Annesley Malawana’s A Glorious Celebration

By Dinu Francisco 

Annesley Malawana’s “ A Glorious Celebration” marking 75 years of life and over five decades of unfolding entertainment, was celebrated last Sunday with an overflowing crowd at the BMICH. The late Clarence Wijewardena and veteran singer Annesley Malawana’s  renowned band, Moonstones, which has come a long way in revolutionizing itself to Super Golden Chimes, featured its original members for the last time on Sunday.  

Annesley, without any effort, took the crowd back to the seventies in the very second he started operating his vocals. Annesley did not forget to remember Clarence before he started performing on the stage. Annesley made “A Glorious Celebration” stage a storytelling arena too when he started giving the background to his stories by displaying his age-old pictures captured in the cameras of the 70s. 

Chitral Somapala

The guest performance by Chitral Somapala added a different colour to “ A Glorious Celebration”. The concert also saw the presence of Dixon Gunaratne, Rukshan Perera, Nimal Perera, Sunil Malawana, Chandral Fonseka and Paul Perera. 

DK Promotions Head Damayantha Kuruppu

DK Promotions Head Damayantha Kuruppu speaking to Daily Mirror, said that Annesley and Clarence are the pioneers of Sinhala pop music and this will be a tribute to them. “ With the demise of Desmond and Sunil, we see an end in the baila culture. Although Clarence is no more, Annesley has been continuing the legacy. So we must host more and more concerts like these to keep up with the 70s music culture otherwise it is also likely to see an end. So a new generation must pick from the 70s and create music keeping up with the legends of the Sri Lankan Sinhala pop culture”, he added. 

Sunanda, a spectator who was delighted after Annesley’s concert, speaking to Daily Mirror, said that although Annesley is 75 years old, his voice is growing younger and younger, and his style of singing never goes out of style. 

Amenda who was not more than 25 years of age, had come to watch Annesley with her partner. “ My father is a superfan of Clarence and Annesley. So since childhood, these two voices have been overflowing our house. We were greatly inspired and influenced by these two voices with our father’s likings. So we, too, are here today as superfans of 70s music”, she said. 

Annesley did not forget to remember Clarence before he started performing on the stage. Annesley made “A Glorious Celebration” stage a storytelling arena too when he started giving the background to his stories by displaying his age-old pictures captured in the cameras of the 70s.

Preethi Fernando, also speaking with Daily Mirror, said that Annesley is the healing power that is the need of the hour for the country that is in chaos. “ Despite all the pressing issues that are happening in the country and the pressure brought by all these can be calmed by Annseley’s sensation”, she added.

pix by  Kushan Pathiraja