Lakmini blends academic and skilfulness to achieve aesthetic splendour – by Sunil Thenabadu
The complex psychological process which is very much a conscious process is also automatic when it comes to naturally talented singers such as Lakmini Geethanjali Udawatta.
Lakmini was identified as one of the final twelve contestants in Sirasa Super Star contest season 3. She had sung in a number of Chat ‘N’ Music and ‘Sanhinda’ programmes of the Independent Television Network. She has also recorded her own musical videos and songs which could be accessed via the You Tube.
After her graduation Lakmini had been a visiting Hindustani music lecturer at Horana Sri Pali Campus. Lakmini had been compelled to leave our shores to Dubai after she got married to her teenage lover Ranga Herath who is an aeronautical engineer attached to Emirates Airlines in Dubai United Arabic Emirates. Ranga is qualified in Aerospace engineering science at the Kingston University in London.
At the very tender age of just five, Lakmini had precisely confirmed an excellent wisdom of timing and vocal potential. She could scarcely articulate the words appropriately, but her uncle had detected the innate aptitude of Lakmini’s expertise for singing. That same year, she performed on Television for SLRC a programme titled ‘Tikiri Lama Gee’. The multi-faceted child artist was discovered instantly and exposed by the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation and Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation. She had admirably performed concurrently ‘announcing’ and ‘dubbing’ apart from her singing career.
Lakmini was typically acclaimed and cherished for possessing sturdy vocals which were absolutely mesmerizing. It cascades and get etched on listeners’ hearts hastily. The tones, the rhythm, the muscle, lift up listener’s souls to the climax with extravagance of all listeners. Some years later, it became obvious to the family how acutely she hunted to conquer and triumph the stage.
Lakmini’s teachers were Ananda Weerasiri, Thanuja Priyanthi Bandula, Mano Malawala Arachchi and B. Victor Perera. The former was her fist teacher in music while the others guided and enhanced her innate vocal potential into the subsequent phase. When she was just 12 years old, she contested in an ‘All Island Singing Competition’, where she performed admirably to be crowned the winner. Lakmini had won this crown for 09 consecutive years up to the year 1999.
Despite her singing talents Lakmini was also a very scrupulous student at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Balika Vidyalaya in Colombo. A superior education ,was one of the elusive plans that the parents sought to impart to her. After high school, education Lakmini persevered her musical studies at the University of Delhi obtaining a Bachelor of Arts (Hon) in Hindustani Music in year 2004. She continued her Masters in Hindustani Music and graduated in year 2006.
Lakmini’s husband Ranga had assisted her immeasurably to instigate a music academy for performing arts in Dubai UAE –‘Sagayuri Madiya’ Academy for all Sri Lankan expatriates in Dubai mostly for children; who desire to learn music.
It is significant to mention that because of this voluntary work she is a household name in Dubai as Sinhala music is concerned. For festivals like Sinhala New Year, Vesak , Christmas, World’s children’s’ Day etc Lakmini invariably organises musical recitals for audiences of Dubai expatriates merely for her charm and passion for music.
The music recital ‘Yowun Wasanthaya’ featured Visharada Nanda Malini as the premier vocalist while Lakmini was the supporting vocalist. She was hailed by Visharada Nanda Malini predicting a very good future for her in this field.
Another significant milestone in her music career was when she was invited to sing at the SLRC programme ‘Sihinayaki Re’ . The guest artiste who had to select 10 songs was renowned actress Chandani Seneviratne. Both the presenter Mahesh Nissanka and the guest artiste were overwhelmed by her immaculate singing.
In April 2018 ,SLRC conniving with passionate Sihinayaki Re enthusiasts in Australia held two programs in Melbourne and Sydney,The Guests were a few lyricists , journalists, Professors domiciled in these states.For the program in Melbourne Lakmali was invited to Melbourne to sing a few songs which she performed admirably to the applause of Sri Lankan migrants. To date Lakmali has recorded her own songs with music videos.In year 2020 the music video songs Amma, Sadath Pitupa were released,The lyrics were by Ravi Siriwardena while the musical score was by Dharshana Wickrematunga.The ‘Amma’ music video was produced by Maharaja Entertainments. During the current year 2021 she recorded three more music videos , ‘Sira Karan Kaviyakata,Irata Udin and Badda Watata’.The lyrics of the former song was by Dhanuska Fernando domiciled in Melbourne, while the music score was by Aruna Gunawardena.The lyrics of the latter two songs were by Asanka Ruwan Sagara to the music scores of Dharshana Wickrematunga.
Her daughter at her tender age also like Lakmini has inherited her talents having already conquered the stage.