The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : They return to city where they met a little over 50 years ago

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Feb 05, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

They return to city where they met a little over 50 years ago

Staff Reporter

Sri Lankan singer-couple Sisira and Indrani will perform at Museum Theatre on February 6

CHENNAI : Over five decades later, Sri Lankan singers Indrani Wijayabandara and Sisira Senaratna return to the city where they first met — Chennai.

Then, Indrani was 16 and fiercely guarded by her mother. Sisira was a dashing 19, and was said to look like a young Dev Anand. They were in Chennai to do a recording at the famous Vahini Studios for a Sinahala film called `Rekawa'.

Now the two, who are in the city as the chief guests for the National Day celebrations of the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission, are husband and wife, still singers, but now a class act together. "And we have five grandchildren, don't you know?" she says sounding indignant. At first you think you have insulted her by not knowing the obvious. But after a few minutes of conversation, you realise it is one of her favourite phrases, said with a charmingly musical intonation.

What started as friendship turned into love and they married six years after they met. Sisira's good looks continue, and one of the few times he opens his mouth, he says, "My grand children say I look like Amitabh Bachchan." Indrani clearly is the talker. The other time he joins the conversation is to say that his wife sounds like Lata Mangeshkar, whom she adores.

Indrani says that when they were younger, Hindi film music and Hindustani music had a great influence on their careers. Their act, called `Sisindra' (a combination of both their names), no longer takes off from greats like S.D. Burman, Naushad and Salil Chowdhury, but it continues to draw inspiration from Hindustani classical music.

"We have adapted traditional Sinhala music, Gamigee, to our style. It has its origins in the songs workers used to sing in the paddyfields," she explains.

When queried about Sri Lankan music today, she wrinkles her nose and says, "Don't you know? This young generation only makes sound. The melody and lyrics today are nothing." She should know since both of them have won awards for their music from the Sri Lankan Government, travelled to 14 countries to perform and have brought out several albums of their music.

"We have presented so many concerts abroad, but are yet to do our first concert in Sri Lanka! When you travel overseas, everything is arranged for you. But in your own country it is difficult to get away from work. Maybe in the next three months though," says Indrani.

Chennai will get to hear the couple before their home country. Sisira and Indrani will be performing at the Museum Theatre at 6.30 p.m. on February 6.

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