Anushka fusions academic and sensible expertise to attain aesthetic triumph,possesses a Masters in Sociology studying for PhD in Music – By Sunil Thenabadu
Anushka Madhubashinie in a native of ‘Devata’ a village close to Galle , an area in the south of Sri Lanka where one sees a rich and unique cultural and traditional folk art, dance and music, famously known as low country folk art, dance, and music. From her small days she got an opportunity to move with this culture frequently. It has become a great stimulation to develop her interest in ethnic art and music. Since her school days sha had loved studying various folk cultures and folk music styles in Sri Lanka particularly Fishermen Songs, Ritual songs, Harvest songs and Lullaby songs etc. Her first dream came through when she got admission to the Ethnomusicology program at the University of Visual and Performing Arts in Sri Lanka. It is the only place where local students can learn Ethnomusicology in Sri Lanka and I also realized the depth and global value in this subject area which made her always curious to explore more and more throughout In her tenure of undergraduate studies, referring various local and international scholarly articles, research papers and folk music styles around the world. Then she was encouraged by to give her fullest contribution to develop a better recognition towards Ethnomusicology in Sri Lanka. Having done an inspirational four years course in Ethnomusicology, she had got the opportunity to grasp the knowledge on areas such as Folklore, Anthropology, Field Researches, and Cultural Studies including various folk.
The intricate emotional process which is very much a sensible process is also automatic when it comes to innately gifted singers such as Anushka Madubashini. a past pupil of Sangamitta Girls College Galle. She had been handicapped from her young days since her father’s demise when she was only in Grade three. Calamity struck her family as her mother had to boost the family which comprised of another younger sister against many limitations.
Source : Anushka Madubashini FaceBook
Anushka was however determined to excel in studies and art accomplishing many milestones in music at school. As a teenager won several All -Island awards consecutively in singing from year 2003 to 2008.She possesses a wide vocal range.
The exposure of innate abilities to sing was after her performances in Derana Dream Star season two, eight years ago which was a grueling contest. She was a forerunner for the title, however owing to the rampant SMS precedent she was eliminated. Many singers who heard her songs added that Anushka possesses a traditional folk voice were delighted with her voice and singing style jested that she sings with a lot of soul for the audience to “feel” which is what a singer should principally possess.
Anushka had won Sri Lanka youth awards in singing category in years 2014 and 2015.She is a very peculiar breed of species of human pursuit dislikes fame and celebrity but who desires to stay low profile. She is very reserved and does not speak much. After her triumph in the Dream Star contest when there was ample prospect for her to rise to stardom, but she persisted to remain low profile. Anushka had snubbed offers astonishing many in the field. Her voyage in this conventional field was at snail’s tempo with no intention for monetary growth.
She hardly sang on stage but only selected to sing at only random and for charity only. What was haunting in her was to pursue a career for a university music degree in art. Her dream was met when she was selected to the University of Visual and Performing Arts. After graduation she opted initially for a year to be the music teacher at the Lyceum International School in Galle. However, she wished as prudent to accept a post of visiting lecturer at the University of Visual and Performing Arts to date where she got the opportunity to lecture in the same department, she studied practical and research Music. Her contemporary aspiration on which she is working on now is to read for a PhD in Ethnomusicology. When she achieves this ambition Anushka’s fervent wish would be to impart her vast expertise to Sri Lankan music as the first in Sri Lanka conferred on a PhD in her field of music having completed a Master’s degree in Sociology.
Owing to her busy schedule in travelling to and from Colombo from native humble home in Devata close to Galle ,of course with her University obligations, during her last few years she had only concentrated in working in “Derana Dell Studio” with music titan Mahesh Denipitiya whom she asserts as her maestro also at Singhagiri studio. Anushka had toured Melbourne once with the sponsorship of Derana in year 2010, twice in the latter years to all states in Australia with the Mahesh Denepitiya orchestra where she was primarily a chorus singer. It was only recently she participated in the Mahesh Denepitiya’s “Hitz Beatz” shows at Nelum Pokuna theatre several times. The justification of Anushka’s snail’s tempo stance is well illustrated by the reality that Anushka’s first audio song “Ridunu Than Jeevithe Bomai” which was officially launched a few years ago. The music direction was by Aruna Gunawardena and lyrics by Amila Thenuwara . She won the best music award in State music awards for this song in year 2018.
