Kanchana Anuradhi of “UDURAWEE’ Fame Already in Pinnacle of Celebrity as a sought-after vocalist,music composer and lyricist-by Sunil Thenabadu
Kanchana Anuradhi Fernando popularly known as a Kanchi postures out today as one who stands tall at such a young age of twenty six years as a contemporary vocalist who has stormed to celebrity within a short period of a spell. Kanchi as she is spoken of, is a multifaceted award-winning singer, performer, musician, and an acclaimed lyricist. Kanchi had been listening to Hindi, Tamil and English songs when young having had no hereditary affiliations to music via her parental duo. Hence breaking into the music field was challenging when mother, father and sister had stood as a shadow to her. Among Sri Lankan singers Kanchi preferred to listen to songs of WD Amaradewa, Amarasiri Peiris and Sunil Perera. Kanchi extends a gigantic gratitude to musician Lahiru Perera who had contacted her after listening to a clip of a song she had shared on Instagram, from that time Lahiru Perera had been guiding her in her singing career. When she received a call from Lahiru Perera she had initially worshipped Jesus Christ and Lord Buddha, her father is a Catholic while mother is a Buddhist.. Later on hearing of her talent many artistes like Shashika Nissansala, Bathiya Jayakody , Samitha Mudunkotuwa, Kavindi Adhikari ,Santhush Weeraman, Umara, Umariya Singhawansa,Sujatha Attanayake to name a few had encouraged her in her initial stages. She could sing songs in innumerable genres like classical, semi classical , folk, pop, kavi or whatever She could exploit in playing many musical instruments like piano, guitar and violin to precision having learnt the art from doyens in the music industry.. Kanchana is also familiar with every musical instrument from her school days having occupied the school music room regularly. Kanchi has made a remarkable impact on the Sri Lankan music industry for a decade having commenced her illustrious career at her tender age of sixteen. Her first outdoor concert she had sung was at Viharamaha Devi outdoor open air theatre invited after she was highlighted in Sirasa’s Sixteen Plus concert. The emotion of becoming an artiste had befallen on her only while studying in the higher classes though she had outshone in dancing and acting hitherto but possessing a tremendous curiosity for art..Kanchana attributes her success totally to the universe and nature. Her first song was ‘Akeekaru Pemkathawa’ with backing from Pasan Liyanage and Tharindu Priyankara who had been responsible for melody was recorded at Redfox studio having sung about one hundred times to record the final ,which Kanchi recollects.
She is the second daughter in a family hailed from Pallewela in Gampaha district .Father Aruna Patrick Fernando was attached to Sri Lanka Navy hence was frequently away from home attached at intervals to Sri Lanka Navy cantonments scattered in the island. After retirement at fifty-five years with his experience had joined Royal Oman Navy in Muscat Oman for a short stint fundamentally for family’s monetary expansions. Kanchana had lived with her elder sister, mother and ‘Kiri’ Amma, ’Seeya Thaththa’ and her many pets., parrot and dogs Tommy and Dicky as an integral part of family, In a television dialogue Kanchi had uttered that the dwelling was always very pleasant place as a amalgamated, devoted and caring family. In diverse era’s mother was engaged in trivial businesses like making yoghurt, ice packets, ‘ vita’ (beetles) ,making envelops from yellow pages found in telephone directories while ‘Kiri’ amma had been an expert in making string hoppers. The humble dwelling was positioned very close to the busy railway line and station in Pallewela
Her mother Anush Kaluarachchi described by Kanchi as very pretty was used to determine the time when the sounds of moving trains were overheard not by the clock in the dwelling. It was said that the home ‘Pahana’ was also lit simultaneously. Kanchana reminisced that simultaneously while mother and ‘Kiri’ Amma were preparing the ‘string hopper’ and ‘yoghurt’ or whatever was made while the optimum time to get ready to go to school was determined mother gives the two sisters wake up calls at intervals ‘get up’ affectionately on hearing the flares of trains as the railway station was barely two hundred yards, a stone’s throw distance from their dwelling. .Kanchana recollects that her mother was a very proactive individual who could complete any task energetically and briskly. Kanchi recollects that mother irons her uniform keep her shoes ready, her hair plait was arranged very abruptly. sometimes mother completes it while walking to the station.. Kanchi reminisces it was while the two daughters were accompanied to the railway station, she used to carry the string hoppers and her yoghurt or whatever prepared to the boutique to market them, , the pet dogs too were used to follow them. The immediate neighbours were very friendly where three boys had lived who willingly helped and played with Kanchana and sister Madhavi Anuththara. One terrible incident she reminisced in a television dialogue , during a Vesak season she had joined with the neighbouring boys had climbed to the top of a pandal structure made of typical arecanut poles. Her mother had come to know had reached to this place with a stick got beaten , the scar is still on her leg she reminded .She recollects father had planted four ‘Sepalika’ plants in front of her dwelling predominately to bloom ‘Sapalika’ flowers. . This attributes to the reason for her to sing the song ‘Pinibara Yame”. .
