Sinhala Singer Suneetha

Preface

This is a short story based on the life of a young Sinhala singer who sang the popular Sinhala song 'Menike Mage Hite' on YouTube. The names that come up in this story do not mention anyone. My guess is that this could have happened.

On Saturday, Sunitha’s father, Maj. Gen. Sena alias Mahasena Perera, Sunitha's sister Poojini and brother Sunil were not at home.

Sunitha was composing music for a song written by her brother Sunil on the piano. As the lyrics did not match the music for the first song of the album "Oh Man" that she was going to produce, she made some changes to the song, and her mother, Tamara, brought her daughter a cup of coffee and a small plate of cake on the table next to the piano. After leaving, daughter Sunitha stared at the music without taking her eyes off it, and she was overjoyed to see her eldest daughter's action in her mind. A few minutes later, Sunitha looked at her mother and asked, "

"Where did Mommy Daddy go?" When will he come home?

"Sunitha went to the Army Officers Club to play billiards."

"When will he come home, mother?"

“ Your father e said to me that he would be back very late. Why are you looking for your daddy, Sunitha?"

"No, Mom, I've talked to him about the music album I'm making. I want to hear her opinion. I can't find him at home. I don't know when I will meet him. "

"Daughter, it's hard to find him in our family. What he does is what he does,” said Tamara.

"Is his job more important to him than his children"? Sunitha asked angrily.

"No matter how much Sunitha told me what to do, he would not accept it."

"Mom, my dad never came to my college and inquired about me with the teachers. Some students ask me if I am the daughter of an individual. It is a shame for me to hear that there are so many facilities in our family and there is no happiness in the family without money, mother,” said Sunitha anxiously.

"Duva (daughter) Sunitha is telling you my love story once. I met your dad and fell in love with him and married him. I met him twice while I was an air hostess on an Air Lanka flight from London to London. Our love, born out of that, ended in marriage. Tamara said

 "Mom, I think that's the problem you have."

“Daughter I understand your concern I am proud of you that you will successfully complete whatever you take. Everyone in college praises you as the best student in college, in music, acting and sports, just like you, your sister and your brother. I gave her something to be the mother of three of you but your daddy who fell in love with me and married me, changed completely a year after getting married. Sunitha’s mother Tamara said with tears in her eyes.

"As you know, Mommy, when you fall in love with Daddy, he's in the Army because it's a dangerous job because the revolutionaries are targeting Army officers.

"Look here Sunitha, no matter how much I tell him he is not going to listen to me so I just left him without talking about his work. Your coffee is getting cold. Eat the cake and drink the coffee,” said Tamara.

Tamara asked Sunitha while Sunitha was drinking coffee. "Can I ask you something Dua (daughter)"?

"Ask Mom I will answer if possible"

"What is the name of this music album you are producing"?

"This is a music album called by the title Oh Man. It consists of ten songs and some of the most popular songs I have sung are the first song of this album O Man is written by my brother Sunil and I am composing the music.

You know, Mom, my sister plays the guitar for my song and my brother Sunil writes some songs and he also plays the drums sometimes. I play the piano. Not only that but some of my friends in my band also play some musical instruments, ”said Sunitha.

"Do you know how happy I am to hear this?", That's right what is the purpose of this project "? Sunitha's mother Tamara asked.

"Mom, you'd be surprised to hear me say that."

"What a miracle," Tamara said.

"My band has already decided what we will use the money for releasing this album. If we get the money from this and the money we get to sing these songs in the hotel, I'm going to give a portion of that money to help the families affected by these human rights and the war, Mom, ”said Sunitha.

 Tamara asked, "Did you talk to your dad about this?"

"I could not meet Daddy to talk about this, so even if I talked to him I would not have his approval for this album because four songs on this album are about human rights abuses committed by the security forces in Sri Lanka. Mainly the Army and the police and security state forces do the same with politicians. Many of them are media; There is a condemnation.

"Well, it's a good idea. I do not like my husband's career before. Buddhism says not violence, live in unity. What is happening here in Sri Lanka is very different. Tamara says politicians use violence for power and money.

