Award-winning songstress Shashika Nisansala hails from a family of music lovers and started singing from her early childhood. The young artiste recently bagged the SIGNIS award for the best songstress, adding another feather to her cap.

 

You have won awards for theme songs earlier too?

On the invitation of Rohana Weerasinghe, Navaratne Gamage and other veterans, I have sung in about 33 tele dramas since I left the Thurunu Shakthi programme. Singing theme songs is a different experience and needs a lot of commitment.

 

Can you recall the other awards won by you?

2006 Raigam award for my song in Sedona (music by Premasiri Khemadasa), 2008 Sumathi award and State Tele award for Sandagalathenna (music by Navaratne Gamage), 2009 State Tele Award for Nil Ahasa (Navaratne Gamage) and 2012 SIGNIS award for Sandagiri Pawwa (Navaratne Gamage).

 

 

Your route to stardom?

I started singing from my pre-school days and as a ten-year-old sang for Radio Ceylon programmes like ‘Handa Mama’, ‘Newum Mihira’ and later ‘Pibidena Gayaka Parapura’. Then I joined the National Youth Services Council via Rupavahini. I won the first place in the Thurunu Shakthi programme in 1999, in addition to winning the first place in several other district and national level singing competitions.

 

Your school career and music?

I studied at several schools – the last being Anula Vidyalaya, Nugegoda. I was so passionate about music at all the schools. After ALs I obtained a degree in music.

 

Your songs are filled with love and heartache?

I have sung a variety of songs but I get such romantic songs for some reason, probably because my voice suits them. But those songs made me popular especially among the young generation. Unlike today, there were no visuals when I entered the music scene, but today the visual trend is very powerful.

I have sung a few film songs but they are not so significant compared to my tele drama contributions. I have sung about 180 songs and released three CDs. I am also hoping to release a new CD in the near future. I have sung duets with Amarasiri Peiris, Chandana Liyanarachchi, W. D. Ariyasinghe, Prasanga Tissera and Prins Udaya Priyantha.

I am thankful to my parents, my husband Suranga Sampath Mathangaweera, my only brother and my teachers for all the support they extended to me. My son Mihin Mathangaweera is two years now.

 

 

 

By Vasantha Wimalasinghe