Music

The golden era of Sri Lankan pop music -- the Super Golden Chimes at the entrance to the Kataragama Devalaya (Hindu temple) in the 1970s. This is the album cover for their hit song ‘Kanda Surinduni’ in homage to the god of Kataragama. I wonder how many would recognize Clarence Wijewardena today (second from left, chubby even then), Anil Bharathi (third from left, lanky as always) and Annesley Malewana (fourth from left, still looking very much like a teenager). These three were the crème de la crème of our pop singers of that era.  No Sinhala pop group since then (with the exception of the Moonstones, which included Annesley) has matched them in range, depth, creativity and originality. ‘Kanda Surinduni’ which very creatively mimicked the tones and rhythms of South Indian religious music, still retains its vitality and power. This was followed by a bi-lingual version, in which Sam Nathan (I believe) sang in Tamil alongside Clarence singing in Sinhala. It was very good but is hardly ever played today.