That wonderful song Menike mage hithe

That wonderful song “Menike mage hithe” may have held millions all over the world enthralled by the singer Yohani for the delicacy of articulation as well as for her tender youthfulness in the delivery of such a melodious song.

I wonder how many have realised that there is a close similarity of this melody to that of the “baila esque” song of yesteryear “Kullen pola pola”. Furthermore some of the words like “manahari..sukumali..” and a portion of the melody throw a hark back to a similar song composed by the late Neville Fernando who used to sing along with the cinema icon, the late Rukmani Devi. I am unable to recall the exact title of Neville Fernando’ song, perhaps due to my failing memory.

About 10 years ago I had written a letter about the “Composition of Danno Budunge” published in The Island of 22/2/12, where I referred to the everpopular song “Rattaran Duwe” of the late Prof Carlo Fonseka’. In an earlier letter I had stated that this song and the song “Kandy lamissee” were similar in melody (but not in rhythm) being based on a western song “Father dear, father, come home with me now, the clock in the steeple strikes one…”

As an apologetic reader I might say that whether the songs concerned were imitations or adaptations it does not matter since they were so deftly composed that their quality definitely enhanced the delight of the listeners.

Leo Fernando,

Pitipana, Negombo