AMONG NEW GENERATION LYRICISTS DILAN GAMAGE STANDS TALL ALSO A MUSIC COMPOSER OWNING MUSIC RECORD LABEL FIRM ‘DUELCO ENTERTAINMENT PVT LTD ‘- By Sunil Thenabadu
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In songwriting collaborations can take in different forms. Some composers and lyricists work closely together on a song, with each having an input into both words and tune. Predominantly it is the lyricist who fills in the words to a tune already fully written out. Lyricists have often adds words to an established tune, as Dilan Gamage does to ninety percent of his music melodies composed. Many among them are based on elegy–, sober , mourning type among lyricist achievements Dilan had performed almost totally independently. Dilan has quipped that in most cases only simple words that could be included in most cases at which a lyricist like Dilan is restricted in using his diverse vocabulary.
Dilan Gamage was born in the village Mapalagama in Galle adjoining to the Gin Ganga river vicinity which was subjected to flooding twice a year. Hence the family to evade from this annual catastrophe had moved to Embilipitiya,Padalangala village. Dilan had been educated up to year three in Padalangala primary school and then up to advanced level at Embilipitiya Maha Vidyalaya from where he had entered the Sri Jayewardenepura University to complete a degree in diploma in Sinhala.. As Dilan’s interest was then purely cricket had travelled to Galle purely to play cricket which he loved, wanting to be a famous cricketer. Dilan had been a prominent member of Galle City Cricket Club. However owing to hazardousness in travelling to and back about one hundred and fifty kilometres one way had decided to quit the game he loved also as he was studying for his advanced level as also he had joined Triad advertising firm in year 2005 as a copy writer after coming to Colombo though then he has had no idea to become a lyricist but had been liberally penning lyrics for songs at the very beginning. But he has had only thoughts to become a vocalist .There had been a singing duo Romesh-Lakshan to who Dilan had written a song titled ‘Hirimal Wayase’ in early 2005 which was sung in the Sirasa Super star sung with other artistes too. This song was given to Elephant House for a “Cream Soda’ advertising campaign. Thereafter Dilan had been quiet for a few years having joined the advertising firm.
But owing to a broken love affair while working at the advertising form had prompted Diylan to do so to hurt the then fiancé’. It was titled “Dunna Wedana”in year 2010 which was accepted by Nirosha Virajini which had delighted Dilan as particularly he was an absolute novice not heard of at all. Dilan had found Nirosha’s telephone number from a cassette label and called her which for Dilan’s surprise selected as so many lyrics of songs are sent to her, The music composition was by Radeesh Vandebona which was also his maiden music configuration. The song had been at the top of many music chart shows then. As the song was sung by Nirosha Virajini the lyrics had received a vast merit and value. By this Dilan’s lost love had paved the way for him to be a lyricist.
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All music lovers had since spoken widely about this song prompting Dilan to be more enthusiastic to script more songs for many popular artistes viz, “Oba Tharam” for Theekshana Anuradha,’Me Esdeka Bala’ for Shihan Mihirana, Lan Lan Wela “ for Noel Raj “, ‘Wen Wee Den Yanna’ for Chamika Sirimanne, “Awasana Premaya Mage’ for Dimanatha Wellalage,” “Man Pathanawa” for Ashan Fernando, “Himalayata Wada Usai Thaththa” for Jude Rogans, “Ivasaida Manda” duet for Athula Samitha, “Anthima Adarayai” for Romesh Sugathapala all popular artistes then which became hits abruptly among listeners For most lyrics of songs there had been a meaning to coincide.The song “Himalayata Wada Usai” was based on the attitude of his father who had been very strict was adamant to make Dilan to triumph in examinations to become a good citizen.Hence Dilan’s father had been behind his studies closely monitoring his progress which had made him to pen such lyrics. The song “Awasan Premaya Mage” song was written appropriately after coming to know the wife of a friend who lived in Melbourne who had eloped with a boy. boarded who had shared in the dwelling. In year 2012 for the song ‘Ivasaida Manda’ duet had won many awards in Music awards and Sumathi award ceremonies .It is pertinent to mention that Dilan has been shuttling to and from Melbourne several times had even organised many musical shows in all states.Dilan had mentioned that for him to be in native Sri Lanka is more profitable to him During this time the name of Dilan became a household name as in many chart shows there had been about five or six songs which were penned by Dilan as a lyricist. Among these songs Dilan had received