Music legend Christopher Paul who has entertained three generations of Sri Lankans with evergreen renderings like Ha Mal Pipenne, Pem Loke Pura, Ela Dola Ganga Yawi Gala, Wathura Nala and hundreds of other hits, is still going strong. In a melodious career spanning over five decades, the heartthrob of the fifties is loved by the young and old even today.

'Ha Mal Pipenne' is his personal favourite too, but many are not aware that it was based on the melody of a popular Italian song.

 

Q:  What brought you to the music scene?

 

I studied at St. Sebastian's College, Moratuwa and my music teacher was Francis Perera who was a Radio Ceylon singer. I joined him in a duet for the first time in 1955. It is he who motivated me to study music under Music maestro Sunil Santha. After a two year period of study I was ranked as an A grade singer at  Radio Ceylon where we had to sing light songs regularly.

Among the earliest songs I sang then were  'Bello Muthu Bello', Rosa Malak Dutuwama, Pem Loke Pura, Ela Dola Ganga Yawi Gala and others. But I was not known well by name. Then I chose popular tunes of foreign songs and sang them using meaningful words and they became instant hits.

One such song is 'Pem Loke Pura' which is based on Elvis Presley's 'Wooden Heart'. Wathura Nala was also such a song. I am ever grateful to Basil M. Silva who penned most songs for me. The songs became hits and so did I. P. L. A. Somapala directed music for my first gramaphone record and the late Gunadasa Kapuge for the first time composed songs like Upan Dinaya, Ran Kirule Ran Peheya and Daskon Men for me.

 

Q: How was the technology then, compared to today?

 

In the good old days an orchestra had more than 20 musicians who played live at recordings. Those songs were later scrutinised by a board which approved it for airing on Radio Ceylon. Today it's totally different. Today the singer does not even meet the musicians who record the track separately and the singer voices it at his own convenience. During our days all  singers were committed and even today we sing live at shows.

 

Q:  With whom did you sing duets?

Chitra Somapala, Irene de Alwis and Swarnalatha Kavishwara.

 

Q: Your contemporaries?

Haroon Lantra, Morris Dahanayake, Christie Leonard Perera, Vivienne de Silva Boralessa, Vincent de Paul Peiris, Rukmani – Eddie, Mohideen Baig, Sisira – Indrani, Sheela Peiris, Malathi de Mel, Lata – Dharmadasa Walpola, CT Fernando and others. During that era we travelled together for musical shows and there was unity among us. We associated like members of one family.

 

Q:  Do you approve the new trend of newcomers singing old songs?

I am against this harmful trend. Old songs should never be distorted. They must be preserved in the original format for the future generations.

 

Q:  Who will take your voice forward?

Nobody can imitate my voice, not even my son who studied music under Visharada Nanda Malini. He has sung and even recorded my songs but it cannot be matched with my voice. My unmatchable voice may be the reason for my continuous popularity. I have done a lot of new songs and released CDs but I am sad that radio stations never play our new songs.

The Cultural Ministry and  Radio Ceylon (now SLBC) should work jointly to preserve our old songs. If not our songs will be illegally sung by others and in years to come, the name of the original singer will be forgotten. It is a crime to let that happen.

 

Q: A piece of advice for the young generation..

Choose a good lyricist and a good music composer if you want to sing. Always try to maintain your own identity and don't imitate anyone.

 

Q: Awards...

The goodwill of the people and their affection is the biggest award I have got so far. Sri Lankans living abroad are so fond of my songs and the feedback I get during overseas shows is incredible. I have sung at several shows in countries like Canada, Australia, Oman, Abu Dhabi, England, Japan, Italy, Dubai. I have been invited to some countries over and over again.

 

Q: Your family...

My wife Lilani Gunasekara is my biggest strength. My son is Chandana Sampath. My eldest daughter is Romani Chamila and youngest Harshani Indunil. They are all married. My daughters took part in the Lama Pitiya programme during their childhood.

 

“Please let me express my heartfelt gratitude to some personalities who have really helped me in my career and without their help I wouldn’t be here talking to you today. If not for the Radio Ceylon I won't be here. I am extremely grateful to Ariyasena Millawithanachchi, P. L. A. Somapala, Vernon Perera (Moratuwa), Basil M. Silva, Bandara K. Wijetunga, Gunaratne Abeysekara who wrote Ha Mal Pipenne, Karunaratne Abeysekara, Cyril A. Seelawimala, Mahinda Bandara, Patrick Denipitiya, Victor Rathnayake, Gunadasa Kapuge, my music guru Sunil Santha and all who have helped me even in a small way,” said evergreen entertainer Christopher Paul who will certainly continue to captivate music lovers with his magical voice for many more years to come.

 

(Address: Christopher Paul, 140/32, Kalapura, Templers Road, Mount Lavinia)

 

 

(By Vasantha Wimalasinghe)