The Unsurpassable Wordsmith

by SVD Kesarralal Gunasekera

‘What a beautiful and remarkable human being’ is what comes to my mind every time I think of Dr. Ajantha Ranasinghe. He was an award-winning lyricist, a journalist, a writer and a critic. But what really is etched in my mind is what he was as a human being. There is so much to learn from his life. I am not appreciating him solely because he was a popular personality but because of his unassuming personality that made our lives so complete.

Lyricist par excellence

Dr. Ajantha was a fantastic lyricist. His style, as well as the varieties, are unique. He has been a lyricist for the Sinhala cinema for decades. As a young student, when we watched films ‘Lyrics: Ajantha Ranasinghe’ would appear on the big screen. From ‘Gamey Kopi Kade’ (Sanath Nandasiri) type of upbeat songs, which creates a series of images in our minds about a small coffee stall in a village, to ’Paarami Dam Puramu api denna’ (Neela Wickramasinghe) which speaks about affection of siblings, and to ‘Kalpana lowa mal waney’ (Abeywardhana Balasooriya) which expresses the depths of romantic love, Dr. Ajantha had the ability to select the words suitable for each singer. He had a rich vocabulary from which he culled the right words and turned it into a song.

Not only did he bring Buddhist philosophy into his songs, in ‘Mey Ayurin Api Sansarey’ (T M Jayaratne), but he was equally brilliant in writing “Bodhu Gee” which touched the souls of the people. ‘Nirvana Swarna Dwarayen’ (Sanath Nandasiri) and ‘Uththama Muni Dalada wadammana’ (Dharmadasa Walpola) are two such songs which are still so popular.

Film songs

In the golden era of the Sinhala Cinema, his songs made each film unforgettable. songs were the thread that kept the entire film together. ‘Ran Kenden Banda’ (Duhulu Malak) is a fine example of packaging the entire film in a song. ‘Mala Gira’ and ‘Dedunnen Ena Samanalune’ (Vasanthey Dawasak) are still popular and memorable. In the later years, he wrote songs like ‘ Villuda Punchi Depa’ (Mamai Raja) which were ideal for the movie. Dr. Ajantha was able to relate to the storyline. His lyrics were the icing on the cake. It adorned the film and enhanced its quality. No other lyricist could even match that capability. Dr. Ajantha has contributed over 300 songs to the Sinhala cinema, starting from 1976.

Love songs

Generations of lovers have enjoyed his songs for their ability to pull the heart strings. We all remember the song ‘May Mai Gaha Yata’ (Milton Mallawarachchi) which was based on personal experience. ‘Adara Samarum’ (Sanath Nandasiri). He brought his experiences and makes them universal. He was someone who loved deeply and was able to relate to human feelings. ‘Suwanda Deni’ (Rookantha Gunatillake) brings out the uneasy, delightful feeling of being in love. Undoubtedly, this song showed the world what a great singer Rookantha is, as the song required the singer to be so disciplined to deliver the feelings embedded. Love songs are difficult to write unless one has both received and given love in abundance to be able to express it. Also, one must have the language skill and the proficiency to express it in words. Dr. Ajantha belonged to that era of people who loved and were able to share that love.

The Humanist

I have spent time with Dr. Ajantha at various gatherings. He had the mildest of manners. He would address persons as ‘Mahathmaya’ all the time. Irrespective of how close we were, he addressed me as ‘ mahathmaya’ or Mr. Gunasekera. He was someone who always gave respect to others. During these occasions, he would narrate so many stories. He was a warehouse of anecdotes that drew everyone’s attention. Even when we gathered at his home, he recalled story after story about incidents of the past, homourous events and also stories about famous personalities. None of the stories were to slander anyone, but to appreciate and enjoy.

I still recall a story that he said about late HR Jothipala. He said that a cigarette company approached HR Jothipala once, requesting him to appear in a cigarette advertisement.The opportunity would have given him a lot of money for endorsing a certain brand. But his response was ‘Just because I smoke, why should I ask others also to smoke?’. Thus, he declined the offer.

Peacemaker

As a human being, one of the greatest things we can do for others is to create peace. Dr. Ajantha had the natural talent and the heart to do so. There was a time, in history, when Dharmadasa Walpola had had a fall out with the SLBC. He had been so disheartened that he had given up singing and had opened a small shop. When Dr. Ajantha had penned the song ‘Uththama Muni Dalada’ and shown it to Sanath Nandasiri, he has said that if there is anyone who can sing this song, it is none other than Dharmadasa Walpola. Dr. Ajantha had gone in search of this fabulous singer who refused to sing the song. Dr. Ajantha, knowing the talent that Dharmadasa had, was determined to bring him back into the music scene. He had given the lyrics and told that Sanath Nandasiri is composing the music. While getting back on the scooter, he had told him the time at which the recording will be done at SLBC and left the sheet of paper with lyrics with Dharmadasa Walpola. His parting words were “Dharmadasa Ayya, remember that there is a universal norm that only one artiste is born among one hundred thousand births, and that one artist is not placed on earth to ‘run a shop’, but to perform for the people!”