"Mom, you and I have the same thoughts. My brother and sister are like me. This family is a strange family," said Sunitha.

"Is it true that the cynics said that your songs were heard on YouTube and millions of fans listened to them, is that true?"

"It simply came to our notice then. That song is also on this album. "I am not going to invite politicians to this album launch party," said Sunitha.

 "Who are you going to call Sunitha then"?

“My band decided to call three of them mainly musicians, one of whom belonged to a war-affected Tamil family who sang uprisings during the war and another from the Muslim community. He sang Islamic devotional songs. The other belongs to the Sinhala community. You know him, mom. He has sung many songs and is also very popular in cinema. His name is Amardeep. ”

"Good result Sunitha. Who is going to give you the initial expenses required to publish this"?

"Mom, three good-natured people help us, one of whom is a famous film composer. You would not believe that he is from Tamil Nadu / and he is a Sinhala filmmaker here. The other is a Sinhala actor. They have nothing to do with politics, ”said Sunitha.

"Everything you do is a good thing, daughter, but you have to keep studying and graduating. Music doesn't always give you a hand. Music changes over time. You can only get support from people for at least a decade," said Mother Tamara.

I know, as my voice ages the public will change. While I was involved in this music, I started studying online and graduating as a graduate”

"I know Sunitha is planning anything," Tamara said proudly.

"Mom, I have a wish and I don't know if Daddy will agree to it. Whether he agrees or not, I will make sure of it. ” Sunitha said with confidence

"What do you want Sunitha to say?" Tamara asked.

"Mom, I need to go to the Vanni and meet the families affected by this civil war directly. I want to know how they live. They want to have children in the family who are as talented and interested in music as I am the family. I need to identify them and help them."

"Whatever gifts you receive, it is important that you receive a gift for your unity in our family, Sena," said Tamara.

"I have good news. Listen to what everyone in our family has to say," Sena said

"Come eat first, we can hear you while we eat," said Tamara

Many days later, Sena's family ate together. Everyone faces the same happiness. Before eating, Sunitha composed the music.

After listening to the song, Sunil said, "Aren't you making some changes in my songs?"

"True Sunil, some of the lyrics in the song you wrote are not in tune with the music. That's why I changed it. Sorry

"It's okay, you have experience in music," said Sunil

Sunitha's sister said, "Do you mind if I play the guitar for your song? We have to practice this for three days with the three orchestras tomorrow."

"Let's make sure Poojini"

That's right, sister, when are you going to have your album release ceremony? ”Pusolini asked.

"I think next month on a Saturday. We have to discuss with our group and decide on the date and venue ”

Sena Sunitha, who was patiently listening to everything they were saying, has good news for you. ”

"What's the news, Daddy?" Sunitha asked her father

"My application for retirement from the Army has been accepted by my superiors. I am a retired Army officer from next month.

No one can accuse me of harassing my superiors anymore. That need is not going to be me. I realized the mistakes I had made and now I was looking for karmas so I decided to join your band and help you. Officers working with me in the military enjoyed your songs. Do you know how much joy is in my heart when they praise your music? But one thing is for sure, they do not like your policy, ”Sena told Sunitha.

"Why don't they like Daddy?" Sunitha asked

"You know, Sunitha. Some of your songs are about human rights violations. The Army officers do not care about human rights when they are on duty. Duty is important to them. That is how they are trained

 There is nothing wrong with that, I would have committed some human rights violations on the orders of my superior officer. I will be a changed man after retirement”

"Are you telling the truth, Daddy?" Said Sunitha.

“Yes I am a Buddhist but I have read some Buddhist books even though I did not go to the temple like you. A Buddhist monk I knew once told me that if I joined the army I would have to search for evil deeds and that it would not be good for my next birth.

Sunitha thought to herself that wisdom was born too late for her dad.

 Mother Tamara looked at her daughter and blinked.

 They heard the sound chanting of "Budham Saranam Kachami" from the Buddhist Vihara next to their house.