Peshala a maestro a brand doyen in Tabla at the pinnacle of celebrity – by Sunil Thenabadu

Sunil-Thenabadu Peshala Peshkaaran Manoj popularly known as Peshala is a ‘brand’ name in Sri Lanka synonymous with Tabla. Peshala perhaps the most qualified Tabla exponent having Nipun.Masters and a Degree from the Bahathkande University in Lucknow India where he had a prolonged career for nearly eight years from year 2000 when he began his university career even before his Advanced level results were released.In fact it is on record that Peshala’s Advanced Level results were dispatched to him while in Lucknow.

Peshala hails from Dematagoda has humbly affirmed that his parents were not that affluent not artistes either , not had any hereditary affiliations to his music ability.Father and Mother had been adherents to normal music which Peshala and his younger brother had followed suite. Pehala’s father had played the Dole with enthusiasm.But as Peshala had confessed from his younger days he has had a craze to believe that he to become someone who would not depend on anyone for his living.To Peshala dedication and perseverance to succeed in his future took pride of place even at his tender age..Peshala had confided that ninety percent of the artistes had lived around Dematagoda,Maligawatta and Maradana environment which too was famous for unadorned drug addicts, some artistes are still in the vicinity .Peshala had also quipped that famous Buddhist temples like Vidyodaya Pirivena,Kuppiyawatte temple,Mahabodhi Pririvena were located in the same locality while legendary Anagarika Dharmapala too had been a dweller in this neighborhood.Peshala when young had partaken in extracurricular activities in school and Daham pasela which had added glamour to his impending strides.

Peshala has had his primary education at St John’s College in Dematagoda, secondary education at Borella Susamayawardena Vidyalaya.From his young day s he had shown a flair and a passion for music particularly for playing the Tabla.While still in school he had pursued in Tabla by attending to GURU Music whiz PV Nandasiri’s music classes at the ‘Sarasavipaya’ in Maradana.Guru Nandasiri had identified his innate aptitude has advised him to go to India to enhance his familiarity which he consented in proceeding to Bahathkande University in Lucknow in year 2000.He had been fortunate to dwell at Dil Master Hussain from the Lucknow music family where in addition he was thought the fundamentals of music which enhanced his music flair.

On return to Sri Lanka Peshala had continued his performing the Tabla regularly.He had confided that practice is crucial for any player as in the event one fails it would result in commencing from the beginning.Peshala has affirmed that though he is at the pinnacle as an exponent of the Tabla he is still on a learning curve.Upon his return to Sri Lanka after more than half a decade as a positive rational strong individual he had been introduced by a friend Shanaz to Iraz and B&S who were dominating Sri Lankan music fraternity to the hilt. Peshala though essentially a classical musician combing with the bit westernized Iraj had done a lot of new creations which had been blockbuster.Peshala was of the strong view that that deviation from the norm is crucial for the present era with the imminent changing world.Peshala has succeeded in his approaches in whatever he does.he had qupped at an interview that he had been invited to a musical concert to perform for just half an hour to a packed audience at the Sri Palie Horana school auditorium.He has had to prolong his performance for another one hour at the request of the fans where they had applauded uninterruptedly appreciating his performance.It had been confessed by a stage play enthusiast that for a stage play to be presented it needs at least 15 artistes but yet to get an audience to be kept spellbound is not an east mission.While the Derana little Star season was on, the Choreographer renowned Chandana Wickremasinghe had requested Peshala to create the first track which he had made impressively .Owing to this he had been made a panel Judge of “Little Star” season 04.Peshala had recalled in his positive thinking attitude that he had even revolutionized the DJ set up by combining his Tabla intervention too which had been a resounding success. Likewise Peshala is now a ‘brand’ in music had opted to deviate from the norm when his “Peshala in Concert” took off the blocks.He had made huge differences to the traditional format structuring it to essentially three vital segments VIZ melody, vocalizing and jazz( dance).He had invited as chief guests his Guru from India also the son of the utmost sitar player also from India ,with the cream of musicians in the likes of Mahesh,Jananath,Sandeep, Isuru,Rakitha ,Daminda etc to make the concert glittering of course the auditorium was packed to capacity .Peshala making a difference with positive thinking made the final burst a with huge fusion music session which charmed the audience.Peshala though liked to repeat the recital but the Covid pandemonium had prohibited for a repeat recital.

Pashala is presently a lecturer in music at the Visual and Performing Arts University where his aptitude and knowledge is very willingly imparted to students. a post he had been holding for more than a decade.Peshala unlike many stalwarts in the field always willing to help all enthusiastic learners which he discharges with dedication imparting all his knowledge.Peshala is also a free lance prester at TV Derana where he presents many programs impeccably.There is not a single dull moment when he is on air.The most famous program though is “Champion Stars Unlimited” which has been telecast each week for the past few years uninterruptedly. This program he deviates from the usual stereotype presentations which is so popular affrimed by Peshala himself as a “Hadawathe program eka”.It has no laid down strategy but he keeps entertaining the guests as well as millions of viewers keeping them spellbound and mesmerized..In this scenario Peshala still young has gone places in many fields.He also is a permanent member of MaFF band of Mahesh Denipitiya.

Peshala Manoj is married to Poornika Peiris over an year ago.She is the younger sister of Chathurika Pieirs hailing form an Illustrious Pieris family with so many popular media personalities. Poornika is a versatile professional television presenter of repute capable of presenting a program of any magnitude having loads of experience even held a position as executive at TV derana.The duo are blessed with a son eight months old..

The path for more resounding successes have already made in various vocations for positive thinking Peshala Manoj who is already a BRAND in Sri Lanka and overseas.It is the fervent hope of all his fans that he would penetrate the traditional formats in music and presenting to bring more innovations to uplift the current morals.