On the day of the recording, when Dharmadasa Walpola came to SLBC the Director General H M Gunasekera, personally came out to receive him. And with one take, the recording was done. That is how we regained Dharmadasa Walpola to the Sri Lanka music field, thanks to Dr. Ajantha.

A lessor known fact is that he was also a grade C singer at the SLBC. He had a natural talent to think music when he penned the words. During his time, through all his lyrics, he brought the composer and the singer together. He used his penmanship to bring people together. And there was no competition among the three parties. They all had one goal, to create a song that will live forever.

Dr. Ajantha has written songs for almost all the veteran singers in our music industry, such as W.D Amaradeva, Victor Ratnayake, Milton Mallwarachchi, Malini Bulathsinhala, Indrani Perera, Sanath Nandasiri, HR Jothipala, Nanda Malini, T M Jayaratne, Neela Wickramasinghe, Clarence Wijewardhana, Latha and Dharmadasa Walpola. But it must be noted that he has grown together with the young generation, as well, such as Nirosha Virajini, Rookantha and Chandralekha. The only hit song which Raj Seneviratne had ‘ Sili Sili Seethala Alley’ was also written by Dr. Ajantha. One can only be awed by the variety of songs and the types of songs he has written and how he is able to relate to the feelings of both males and females when it came to lyrics. And he worked with composers such as Premasiri Khemadasa, Sarath Dassanayake, Somadasa Elwitigala and Sanath Nandasiri to bring forth different types of melodies.

The Journalist

Dr Ajantha was also a successful journalist. At a very young age he wrote poetry and short stories for the children’s pages of the Silumina and Peramuna and contributed to programmes on the SLBC. His poetry was frequently published in the Silumina, Vanitha Viththi, and Lankadeepa. Eventually, he was selected as a staff reporter for the Dinamina. He was a both a provincial news editor and local news editor at the Dinamina. He served as an Editor, at Lake House, for 25 years. He also worked as a Features editor of Janatha and also the Editor-in-Chief of Nawayugaya. Dr. Ajantha was well read and he loved working. In his later years, he was a consultant at the SLBC. His journalistic career shows the length and breadth of his experience and knowledge that enabled him to be a great writer.

He has also written short stories and poems which have been published. Landuni Mata Varam Natha (1975),Vinkal Bass (1978), Kristhuni Karunakara Manawa (1995), Sihina Kumara Saha Othamo (2009),Thunpath Rata, Thiwanka Rekha (1964), Janakanthayinge Manakantha Katha to name a few.

Life with Sarojini

Dr. Ajantha’s wife Sarojini (daughter of Kokiladevi Weeratunga) is a lady I always respected. Dr. Ajantha has disclosed that as a journalist he had to interview this singer and that is how fell in love with the daughter. There was such support from Sarojini for his literary works. She was a kind and understanding wife who allowed Dr. Ajantha to write – especially love songs. She never queried about the songs or who he wrote them for. Dr. Ajantha even spoke of his former loves in Sarojini’s presence. She understood him well. Thanks to her supportive nature, we are blessed with hundreds of beautiful love songs. Dr. Ajantha loved her dearly. Their two children Saranga and Devalochana were his life. The children were very close to him. There was such harmony in that house where friends were always welcome.

Humble to the core

Born in Thalammahara in Kurunegala, he went to Pannala Government School and later to St. John’s College, Nugegoda. He remained the same humble human being, even after receiving the President’s Award for Best Song Writer of the Year, on three occasions, and Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism, Awards for Excellence Programme, organised by the Editor’s Guild of Sri Lanka, in 2014. He received many awards at the film and literary festivals, such as Sarasaviya, OCIC, State Literary, Raigam, Sumathi awards. He always respected everyone all the time. I do recall an instance where a young radio DJ of an FM channel addressed him as ‘Ajantha’. The young woman would have been half his age and not even with quarter of his experience. But Dr. Ajantha took no notice of the way he was addressed. He continued the interview giving full respect to the young woman.

Untimely death

I feel compelled to write about the way his untimely death occurred. Early one morning, a van from the SLBC was sent to his residence to pick him up. He could not get into the front seat, so his choice was to get into the rear. The driver of the vehicle did not get down to support him. When he was getting into the vehicle through the sliding door on the side, he missed his footing. He had nothing to hold onto. He knocked his head on the ground. I feel that if the organization, who was sending the vehicle to him, was mindful of his age and his value, if the driver was either instructed to help the passenger or was considerate, we would not have lost this invaluable human being. It is a lesson for everyone who is handling transport; to be mindful of the passengers when they are getting in and out of a vehicle.

It was our great honour to have known Dr. Ajantha Ranasinghe. We respected him with all our hearts. He was a giant in the fields of music, movies and journalism. He was truly a scholarly man. His contribution to this country is immeasurable. There is no argument that he was a national treasure.

The Unsurpassable Wordsmith, may you attain the supreme bliss of Nibbana.