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‘Isai Sangamam’ 

Brunch Editor

The Isai Sangamam music launch, courtesy of Nadi.lk, took place last Friday (21) at the Scope Cinemas, Colombo City Centre.

The event featured the launch of four original Tamil music titles – Nilavaa Nada Nadanthu by Shadhir Ahamed, Mottu Vitta Poongodi by Kokulan Shanthan and Sutharshini, Naanagha Naanum Illai by Kuganeshwaran and Sutharshini, and Thulli Ezhunthidu Thozha by Ravi Royster. 

The lyrics were penned by “Pottuvil” Asmin and the music was composed by Chathurangana De Silva. 

Speaking to the minds behind Isai Sangamam, they shared that the primary objective of working on this project was to bring together two different audiences. It is a collaborative effort between two different cultures, the Tamil and Sinhala music worlds meeting in the best way possible. 

The four songs were set to several popular Sinhala songs and the new Tamil language tracks were dubbed over the original music videos allowing fans of the original artwork to also find the new tracks and enjoy them. While also allowing for the new listeners coming in as fans of the Tamil language tracks to discover the original works and enjoy them in the same way. 

The music videos for Hadakari, Viduli kotai, Malen Upan Samanali and Wallen Thelada Mawaala were featured for Naanaha Naan Illai, Nilava Nada Nadanthu, Mottuvitta Poongkodi and Thulli Ezhunthidu Thozha respectively. 

Interestingly, while majority of the artists featured on the tracks are beloved Tamil artists, they chose to feature Ravi Royster to perform the song title Thulli Ezhunthidu Thozha. Ravi, as a native Sinhala language speaker, shared with Brunch his decision to collaborate on this project, his experience singing in a new language and the significance of this new collaboration. 

He said: “It was quite a challenge as I do not speak the Tamil language, I am a Sinhala language singer as it is my native language. However, I am never one to shy away from a challenge,” adding also: “I think this is an incredibly important moment in Sri Lankan music where we bring together these two audiences, who are often unknowingly enjoying very similar tastes but now they are able to realise just how similar they are and have something they can all love together that belongs to both groups.” 

He said that it was a great honour to be asked to collaborate on this project and he did his very best and hopes that he did “Pottuvil” Asmin’s lyrics justice.

The event itself was quite the occasion with a number of special invitees making an appearance including senior Tamil artists Mahindhakumar and Muththalagu and several other artists Diron Fernando, King Ratnam, and social media influencers like Darshan, Jeevithan, Aadhil Osman, Poorvika Rasasingham, and the Founder of Jaffna Transgender Network Angel Queentus. 

Isai Sangamam was initiated and launched by George Steuart Health (Pvt.) Ltd. Chairman Dilith Jayaweera and his wife Nelum Jayaweera, Ada Derana Deputy Chairperson/Director Laksiri Wickramage, TV Derana’s Sharmila Dharmarasa Fonseka in collaboration with “Pottuvil” Asmin, Chathurangana de Silva, and Nimesh Kulasinghe.

All tracks launched as a part of “Isai Sangamam” are now available on www.etunes.lk.