Manik Chandrika :Well Known versatile singer with a tonal decorated voice for over five decades – By Sunil Thenabadu
Manik Chandrika was born in Colombo was named as Chandrika Damayanthi Senadhira had lived in Negombo as her mother has had a sister closely attached to her in Negombo..There had been five siblings all of them had inherited musical instincts having skills in many areas in music vocals and instruments which undoubtedly Manik also had acquired via hereditary affiliations. Her mother has had enormous talent in singing from who Manik had acquired her singing flairs. As her ‘pet’ name was Manik, as at home she was called Chandi is how Manik Chandrika name had evolved. This name suits well to her as a vocalist.She is the only female sibling among children
It is over half a century for her trailblazing career, she preserves her signature Sri Lankan female voice, particularly when she sings songs to western 6/8 music melodies. She is regarded as a vocalist who sings only ‘six-eight tempo’ songs. That is only on stage as such genre of songs are essential to all audiences in outdoor musical concerts. But she had sung many classical songs at many television programs in many channels. She wanted to be faithful to the expectation of the song and to exploit to the peak the sentimental and emotive properties of the melody, thereby, generating passion, appetite and sound perceptions in the minds of listeners.
Born in Colombo but as a mother, the youngest child among twelve siblings had opted to live in Negombo, where a sister of hers close to her had lived. It is learnt that she was a very shy girl but she had participated in school stage dramas at the age of six.Her maternal grandfather had taken part in Sinhalese stage plays had included her for the portrayal of the ‘Baby’ character in the famous Sinhalese stage play ‘Kadawunu Poronduwa; which had not prolonged for long.This opportunity had emerged when rehearsals of this stage play was held at her ancestral home.
How Manik became interested in singing was initially when she had with all her family members had gone to witness a musical show at a carnival at Maristella College in Negombo.Manik at her tender age had been inquisitive to know how the sound emerged via the microphone and speakers. There had been a Muslim mosque in the vicinity of her dwelling where she could hear loud voices which she had inquired from her mother.
Her mother had been a keen follower of music who could also sing. Hence there had been a musical environment at home. Manik too had inherited talent to sing. Her musical career had begun when she was barely eight years old. She had come out of her shell to be more forward, by singing children’s songs in school when her talent was spotted. Her singing prowess was even highlighted in the ‘Mal Piyali’ children’s magazines. She had passed the audition at the SLBC in the children’s sector as an ‘A grade child singer’, but had never pursued a career at the SLBC.
She had been initially taken to a musical show in Negombo at Maris Stellar College, where Nihal Nelson, Tony Hassan and Baby Shiromi were billed to perform. It was the very first place, where she had been inspired after watching Baby Shiromi singing on stage. Later she had sung Baby Shiromi’s songs at school functions and other small functions in the locality. A sweep draw had been held in Negombo in the year 1973 which was followed by a musical show with the SEAC Entertainments band in attendance. The show was organized by one of her uncles. With the greatest difficulty after a small rehearsal, on the uncle’s insistence with the Hawaiian Guitarist Hemasiri De Silva, Manik was afforded a prospect to sing the song ‘Konde Namagena”.Her talent had impressed the SEAC experts who had even announced her name as ‘Baby Chandrika’. As they did not have a female vocalist in the band even at the tender age as a teenager she was deployed by the band of course with resistance from her mother. Manik had balanced her studies with her singing career, participating in many stage and musical shows. Her tenure with the SEAC band had persisted for eight long years. Thereafter the practice had prolonged all through her life to date as a stage solo exponent. She had sung in four languages duetting with AE Manoharan and Tony Hassan, but after meeting her husband bass guitarist Vajira Fernando, she was counselled to sing mostly Sinhalese songs.Her only son is Pasan Fernando also a talented guitarist following father’s footsteps.
She has been regrettably tagged as a ‘Baila’ singer as she sings to ‘six eight’ fast beats, which the audiences demand. But she is competent in signing slow songs mostly to the music composed by Clarence Wijewardena. She is also a lyricist who had composed lyrics for many of her songs and others.
After singing children’s songs at just fourteen years, she recorded two songs for the ‘Silverline’ label owned by Kenneth de Silva she remembers even today., v.i.z., ‘Keewe Ne Dutu Da Oya’, ‘Obe Adare Soya’ to the lyrics of Chitrananda Abeysekera and to the music of Sarath Dassanayake. Her elder brother Bandula Senadhira a talented lyricist had’ composed several songs to Manik knowing her innate qualities like ‘Mage Loketa Hirui Obai Amme’ and ‘Punchi Kale Man’ relating to her immense love to her mother and her animated conduct at home. The music composed for them was by veteran Rohana Weerasinghe. It is known that Manik visits her mother living in the vicinity daily, taking her meals also indulged in the habit to inform her wherever she goes. Another hit song of hers is ‘Oben Thora Lokayak’ a duet with Rookantha Gunatilleke, the lyrics were also by Bandula Senadhira. Among her play back singing one popular song sung was titled “ Ayamma Kothena Giya” a song with Claude Fernando and Angeline Gumatilleke.
In the decade of 1980, it was a thriving period for Manik having sung for six cassettes and discs for many labels mostly for the lyrics and music of Clarence Wijewardena. One song that was a hit was ‘Hada Golu Wela’. Before her marriage, Clarence had made appropriate lyrics ‘Mage kathawe Raja Kumara’ who had hinted at her growing love. The other songs which are heard over our airwaves and on stage are ‘Sepalika’, lyrics by Saman Chandranath Weerasinghe to the music of Stanley Pieris, ‘Sanda Horen Horen’, lyrics by Chandradasa Fernando and the music by Upali Kannangara’, ‘Oba Dutu Da Sitan’ lyrics by Manik Chandrika herself for the music composed by Rohana Weerasinghe, ‘Dinayak Udawee Sinasee’, ‘Mahe Kathawe’ lyrics and music by Clarence Wijewardena, ‘Punchi Kale Man’ lyrics by Bandula Senadhira, music by Ernest Zoysa,’ Tharu Mal’ lyrics by Chandradasa Fernando and the music by Mahinda Bandara.
Manik recollects sitting on mother’s lap participating in many musical shows travelling far with other artistes like HR Jothipala, MS Fernando, Nihal Nelson, Indrani Perera,Tony Hassan, Christopher Paul, Walter Fernando .Manik still recollects how HR Jothipala used to get off the bus as he was scared to be in the bus at ‘Eighteen Bends” (Wanguwas) was used to get off the bus at each bend while the driver had to stay stopped until he returned walking. Manik recollects many such incidents etched in her memory had recalled the name of Jayatissa Hettiarachchi who was a well-known events organizer how very politely and humbly came to her dwelling to invite her for musical shows. Manik as well known to all is very humble down to earth unassuming loves God most then her family and then her singing career is a person need to be emulated by all. May God Bless her.
Sunil Thenabadu in Brisbane
email sthenabadu@hotmail.com
