UNSUNG ACCLAIMED MUSICIAN TULIN JAYARSATNE WHO COULD PLAY All MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, WRITE NOTATIONS TO ANY SONG, SINGS HINDI AND SINHALA SONGS A STALWART AT SLBC-by Sunil Thenabadu
A musician, fundamentally designated, as an individual who generates and accomplishes music. This captivating art form requires a huge amount of patience, dedication, skill, and a profound craving for melody. The words used to describe an acclaimed musician encompass a vast range of characteristics and aptitudes. From “melodic” and “expressive” to “innovative” and “captivating,” these words capture the essence of their craft. Each word provides a glimpse into the musician’s capability to pile emotions, tell stories, to enthral listeners to a territory where notes and rhythms resonate with their very souls. Some characteristics that needs to be embedded of a competent musician in the calibre of Tulin Jayaratne are been melodic , expressive, innovative captivating, soulful dynamic, versatile with superlative commitment
Tulin Jayaratne is a native of Kadugannawa born on 31st March 1945 to parents Thiththwellage Don Thomas William and Thennegama Ratnayakalage Podihamine. Tulin has an abundance of innate talent for music not with any hereditary affiliations to parents. Tulin was a contemporary of legendary Victor Ratnayake from his school days at Kadugannawa Maha Vidyalaya.The duo was used to sing at ‘Peduru’ parties to earn a few rupees recollects that at some recitals they were not paid a cent, had so befell that the duo were forced to return to the dwellings walking keeping the ‘Harmonium’ on top of their heads which was evoked at a media dialog. When cars were passing they used to cover their faces with the instruments not willing to be identified .There had been instances for the same cause the duo has had to walk all the way from Galgamuwa to native Kadugannawa.
Tulin Jayaratne had deployed many years of his life to Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation as an accomplished musician having the unique ability to play almost all musical instruments at the SLBC ,directing music at many miscellaneous programs until his retirement in year 2000. He possessed a unique quality of rendering help to many novices who wanted to sing in ‘Sarala Gee’ programs by making suitable melodies, who were not sound financially to a achieve their desires. Usually, a novice artiste must sing four original songs when the opportunity was given at the auditions.
There are many popular music melodies that Tulin Jayaratne had made, what comes to one’s mind are ‘Naga Salamba’ sung by Malini Bulathsinhala then known as BS Malini during her school days. to the lyrics of Sunil Sarath Perera. However, Premakeethi De Alwis was interested in recording it on a Saturday afternoon with the availability of a minimum number of players about four only.It was revealed by Tulin that finally the recording was balanced by Premakeerthi himself Another mistake was surfaced that the song belonged to Gunadasa Kapuge which was rectified by Tulin then and there. One day a teacher from Tissamaramaya was present at a musical program at the SLBC who was shocked to know this song was with Tulin’s melody said in all schools at concerts in the Hambantota district for all group dances are accompanied with this song, he was amazed when he came to know it was the melody of Tulin.To obtain the noise of the ‘Kavardi’ he had deployed a strong hammer to bang on the tabla to obtain the real wide-ranging sound.. In the song Thotupola Aine sung by Victor Ratnayake to the lyrics of Sunil Ariyaratne Tulin was in the orchestra while the recording was made. To get the feel of the water when the boat was in motion it was his unique imagination to get the exact sound of the water when the boat was in motion with the oars of the boat , he created the exact sound by blowing into a large glass of water with a stalk of a branch of a papaw tree which sprang the exact beat of the water as when the boat moves. Tulin was always of the view and adamant to give all recordings at the SLRC to be accomplished to the unsurpassed standards. This story of deploying a papaw stalk for the song ‘Thotupola Aiyne’ had been repeatedly asked from Tulin over the phone to which he had responded. When Tulin record songs at the SLBC he reminisces that most songs are completed with one take with proper cordination.In the good old days there was no air-condition facilities hence all players and music directors like Rocksamy and Muthusamy were used to remove shirts and play bear bodied as the heat was unbearable. As proof of this Ranga Dassanayake son of Sarath Dassanayake had told Tulin that he had seen some photographs captured them bear bodied. Though the technology currently is advanced the manner the orchestras performed sans facilities is hailed by Tulin also expressed at a television dialogue. Tulin prefers the old fashioned recordings compared to working with the current way of recording with modern technology. Of course Tulin added there are some advantages when recording are performed with modern techniques, despite having made tunes for songs of many vocalists as JA Milton Perera,Nalini Ranasinghe, Abeywardena Balasuriya,Victor Ratnayake, Somalatha Kavishwara, Sanath Nandasiri, Dayaratne Perera,TM Jayaratne, Malini Bulathsinhala,Neela Wickremasinghe .Niranjala Sarogini.etc.
Some melodies that comes to one’s mind are ‘Pasu Gayanaya’-Malisha Senaratne,’Kolikuttu Shodarayo’ of Rodney Warnakula,’Mulu Lowama Kathawe of Dayaratne Perera,’ Suwa Yahane Sethapennata’ by Neela Wickremasinghe,’Yatagiyawe Mathake’ by Niranjala Sarojoni,’Suwa Setha Salasamu Deye’ by Nalini Ranasinghe.It should be emphasised the contributions made by Tulin towards fi, music as a player of many musical instruments.