Kanchi born on September 13th 1998 now a First Class Honours graduate of University of Visual and Performing Arts , entered having obtained three A passes and a high ‘Z’ score . .Until then she had been travelling by train thought her school duration. .She had attended initially to ‘Kumudu’ Montessori thereafter from year one to year five at Veyangoda Church school at which her preliminary music instincts were cultured under teacher Sharmali. Thereafter Kanchi had attended Mirigama DS Senanayake National school and for her advanced level had entered to Gampaha Ratnavali Balika Vidyalaya. .In the first instance she was not absorbed as she was a resident of Mirigama region.After an appeal as her elder sister was also performing well Principal Madam after perusing her certificates had admitted her to Gampaha Ratnavali Balika Vidyalaya for which she is grateful to her. In the ninth standard the pupils for music had to create their own song with melody for which she had made lyrics pertaining to ‘Thaththa’ which turned out as a beautiful song melody which unfortunately had not been tracked and pursued later .Kanchi recollects for her love to sing and dance she was seen mostly in the music and dancing rooms in school. With her results in ordinary level she was selected automatically to Vishaka Vidyalaya, Colombo 4 but as travelling was a hassle had persisted in Ratnavali Balika Vidyalaya . As her elder sister Madhawee Anunththara was triumphing in her academic studies having studied in the Maths stream had later entered the Katubedde University to complete a degree in chemical engineering is now married lives in Norway. Kanchi reminisces she had made a vow to father by touching his forehead that she would not get involved in any love affairs during her schooling tenure. Kanchi has a unique quality in not commenting or pointing out inadequacies or shortcomings of any other individual. .Kanchi had admitted that her turning point in becoming a singer she owes totally to music teacher .Heshan Gamage, during attending to his ‘voice training classes in Pelawatta while she was still a school girl . He had told there is a ‘powerful singing impression within her. It was the advice of Heshan Gamage not to be confined to one genre but to perform in vivid genres. This Kanchi recalled this prompted her to possess a stern temperament to music also prompted her to listen to songs sung in many languages Sinhalese,Tamil, English, Hindi thereby built her singing base.in genres of North Indian and folk music.
Kanchi recollects she was afforded the opportunity to participate in Sirasa television program Sixteen Plus at which she had gained a huge popularity when she sang the first song ‘Hemin Sere”.At that time her father and mother has had no knowledge of her music path , but she was used to get constant invitations to voice many songs which was a good omen for her future The first such song incidentally her maiden song too was ‘Akeekaru Pemkathawa’..She was contacted by Dhanith Sri resident of Kandy an engineer by profession passed out from the University of Peradeniya, who was helpful for her future singing path too instigating her to make melodies with immense music knowledge. The connection with Dhanith Sri who is a from Kandy had developed as a close rapport as Kanchi’s family go to Kandy to her Loku Amma’s dwelling for every Christmas as her father is a Catholic was joined with Dhanith Sri to sing carols and to execute Christmas covers. Kanchi ‘s cousin sister younger to her Crissy Fernando who is presently overseas is also a very multi-talented singer had also joined with her for carols and singing Christmas cover songs. During this meetings it was with Dhanith Sri’s amalgamation the song ‘Udurawee’ was accomplished. . In this era Kanchi had met brothers Sarith and Surith Jayawardena too almost her age old Anandian’s had met at Heshan Gamage’s voice training classes the duo too had voluntarily eased her with advice for her music journey.
Kanchi after her successful completion of advanced level was an automatic choice to enter the university of visual and performing arts with a high Z score although she has had intentions to become a veterinary surgeon which had changed, At the University Kanchi had followed North Indian Music vocals and Western Classical vocals as her sub to her main undergraduate studies. With this experience she explores to sing songs of diverse styles where she is able to gauge her abilities in order to strengthen her vocal skills.This extensive knowledge gained Kanchi focuses her attention how her such expertise is deployed for her song conceptions like her first song ‘Akeekaru Pem Kathawa’,thereafter Kali , Denenathura Ma, Alaya Mal, Nadaya, Udurawee , Dena Dena Ma, Rellen Relle, Pathiniyani, Karakara Badunnata, ;Wathura Nala, duet with Kasun Kalhara ‘Seethala Pinne’ which was applauded by Kasun himself while Kanchi was elated in singing with Kasun but did say after singing she was so excited felt in her entire body. Unlike most novice singers Kanchi had become a sought-after singer by singing her own songs which is the obvious hallmark of her success in climbing up to the pinnacle of stardom. To date she has sung about sixty songs including such songs mentioned above, theme songs, teledrama songs and film songs . .By singing such songs Kanchi had been able to win hearts of both young and elderly people equally .Kanchi has professed that for indoor and outdoor concerts she sings exclusively her own songs. But on request she is compelled to sing songs like Upali Kannangara’s ‘Karakara Badunnata’ and ’Christopher Paul’s ‘Wathura Nala’ which she had sung as ‘Upahara’ songs. These songs are sung purely as audience requests as they like to hear them. She had commenced her singing career by singing ‘Jana kavi’ she recollects. During her tenure in school she had got the opportunity to participate in many music agendas at the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation having triumphed in many all island singing competitions while a school girl.