Bambaranda Peduruge Anushkaa Madhubashinie, a native from a rural area in the south of Sri Lanka where you see a rich and unique cultural and traditional folk art, dance, and music, famously known as low country folk art, dance, and music. She has had an opportunity to move with this culture frequently since my childhood. It has become a great stimulation to develop her interest on ethnic art and music. Since her school days she loved studying various folk cultures and folk music styles in Sri Lanka particularly Fishermen Songs, Ritual songs, Harvest songs and Lullaby songs etc. Her first dream came through when she got admission to the Ethnomusicology program at the University of Visual and Performing Arts in Sri Lanka. It is the only place where local students can learn Ethnomusicology in Sri Lanka and I also realized the depth and global value in this subject area which made me always curious to explore more and more throughout her tenure of undergraduate studies, referring various local and international scholarly articles, research papers and folk music styles around the world. She was encouraged by herself to give my fullest contribution to develop a better recognition towards Ethnomusicology in Sri Lanka. Having done an inspirational four year course in Ethnomusicology, She had got the opportunity to grasp the knowledge on areas such as Folklore, Anthropology, Field Researches, and Cultural Studies including various folk singing styles which were mainly focused on Sri Lankan culture. It has offeredher with the necessary prerequisites for a formal graduate course. In her final year she had got the chance to pursue a dissertation related to Sri Lankan folklore. In my dissertation I researched on “How Sri Lankan rural women addressed romance and ergogenic through folk songs”. Through that I have discussed on “How Sri Lankan rural women express their physical and mental aspects on romance and eroticism by using folk songs.” It is amazing the way that Sri Lankan women express their love, lust and even day to day domestic issues artistically through poems. This dissertation was a very interesting one for me. I observed that in folklore, there was much to study deeply through Ethno musicological perspective. Further I have involved with several field researches related to explore “The diversity of folklore in territorial basis and Musical usage in various Sri Lankan distinctive rituals”.etc. which was conducted by the Department where I was able to discover the uniqueness of Sri Lankan folklore in further detail. She successfully completed my Bachelor’s Degree in year 2015 with a first class honors securing 3.8 GPA. Then she had been assigned to teach in the same Department as a visiting Lecturer since 2016 to date. She believes this is a milestone for her life since it has given me a broader perspective with a good understanding in this field and a goal to aim for. As a fresh graduate, it was an immense pleasure for her to share her knowledge and experience, which she earned from both research and practical basis with her students. In the meantime, she was also selected to the final four of one of the most popular reality show in Sri Lanka called “Derana Dream Star” a grueling reality contest in 2010. That was the first recognition of her as a freelance vocalist in Sri Lankan Music field. Additionally, with the capability that she gained after completing her academics, She had received many chances to actively collaborate with several media projects and top rated TV programs as professional vocalist as well as a resource person. It has become a great opportunity to give her contribution to make Sri Lankan traditional music popular. “Derana Dell Studio” is the most branded TV program among them where she was able to perform as a soloist and with a vocal group in the musical creations blended with multi tradition and ethnic music. Anushka was lucky enough to show my talents on the international stages as well by performing at live concerts, which were held in Sydney, Melbourne, Australia and Dubai with the orchestra of popular Sri Lankan Music Director . Mahesh Denipitiya. She has won several all Island awards for best female vocalist in Oriental music stream in Sri Lanka. As a solo singer, it was a remarkable incident for her that in her very first music single “Ridunu Than Jeewithe Booma” was awarded for the best music category at “The State Music Awards Ceremony” in Sri Lanka in year 2018. The music direction was by Aruna Gunawardena and lyrics by Amila Thenuwara. During her last few years she had concentrated in working in “Derana Dell Studio” with music titan Mahesh Denipitiya whom she asserts as her maestro also at Singhagiri studio. Anushka had toured Melbourne once with the sponsorship of Derana in year 2010, twice in the latter years all states in Australia with the Mahesh Denepitiya orchestra where she was primarily a chorus singer. The justification of Anushka’s snail’s tempo stance is well illustrated by the reality that Anushka’s first audio song ‘Ridunu than Jeevithe’ released only some years ago not in haste at all.
To date she has made just a few music videos as she is not at all in a hurry to make music videos . Her goal is to complete her Doctorate in music so that she can perform as a successful scholar and make considerable contribution to the improvement of Ethno Music in native Sri Lanka.She has a carefully planned her career path with professional personal experiences will ensure that she be successful in her next career. Since my student days I have been an active participant in almost all the activities organized by the Department of Ethnomusicology at her University. By using her experience in organizing and conducting events, her genuine hope was to initiate mutually beneficial programs between our two Universities such as Cultural events, Workshops, Student exchange programs etc. She can assure that with her dedication, diligence, and desire makes a remarkable contribution to Ethnomusicology. All her followers and well wishes would wish her overwhelming triumph for all her future ventures in the musical arena.
