ASHAN FERNANDO A DOYEN IN MUSIC ARENA BORN TO COMPOSE MUSIC MELODIES WITH HEREDITARY AFFILATIONS- IN AN EFFERVERSCENT UNBLEMISHED VOYAGE – By Sunil Thenabadu

ASHAN FERNANDO A DOYEN IN MUSIC ARENA BORN TO COMPOSE MUSIC MELODIES WITH HEREDITARY AFFILATIONS- IN AN EFFERVERSCENT UNBLEMISHED VOYAGE – By Sunil Thenabadu

Ashan Fernado currently a household name in the music arena in Sri  Lanka could be named a legend  in the field at such a young age. However his younger days had been spent in agony having extremely  modest beginnings , survived in  a tiny one bedroomed  dwelling on three and a half perch land  in Rawatawatta where parents Ananda Fernando and Shiromani Mendis had dwelled with their three sons.Father the sole breadwinner had been employed in a furniture shop in Moratuwa as a wooden craftsman. He had evoked that he was paid daily for the work performed which was given to his wife who had spent carefully for domestic needs.

During his younger days the manner Ashan had lived he was reluctant to recap as it was very sorrowfulness past battling many obstacles. Ashan when young had been thinking how to escape from the misery and agony the family was going through. Owing to many constraints faced Ashan and his two brothers were not afforded the opportunity to fulfill their aspirations and objectives. Ashan has added that his family is one that developed from grassroot level. Father Ananda had observed that Ashan had loved music had been striking tins with sticks,,had been very keen  to listen to songs in the radio., Father despite financial constraints had bought a mini computer which Ashan had learnt to manipulate making small melodies. Father had thought to tell Ashan how a studio  functions had bought a huge piece of glass and a plank to make a small studio in the side of the solitary room. His mother thinking when there was no room to move about in the room had broken the glass without knowing what father was planning to do.

Ashan had attended to Weera Puran Appu Model school up to ordinary level.The first advanced key board had been presented by his Aunt  working abroad when he was very young. While in school Ashan recollects when in the fifth standard when the option was made to choose subjects Ashan had selected unanimously music as it was in his blood. Ashan had quipped that at his young age he had dreamt of becoming a music composer and beyond it to be a music director. At the same time Ashan had thought to himself that it is via music he would get out of the woods  the family was deeply in. Ashan reminisced that it was his father who had taught him the music codes at the inception .Ashan nevertheless  has had doubts as to how he could become a star with his family background living in  dire  poverty stricken state .Ashan had  In the sixth standard he had discussed about composing a song ‘ Nuwan” with four other contemporaries in his class as he was a bit competent in composing with the aid of his computer. His colleagues too were very interested , this song was sung and recorded and presented in the school .teachers’ day which had been the beginning of Ashan’s successful music pathway at the tender age of eleven years  while only in the sixth standard. Ashan in a television confrontation reminisced his music teacher Chandani for her able guidance. This Ashan had attributed about this ability  to hereditary affiliations to the aptitudes in music his father and grandfather had possessed.  Ashan’s father has had the belief of becoming a popular star, as he was not successful he was adamant to make Ashan a star instead  Ashan  when young had seen him play drums at the church who had been  a musician too. Ashan had emulated Father by playing a home made drum after coming from school which had annoyed mother who had even beaten him for making noises while she was resting. The neighbours had enjoyed his music had even come  to  near the fence to listen. Ashan while attending to scholarly studies had continued his enthusiasm in enhancing and educating himself in music.Ashan had recollected also at a television dialog that while in school he had participated in all island music competitions in vocals and instrumentals  and often had triumphed for which Ashan is grateful to his mother for her assistance rendered with her encouragement. Ashan had sung  old songs like “Muhudu Pathula Yata Indagena “ and also verses  It was Ashan’s mother who always advised Ashan to concentrate of academic  studies too.Despite her advise Ashan had been seated at the rear of the class, at the GCE ordinary level had obtained simple passes in all subjects but had obtained a A+ for music.For advanced level had entered Prince of Wales College Moratuwa to study in the commerce stream  but had focussed on his music which was in his blood.

Ashan has had the habit of composing music tracks ,had met a lyricist Dilan Gamage who had made lyrics for the song ‘Mata Aithiwela “ for  reputed Roshan Fernado .Ashan’s preliminary break was when he was selected by late Sydney Chandrasekera  whom Ashan considers as his second father when he was selected to compose the melody for the popular teledrama ‘Prema Dadayama’  produced by the Sirasa Television.This was after he had heard the many beautiful  melodies  Ashan had made which were accepted by the masses. Ashan had been told to send a melody,  the first melody had been accepted by him to Ashan’s delight .The song was sung by Pradeep Rangana.After which Ashan had made many melodies at the request of Sydney Chadrasekera initially for ‘Prema Dadayama 2’.when he was asked to sing in addition to  composing melodies also many other programs at Sirasa including children’s programs and teledramas like “Me Adare’, ‘Swapna ’.etc,These Ashan had attributed turned him to a huge turning point in his music career with such a boost for which Ashan is  immensely thankful to Sydney Chandrasekera who really groomed Ashan to tall elevations  Also in channel TV1 for the drama Saraswathi Chandra  the theme song the melody was also of Ashan. When Ashan was young when he requested a toy car valued at Rs 1500/ father had given Rs 1300/ all he had to please Ashan. When Ashan was invited for many concerts possessing a car was essential was conveyed to father..Father without Ashan’s knowledge had sold the small house on three and a half purchase land to buy him his first car.Ashan recollects when he was earning money  from concerts  particularly  singing the  song ‘Man Pathanawa’ song they had initially stayed in rented out dwellings while a new house with a studio was erected  Ashan reminisces that he had travelled in buses had even taken his first song to media stations by bus. Ashan recollected that his first love was lost owing to his financial status. For her he had compiled a song with lyrics “ Hamuwee Wenwuye Deviyange Theeranayak.

Ashan Fernando had met Kumudi Liyanage his wife when he was only just Ashan  had not made a name as a musician. Ashan had seen her face on FaceBook had endeavoured to locate her for many months, later had found she is from Rajagiriya area employed at National Savings Bank Rajagiriya. How Ashan met his present wife Kumudi is very interesting. The duo had initially met at a selected place convenient when they did not known whether the two even matched in height, luckily Ashan was taller. Kumudi was of the belief that Ashan was huge but on viewing found to be matching to her in physique  She had even not known Ashan was involved in the music arena. To Ashan, Kumudi was an Anjel then even today she is his Anjel. Ashan was not earning like now but  Kumudi was drawing a monthly salary always  seemed to help him financially too .But Kumudi had supported him  as her wish possessing a rare quality  to help anyone. During this era Ashan was determined to find avenues to make melodies which were accepted by media and singers to make this his profession which had become a resounding success.Ashan had recollected that on certain days he had composed music for a dozen songs.Ashan had worked tirelessly making melodies mostly at nights, there had been many days when he was broken rest the entire night.