DINESH GAMAGE SINGER ,LYRICIST, COMPOSER OF MUSIC ,AN INDELIBLE IMPRINT WITH ALBUMS IN SINHALA/TAMIL, ALREADY IN SUMMIT OF FAME – By Sunil Thenabadu
The chief characteristics possessed by an accomplished vocalist are willingness to learn, hard work, disciplined, dedicated to improvement, grace under pressure, ability to handle failures and criticisms, modest , unpretentious, affable and a good communicator all qualities possessed by:
Dinesh Priyasan Gamage is such a gigantic revelation in the current music arena as a vocalist, lyricist and composer of music melodies. Is a native of Ambewela very close to NEliya town, born on the 27th July 1994, studied initially at Sir James Pieris Vidyalaya, Nanu Oya and then at Gamini National College NEliya. He had been known as ‘Nana’ as in school he was one whose beard grew fast unlike in his colleagues. Now in the music field he is known as ‘Dinna”. Dinesh had studied well up to grade nine but owing to his radical interest in music had failed miserably in the latter years in the Advanced level, has confessed has received miserable low marks. He had selected art drawing for his advanced level, as there were many girls, as his friends had duped him, had later selected music as a subject. The renowned musician Nadeeka Guruge a former old boy of his Alma Mater had been emulated had given the impetus to Dinesh in forming a small band with a few classmates. He recollects with his band friends had organized a musical show in a small hall envisaging a huge audience, had even gone in a vehicle to the venue ,to be so surprised as there had been only parents of the band boys at the venue in the audience. While doing A Level additional classes in Chemistry , it necessitated one student to perform on stage on each day .As he wanted to impress a girl he was interested in he had started to learn the guitar for a week learning four or five cords for the song of Dayan Vitharana’s “Obe Susum Pawan”.This is from where Dinesh learned to play the guitar more seriously.At that time he could sing but not that competent enough to sing in front of an audience he had quipped. This was perhaps the beginning of his illustrious journey to date. His inimitable unique sound combines elements of pop, folk, 6/8 time music and reggae to create something truly special. He often cites musical influences of legends like Bob Marley, Bob Dylan, and Peter Tosh, but his own vocal echo is his own. A splendid music career is ahead of him for certain which has already blossomed to unprecedented soaring elevations.
At a television dialogue Dinesh had related a regretful story about his parents and dwelling. The parents were ancestors from Matara had eloped when very young had come to settle down in N Eliya, but owing to severe financial constraints had begun to run a boutique but when Dinesh was very young Mother had gone to Middle East in search of greener pastures. She had been coming and going since he was four years old up to about ten years of age. Dinesh has one elder sibling a brother who had been studious student in Maths is now employed abroad in that field, but had confessed there had been no relative in the musical arena hence has no hereditary affiliations to music only innate talent that he possesses. He had been not attached to mother when she returned permanently initially when he was ten years old. He had been looked after my Uncle Atapattu and Aunty their immediate neighbours . When mother returned, he could not get attached to her initially was reluctant to even go near her. Dinesh adds it is why he needed always to have relationships to become attached which he was deprived this during his younger days.Dinesh has had many relationships during his school days and later, In a television discourse Dinesh had recollected how his father used to put him up to view an educational program at 5 AM in the national television which he hated as in NEliya it was impossible to concentrate in the cold atmosphere. He has added later he had not learnt anything been disinterested in learning. Now he repents as his father would have done it purely for his benefit. Dinesh had added his life experiences which had sustained him to compose music and lyrics to many songs of his.
Dinesh recollects how he got up before 2 AM to take a bus from N Eliya to Colombo to report to the Audio Engineering class at 10 AM. He had returned to N Eliya after the class having to come twice a week for six months. Many of his friends had gone abroad in search of greener pastures, but Dinesh wanted somehow to pursue a career in music, He had watched a television program of Lahiru Perera and Manuranga Wijesekera on commencing a class on ‘Audio Engineering’. Dinesh had called Lahiru and searched the meaning of ‘Audio Engineering’ under ‘google’ had conveyed to his colleagues, no one was willing but had made up his mind to come to Colombo. Dinesh recollects how he took a bus at 2 AM early morning from N Eliya to Colombo to report to the Audio Engineering class at 10 AM. The bus had arrived at the destination at around 6 AM , he was used to spend the time loitering in the station until the classes commenced. Dinesh had returned to N Eliya after the classes having to come twice a week for six months it had been a gruelling experience as he wanted to return to comfortable NEliya disliking the heat in Colombo. Today Dinesh adds he did not learn much in Audio Engineering from Lahiru and Manuranga but had learnt how to live in society, the essential protocols, to learn any subject with huge sacrifices, to be honest in all life’s activities.
.Dinesh had disliked to obtain money for his expenses from his parents which had prompted him to think of going abroad again what his friends did. Then he had endeavoured to make some music melodies from his mobile ,had then thought could become hits beginning from year 2018,Then via invitations to sing in musical concerts he was able to earn money .His first song composed and sung was ‘Thamarasa” with over 1.5 million viewers itself was accepted by many after which he got a few shows. The lyrics and melody was by Dinesh himself which he had compiled while travelling in the bus, music was by Lahiru de Costa . After hearing this song many established artistes like Samitha Mudunkotuwa and her daughter Kavi, who had wished for his future. Incidentally with Samitha, Dinesh has recorded a music video ‘Hiriwetena’ in year 2023.Initially for the first song only the audio was released has had only around five thousand viewers. Wasala Mudalige having heard this audio song had called Dinesh, wanted to do a video to which Dinesh had said he is not wealthy enough for it.Then it was decided to do the shooting of the music video in a close location to NEliya had brought Wasala Mudalige in a neighbours van to NEliya, by taking a friend’s colleague Madumathie Pathmanathan a resident of N Eliya for the video to complete the music video, which was a tremendous success. This had cost Dinesh only a meagre sum. Dinesh had confessed for all his endeavours many had voluntarily assisted him in many ways for which he is indebted to many even to date .Dinesh has quipped that he has had many Tamil, Muslim friends in N Eliya had played in a football team comprised of eight Tamil colleagues was well versed in their languages too, having visited Kovil’ s, Churches often . Dinesh had come to know about on some differences between communities via social media platforms that existed, only after coming to Colombo.