many honours in award ceremonies for the best song, popular song like in People’s Nielson awards award ceremonies to become a pursued after lyricist. This was how Dilan continued winning awards continuously. Subsequently lyrics were penned for Shashika Nissansala ‘s ‘Husmak Duren’,These lines Dian had written after he had participated in year 2012 in a program at Pallekelle prison to conduct a workshop where he had met one of his Embilipitiya friends who was serving a jail sentence term for killing by stabbing his girl friend with a sharp knife. Dilan had sought permission from the Jailor had spoken to him which prompted Dyan to pen these lines for ‘Husmak Duren”. afterhis story was related Then Dilan had made lyrics for Surendra Perera’s “Thamath Muna Gesune Ne” which too became popular. During this time the ‘ringing tone’ concept became famous by which many lyricists were able to make money so was Dilan. In year 2014 or so the song “Himalayatah Wada Usai’: song sung by Jude Rogans was penned. The new year song sung by Rohana Beddage titled ‘Sirilaka Avurudu Siri”theme song penned was jointly sung with Shashika,Romesh,Theekshana,
Thus Dilan Gamage the novice youngster became a sought after lyricist Even to date many speak about the song “Mage Vitharamai” of Samitha Mudunkotuwa for which he penned the lyrics. The lyrics for this song was incidentally written celebrating ten years to his journey on scripting lyrics. The song titled ‘Oba Tharam” sung by Theekshana Anuradha penned by Dilan too became very popular. Dyan had written lyrics for two songs sung by India popular singer Gowra Dakun which is indeed very creditable as a Sri Lankan lyricist for songs titled ‘Kawada Ho” and ‘Wassanya’ which was in the 2017 era. At the Derana Music Awards in year 2019 the lyrics of the song ‘Awasana Premaya’ sung by Dimantha Wellalage was also by Dilan’s was the recipient of a Gold Award at Derana Music awards. Amal Perera’s popular song ‘Adahannath Behe” was also penned by Dilan. The song ‘Mathu Sambandai sung by Milinda Sandaruwan was also a song penned by him. Then Nirosha Virajini’s ‘Hitha Binduna Tharam’ was also sung for his lyrics. The duet song “Mama Ewasaida Manda’ duet of Athula Adhikari and Samitha was penned by Dilan which was accepted by Samtha initially when the duo was separated. This song had won an award too. But when Dilan insisted Athula several times only Athula had consented. The music composition was of Shenal Maddumage the video was by Charuka Dushyantha , which was sung at an appropriate time when media had published defamatory news about Samitha having commenced another love affair, the video had been watched by lakhs of viewers within hours of release. The duo in the video was Sinethi Akila and Gehan Appuhamy.This song had won an award too when Samitha had quipped when they were together the duo had not won an award, strangely won when the two were separated.
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Then ‘Dannawada Oya’ of Raveen Kanishka was also the work of Dilan .Then the lyrics of song “Me Anthima Adarayai” sung by Romesh Sugathapala , “Amuthuma Premaya” sung by Samitha Mudunkotuwa with Dilan’s lyrics was released in year 2014.On 10th November 2024 Dilan Gamage had participated in the SLRC’s popular program ‘PIUM NEELA VILA’ produced and compered by Nilar N Cassim who welcomed Dilan saying for the first time a person younger to him had participated in his program.Dilan had penned lyrics for film songs too.For the film “PRAVEGAYA”a song titled ‘Adare’ was sung by Sanka Dineth and Umariya Singhawansa.He had sung for two other films, unfortunately the films were not released He had also written songs for many teledramas about ten in number produced mainly by Hiru Television mega teledramas
Dilan takes a maximum of twenty minutes to script a song in any music genre Rock, R& B, Classical, Folk or whatever .Dilan do not have the habit of reading through his composition repeatedly like many of his contemporaries. Dilan had quipped that when he is a mood he breaks rest the entire night and composes lyrics for about five songs with diverse melodies possessing the identical masterpieces which he is used to. Dilan is not only a composer of lyrics is also a song melody creator in which he has been his profession for about a decade owning an advertising firm M/s Duelco Entertainments pvt Ltd. Dilan is down to earth unassuming leads a very simple life not at all sophisticated .All Dilan’s well-wishers, music lovers, vocalists would no doubt wish him to continue in the same vein as there is so much more he could contribute to the music in Sri Lanka as he is only thirty eight years old not even attained middle aged quadragenarian. Dilan Gamage could be classified as the lyricist who had contributed to the large number of popular songs to diverse genres in the annals after the decade of two thousand ten.
