Budu Sisila’ – lyrics/music by Sena Weerasekera.  

Among my favourites is his ‘Hantane’ song, possibly because it brings back memories of the Peradeniya University days. Amarasiri has made a name for himself as a stage drama/films/teledrama musician. 

Daughter Janani also made music her career and is today a teacher in music. She said she loves teaching children and those who decide on music as a subject are committed.