All songs of Dinesh are with music videos. A rap song titled ‘Denana Thuru Ma’ song, ‘Nuwara Eliyen Awa wangu diga hinda colomba pathalida’ was made with Dinesh’s music melody with lyrics jointly by Dinesh and Maduranga Wijesekera, also was an instant hit, the lyrics based on his journey to Colombo from NEliya. One of Dinesh’s wish was to take a song of his to the international arena . He has an idea to do the lyrics in Tamil and do a duet with Indian vocalist Swetha Mohanin South India, Chennai for which basic arrangements have been made to record the music video in India but was delayed owing the Covid-19 catastrophe. Dinesh hopes to do a song also in India soon titled ‘Roja Rosa’ to capture Indian fans .
The lyrics of the song ‘Wala gehunu Kammul Eyage ‘ was by Dinesh also a life’s experience ,had been made after coming from N Eliya when he had lived in Moraketiya area was used to come to the bus stand to take a bus to the studio when a young bank employee girl used to come to the same stand although had looked at each other on several days had not had the opportunity to speak. This is how this song melody with his own lyrics was made Dinesh recollects. All his song lyrics and melodies are via life experiences as mentioned, which is very rare for any vocalist cum lyricist and composer.
According to the Official Dinesh Gamage Youtube Channel ,”Dinesh Gamage” is a leading Sri Lankan solo artist since 2015 with his originals and composing melodies for many popular artistes like Raini Gunatilleke for her song ‘Kaluwarata Hitha bayai”, duet of Kasun Kalhara and Shashika Nissansala, the popular solo of Shashika Nissansala’ s extremely popular song ‘Chandra Payanna’ which was a huge triumph in year 2021 and duet ‘Denena Thura’ with Kanchana Anuradhi , a duet sung with Shashika Nissansala etc. Dinesh of “Veralu Mal’ fame was a part of Vaadaa Machan the theme song of Jaffna Stallions . During the pandemic catastrophe was a part of “Sri Lanka Matha “ song with leading artistes like BnS and Anushka Udana .Dinesh later released “Oyai Mamai ” , ” Mannippaya ” – Tamil Music Video, ” Rachanaya ” , Nenjukkul Peidhidum “- cover , “Dátha Dara” .”Rathu Thol”- Naadhagama Story ,performed as a leading singing artist in ” Naadhagama” the concert series with a number of leading Sri Lankan artistes. Latest release Story and is performing as a leading singing artist in ” Naadha Gama” the concert series consisting of some of Sri Lanka’s favourite contemporary artistes like Ridma Weerawardena, Supun Perera, Nirupa Kodagoda,Dinesh Gamage etc, held locally and internationally to packed houses compared by Maduranga Wijesekera..
Some of the latest songs are ‘Nesunasay’ with over 20 million views, ‘Mala Kada Kada’, ‘Nasuna’, ‘Senkadagala Nuwarata’, ‘Langa Langa’, ‘Hiriwetena’, ‘Man Thaniwama’ ,’ Wahi Bindi’, ‘Oba Nisa’ ‘Marie’, ‘Galle Kotuwa’. Dinesh is busy these days endeavouring to release his next album in Sinhalese and Tamil which has never been done by any artiste hitherto in Sri Lanka,It needs to be emphasized that Dinesh has collaborated with music legends like Ananda Perera and Sunil Perera in music compositions. Music of Dinesh has been featured extensively on radio stations all over the world, including BBC Radio 1 and Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation. In addition to his solo work, Dinesh has collaborated with several other artistes over the years. He has shared the stage with international acts like UB40, Jaya The Cat, and The ‘Skatalites’.
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It is a practice of Dinesh not to put out a song immediately as his and the decision of the music director. Dinesh does not plan just for one song but for the entire year. Dinesh had composed music for the film ‘Gajaman’ hopes to continue this trend for many other films taking up the challenge boldly. Dinesh had shown acting skills in most of his videos but confessors he does not like to take up acting at any cost.Dinesh had quipped that acting in a music video and film are completely different. According to Dinesh the new concept is to deviate from the usual dance concept and to give opportunity to the youth is the current trend.
Dinesh has jested in a television dialog that he loves a united understanding family life which is his dream though has had a number of love affairs he is still to find the suitable partner. Having been in the music field for about a decade Dinesh is a complete teetotaller which he says no one believes. All his contemporaries know about this hence he is never forced to take a drink at any occasion. He had added that his father too has abstained from all kinds of liquor. From the foregoing it is conclusive evidence that Dinesh Gamage is perhaps the most sought after vocalist, lyricist , composer of music in the present era.All his followers and fans would wish him strength to continue in the same vein with many more creations to delight many audiences.
Sunil Thenabadu in Brisbane
e mail sthenabadu@hotmail.com
Whatsapp 00614445233242
