YOUNGEST LYRICIST IN THE ARCHIVES OF SRI LANKA SAJITH V CHATHURANGA CONTRIBUTED LYRICS TO THOUSANDS OF SONGS OF POPULAR VOCALISTS – By Sunil Thenabadu
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Sajith V Chathuranga lyricist is the Founder and Owner of Swara Entertainment is 31 years old is perhaps the youngest to become a lyricist while a student at his ‘alma mater’ PRINCE OF WALES COLLEGE MORAUTWA Lives in Katubedda area in his neighbourhood there are some artistes while there are many popular vocalists and artistes living beyond in Moratuwa arena.
Sajith had commenced a career as a lyricist when there had been an independent orchestra not having affiliations to the music room in college formed by the famous vocalist Wijebandara Welituduwa the music teacher in Prince of Wales College Moratuwa. Sajith had been a keen sportsman taking part in cricket and basketball but was never been a keen student bent on studies, He recollects Ashan Fernando, Dasun Madushankar younger brother of Sri Lankan paceman Lahiru Madushankar, Vinod Dehipitiya and one other Lahiru De Costa who was not a Cambrian but hailed from a school in the same educational region were prominent members of this orchestra…At that time all could sing sans Sajith who was not competent as a vocalist but had the knack to write having read many books while in school and at his dwelling Sajith’s father it is learnt could sing while mother had liked Sinhalese literature which Sajith attributes for his talent as a lyricist virtuously as a hereditary affiliation.
At the age of seventeen Sajith had scripted his first lyrics to his colleague Dasun Madushakar a vocalist in the orchestra .After the triumph he was very interested in breaking into the field as a lyricist which he had even made an announcement in his Facebook,
Very soon he had made lyrics to Ruwan Hettiarachchi for his second song ‘NODOKA INNA BEHE’ which propelled to be a huge hit then and still it is a hit song. This was Sajith’s advent and beginning of his journey as a dominating and sought after lyricist having crashed into a successful career as a lyrics writer. It was at that time Sajith was searching singers to contribute lyrics .Sajith recollects Ruwan had send two lines of the melody to his mobile while the complete melody was composed by Raj Neelambaram. .
From then SAJITH was indulged in a fast journey as he was fluent in the Singhalese vernacular having read many story books at home and school neglecting his studies abandoning his advanced level preparation. However the requests to contribute lyrics were received for melodies in quick succession. But he reminisces he had missed many opportunities as he was debarred from taking the mobile to school .To date most his song lyrics were in loathe and hatred formulae.
When Sajith was working in a certain production house he was requested to compose lyrics to a song “ Duka Thadakaran; to Senanayake Weraliyadde who then was much elder to his father had obliged with some disinclination, to the melody of Keshan Perera .Sajith had made lyrics to seniors like Keerthi Pasquel and Chandrasena Hettiarachchi, Although Sajith is capable in writing lyrics to songs in a very short time for seniors he takes time to deliver his best. Sajith had revealed that he had made lyrics for many songs instantaneously in a few minutes as he is always blessed from above for all his endeavours. The songs made to senior vocalists Senanayake Weraliyadda, Keethi Pasquel and Chandrasena Hettiarachchi were about a decade ago at the beginning of Sajith’s career as a lyricist. At the SLRC program “Piyum Neela Wila” reminiscing Sajith’s achievements Senanayake Weraliyadda, Keethi Pasquel ( Thawa Dawasak), Chandrasena Hettiarachchi and Ruwan Hettiarachchi personally sang their individual songs.
Sajith gives much thought to his lyrics. With the advent of new technology and AI technology Sajith is well aware to keep pace with the changes in technology as he states even sans music directors songs could be made. The lyrics of the song ‘ Seethala Harduwakin’ ‘ for the music by Milinda Sandaruwan was also by Sajith this song when released caused some conflict as heard with HR Jothipala’s voice deploying the latest technology in year 2021 .This song sans a video was proved by Sajith that a song could be made popular without a video Incidentally the song was sung in the SLRC program by Yasith Kelambarachchi the music of the video was by Radeesh Vandebona,
Sajith had made Diwanka Wellalage to come up shinning when he composed lyrics for the song “Dineka Lanwela’ to the music composition of Kapolath Kugawela.After which Sajith had made lyrics for many other songs of Dimanka.
Sajith had composed lyrics for other popular artistes like Raini Gunatilleke and Shashika Nissansala’s songs like ‘Api Hamuwuna Thena” for the music melody of Radeesh Vandabova. Sajith recollects contributing lyrics to Raini Gunatilleke’s songs ‘Nobala Ma Diha’; and ‘Malwaram’ the former song becoming a hit, the music had been of Kapilan Kugawela.The music directors of his songs had been many but who comes to mind among others are Prageeth Perera, Milinda Sandaruwan,Chandana Walpola,Raj Kelambuarachchim Mihindu Ariyaratne and many others.
Some songs among thousands of songs to which Sajith V Chathuranga had contributed lyrics a few are “Thawa Dawasak’, ‘Man Dekka Devian Obai’”Hitha Parana Katha’, ‘;Dineka Mage”, ‘Mage Aswalin”,’’Obage Mathaken”, ‘”Nidukin Inumana”, ‘Aye Noyena”, ‘Ahinsakavi”,”Ayeth Warak”, “Hithuwata Wada”, “Heenayak Wela”,”Iwasana Tharamata”,’Miyadenna Adare”, ,”Sudu Gawma”, “”Danna Deyak” etc etc,
Sajith is of the stern view that many senior artistes other than the above trio do not respect the young lyricists which is a sad phenomenon for the music trade.Sajith in a television dialog when questioned on how many song lyrics he had made added he makes about twenty for a month during his thirteen years in this profession, this adds up to a huge number which he himself has no count
At a television confrontation Sajith when inquired in ‘what position the subject of lyrics he added the standards fluctuate in eras in phases as with advanced technology lyricists should adjust their strategies to go with changing technology unlike in the old past era
In the context of the above Sajith V Chathuranga for the past thirteen years has achieved so much as a young lyrics writer .All music fans would wish him strength to continue in the same vein.
Sunil Thenabadu
email sthenabadu@hotmail.com
