JANANI IMATHMA CROWNED WINNER OF DERANA DREAM STAR SEASON 12-by Sunil Thenabadu
Unlike in the previous eleven editions of the Derana Dream Star previous eleven the twelfth version was extremely gruelling as it was prolonged for over one and a half years. In the latter stages the final contestants had to sing on four consecutive week endss singing sixteen songs which was indeed a gruelling and exhausting effort.The final was a real spectacle with most living musicians , vocalists were invited to the Sugathadasa Indoor stadium which was packed to capacity.
The final three contestants were Anupama Gunatilleke,Brian Hanks and only female contestant Janani Imathma.who was the youngest aged 21 years.
In all previous rounds the panel of adjudicators were Keerthi Pasquel ( who was a judge from the inception) , Samitha Mudunkotuwa, Indrachaapa Liyanage and Nadeeka Guruge, all with immense music familiarity. Often to adjudicate Musicians Samantha Perera and Kushani Sandereka substituted. Although the finalists were elected via SMS’s polled the final three were the most appropriate to compete in the final .
In the glittering final on the 17th night it was 21 year old Janani Imathma who was crowned the Derana Dream Star season 12.Janani comes from a music background with hereditary affiliations to her parents who are music teachers of repute.
Janani a resident of Kelaniya , has siblings an elder sister and a younger brother with a huge music environment at her dwelling She is a past pupil of Viharamahadevi Balika Vidyalaya,Kiribathgoda. Father is Sujeewa Ranasinghe a senior lecturer at the Visual and Performing Arts university an expert exponent of the Esraj while her mother Wasantha Kumarihami is a music teacher at her alma mater Viharamahadevi Balika Vidyalaya Kiribathgoda. As the parental duo are prominent musicians it is quite natural for Janani to acquire music instincts from her young days through hereditary affiliations. Janani could sing songs of any genre of any artiste which is the hallmark of her singing. as proved by her singing diverse songs during the entire contest of many acclaimed male and female vocalists to receive always high accolades from the panel of adjudicators for her perfect pitching while singing which she proved beyond doubt at the final.
In year 2016 Janani emerged as the runner up in ‘Derana Little Star’ competition which proved beyond doubt of her immense music instincts. After leaving school she had acquired adequate results to enter the university of Visual and Performing Arts or the University Sri Jayewardenepura .Although her applications were accepted by both universities she could not enter her preferred Sri Jayewardenepura university as she was involved with the exhausting Derana Dream Star season 12 competition. Owing to her tiring schedule at the ongoing reality competition she has not found time to contribute her own songs though she has recorded so many cover songs.
In the contest of the above Janani Imathma has made a cherished tag with her sterling performances to be crowned the TV Derana Dream Star season 12 contest is certain to make rigid name in Sri Lanka’s music fraternity.
All would wish her well for her future music career which is sure to blossom to unprecedented tall altitudes.The judges added that she could substitute for the void left behind by the legendary singing sensation Latha Walpola
Sunil Thenabadu in Brisbane WhatsApp 0061444533242 email sthenabadu@hotmail.com