The year 2016 had been a very significant and weighty year for Kanchi as she was interested in participating in the inter school music contest ‘Vocalized Generation’ organised by Ananda College for students of popular schools which was staged on gigantic platforms like Nelum Pokuna , BMICH and the Sugathadasa indoor stadium.. In the first three seasons the winners had been Priyath Rajapaksa,Janith Iddamalgoda and Danushka Chandimal in the fourth season Kanchi had been adjudicated as the winner which was her first major triumph while still a school girl. In the same year 2016 Kanchi was adjudicated as the winner of all island open traditional folk singing competition where she had competed with many adults too while she was in the year twelve in school at which she had chosen music for her ordinary and advanced level examinations.. In this all island open event Kanchi had never projected to win as several accomplished adults too had participated but had attended the awards ceremony dressed in a borrowed frock from a friend, Kanchi had told her mother she need not wear a saree as she never expected to triumph. In the same year she was also adjudicated as winner in all island ‘Nurthi’ singing competition organised by Tower Hall Foundation trained by her teacher Shantha Ramani.
Kanchi had sung most duets with Dinesh Gamage also sung with Supun Perera and Kasun Kalhara too.Her first duet was with Dinesh Gamage which was also her first video song made by Thissara Imbulana .titled ‘Dena Dena Ma’.She was communicated by Dinesh as advised by Thissara to have natural nails. At the time to make her nails it had cost about rupees five thousand which Kanchi did not possess. But somehow she had found that money from payments she had received for minor programs like singing ‘Jayamanagala gatha’ etc, which when told to Dinesh he was willing to advance. The dress was stitched by her mother she revealed.
“Udurawee’ song was the first song she created with lyrics and melody which she reminisces had come to her mind when she was travelling in a bus when she was in her advanced level class she recollects with butterfly feelings then. Kanchi had planned a music video for this song for over six months spending a lot of money for costumes and shoot rehearsals.in connivance with Shamil Pathirana having changed it three times for satisfying Shamil. Who is very precise when making song videos. Kanchi had visited the boarding house where Shamil and Dinesh had dwelled sans much facilities. .Kanchi had gone with her mother taking some cool drinks ,food stuffs, after seen them Dinesh had told we do not enjoy a fridge.in this house.. After all arrangements were finalized spending a lot of money Kanchi had possessed but regrettably on the day of the recording it had to be cancelled as ‘Corona’. Lockdown was announced. Kanchi reminisced the shock and emotion was a colossal disappointment she had cried for days which is the manner she thin her .sorrows and emotions. She had converted all jewellery, gold bangles to cash to meet her expenses for the proposed ‘Udarawee” song video etc. she had possessed in to cash to be spent on this proposed video recording. Finally, Kanchi had decided to forget the video production to record it to be released to all media which presently is a huge hit heard by all music fans. Though Kanchi expects to compose ‘Udurawee’ genre songs owing to her daily busy schedules, concerts ,studies have deprived her but she has vouched to compose such genre songs in future.
Kanchi is a pioneer member of Naada Gama 360 music group formed by the band of Surith and Sarith Jayawardena family band had to date sung in all concerts. The concert series consists of some of the Sri Lanka’s contemporary artistes like Dinesh Gamage, Supun Perera, Ridma Weerawardena, Mithun all unique singers. These concerts were held in a inimitable atmosphere created by the soulful listeners. At a recent television dialogue, she recollected on her collaboration ’Lovena’ with senior artiste Chitral Somapala. At her second concert in Galle she had attended with her father who had told her that though we are walking swiftly now we do not know how we could return which Kanchi did not realise. After she sang and was walking down from the stage as fans flocked around her to take selfies and talk it was the first time Kanchi had confronted such situation. She also recollects at a show in Kegalle a few years ago after she sang her song ‘Alaya Mal’ a fan had offered her a flower bouquet after which at most concerts the members in audiences were in the tradition of offering Kanchi flower bouquets, This she reminisces as a new breakthrough for singers . After Kanchi stepped to sing on open air concerts many knew she changed the existing perceptions by singing songs with lower tempos like ‘Denena Thura’ which audiences loved to enjoy but initially some disliked as they were used to dance for songs with high tempos. . On this change senior artistes have even called and told that the change done which need to be applauded.
Among the generation vocalists Kanchana stands tall as perhaps the most sought after vocalist. She is unassuming loved by all in the singing industry.She is often invited to many media, television channels for which she somehow endeavours to participate,At all dialogues she never fail to thank her parents attribute ger success to the parental duo.Her father a well-read person always attempt to groom her in her forward music journey. All her fans would wish her success for her future music career which has already blossomed to high altitudes.
Sunil Thenabadu in BRISBANE e mail sthenabadu@hotmail.com WhatsApp 0061444533242