Tulin during a television dialogue recollected about Army Commander Daya Ratnayake’s elder brother RMV Ratnayake the Police Ombudsman who is capable of penning beautiful lyrics for songs as ‘Wane Pipi Wana Malak Dutuwama Wane Parawee” with which Tulin had made beautiful melody voiced by Sanath Nandasiri. From this it is proof that Tulin cherished the meaningful lyrics. Tulin had made tunes for the lyrics of many reputed lyricists like Mahagamasekera,Sunil Sarath Perera,Sunil Ariyaratne,Ajantha Ranasinghe, Sarath Wimalaweera,Premakeerthi de Alwis etc. Once on the orders of the then Prime Minister the lyrics of a song penned by Mahagamasekera he was asked to compose a song to be played at the opening of the BMICH given all facilities to travel to the Sangabodhi Vidyalaya in Nittabuwa where twenty talented student singers were trained provided with tabla exponent Premanath Kodituwakku,.Tulin recollects going in an official vehicle for a few days to complete the song. Afterwards when wife of Mahagamasekera was met she had commented positively on the song that was composed with a dynamic melody. Premakeethi de Alwis in his own inimitable style usually writes lyrics on tiny pieces of paper, one day had given to Tulin some lyrics on a tiny piece of paper to make a melody for TM Jayaratne for a song intended at small children which too had become a hit as it was very popular among the young school children. Tulin also recollected in a television confrontation on songs he had composed music but the names of other musicians are depicted In such instances Tulin do not hesitate to take immediate remedial actions.
At SLBC music programs the famous presenter Karunaratne Abeysekera arrives in the studio only five or ten minutes prior to the beginning of the scheduled program, as he applies ‘Yardley” cream on his hair the odour emanates inside the premises when all know he has arrived. For one program the presenters were Karunaratne Abeysekera and Sumana Nellampitiya. Before the program begun Karunaratne Abeysekera had asked who is conducting the music when it was told me (Tulin) with U Ariyawimal the music disc balancer, Karunaratne Abeysekera was unhappy had not uttered a word. The first song was of Milton Perera’s “Kadulu Sala Nangie Aie Duken Pellene.When the music was played like ‘Ela Kiri” Karu Aiyya was shocked later had said Tulin hereafter. You better lead the orchestra though he admitted he was frightened initially not knowing his skills.The program was ‘Pibidena Gayake Parapura’ the theme music was also Tulin’s. Similarly for SLBC ‘s programs like ‘Ambika Geethyen Geethaya’.’Vinoda Samaya’etc the theme music was produced by Tulin .For the program ‘Ambika Geethayen Geethaya’ the contestant has to sing a song when the first letter of the song only is told. Tulin also at a television interview had conveyed that he knows all names, lyrics, tunes of Sinhala songs which itself is sufficient to hold him in high reverence and esteem. A Police officer had once come to the “Geethayen Geethaya’ program had sung ‘Epida Mare Yali Ipade’song when Ariyadasa Pieirs had asked the name of the film which included the song was unaware but Tulin prompted as ‘Daskon’.As a competent person to know all film songs and non-film songs equally Tulin feels sympathetic towards the participants
One Indian music director Vishvanathan had arrived at the SLBC for a four day recording stint, the coordinator was R Muthusamy. Initially Tulin was asked to play the Viber prone instrument which only Tulin could play was closely observed by the Indian music director had uttered some words in Tamil to Muthusamy which was acknowledged by him. The following day when violinists were scare Tulin was asked to play the violin. For the four consecutive days Tulin was requested to play different musical instruments which he performed to precision to astonish the Indian music director Vishvanath. Once he was asked to play the Piano , Mandolin and Glockenspiel. When asked to play the ‘mandoline’ Tulin had asked what the Indian music director wants. He had shown four variations in the particular musical instruments which he had performed to exactness. After observing the music exploits of Tulin the Indian music had asked R Muthusamy to give him to be taken to India , will pay him a good salary ,give comfortable accommodation, food also will pay extra for recordings. This lucrative offer was declined by Tulin which was conveyed to Muthusamy. After his retirement Tulin was invited by a millionaire lady from Maldives owning a hotel one with eighty other hotels chain , wanted him to sing Hindi songs in a Indian Food centre to reach had to travel eighteen kilometres in the sea with huge rough .waves when Tulin had thought this was his end .At the entrance to the hotel he was welcomed by a Japanese girl, to his disbelief he observed his photo displayed all over saying ‘’welcome to Maldives Don Tulin Jayaratne’. The same day Tulin sang a Hindi song which was highly appreciated and hailed by all directors of the hotel. That night a special dinner was arranged for Tulin by the directors at their expense. Although he was looked after well at the hotel it was surrounded by sea all around ,he was thinking of home folks was not happy to continue for the six months contract undertaken hence returned home giving lame excuses.
Tulin Jayaratne is now in his twilight years spending happily in his retired life but does a bit of music teaching at two small schools to impart his knowledge to students which is done predominantly for pleasure.His wife is Turin Chandra Hathurusinhe Jayaratne was employed at EDCS a society that gives loans , elder daughter Enoka is employed at Haleys the younger daughter is Harshi Taranga also employed in a private company, while youngest a son Maduka Jayaratne also employed in a private firm. Tulin is the proud grandfather of five grand children. The eldest grandson Dhinal Pathirana is the newly elected head prefect of prestigious DS Senanayake College Borella who played cricket for the College first X1 too. All music lovers would wish Tulin Jayaratne good health and longevity
Sunil Thenabadu e mail sthenabadu@hotmail.com WhatsApp 0061444533242
