Features
Maldives … now a big scene for Sri Lankan artistes!
Quite a few of our well-known performers are now checking out the scene in the Maldives and, they say, they find the setup very satisfying.
The latest to join the Sri Lankan bandwagon, in the Maldives, is veteran singer Manilal Perera.
Even the work load is relatively easy, he added, when compared to what one has to do here, in the present circumstances, and the remuneration received.
And, that’s the complaint, I hear, from many artistes who say that they are underpaid.
Manilal does a duo scene, with the backing of a pianist, from Sri Lanka, six days a week, at the Heritance Aarha resort.
His working hours are…three days – from 5.00 pm to 7.00 pm, and three days, from 9.00 pm to 12.00 midnight.
There is also a DJ involved, and he, too, is from Sri Lanka.
According to Manilal, the tourists, at the Heritance Aarha resort are mainly from Russia.
Manilal: Checking out the Maldives
“They enjoy our sessions and, quite often, spend their time on the dance floor, and even singing, some of the songs they know, along with me.”
Manilal related an incident where a Cuban couple, got on to the dance floor, with his partner, in a red outfit, and requested the Chris de Burgh hit ‘Lady In Red.’
The singer obliged and the couple loved it and soon they were joined by several others, on the dance floor.
The Heritance Aarha is a six-star resort…but quite a distance away from Male.
It takes approximately 45 minutes, by seaplane, from Male to this six-star resort, says Manilal, adding that it’s exclusive and beautiful.
Manilal has been to the Maldives before – towards the latter part of last year (2021), on a one month contract.
Other known Sri Lankan artistes, now performing in the Maldives, include Merlina and her husband Suresh, and the renowned Shafi, of Wildfire fame, and his daughter Jana.
There are also several Sri Lankan DJs, spinning away in the Maldives.