Master Sir
Encyclopedia
"Master Sir" is a classic Sinhala song written by the Sri Lankan singer/songwriter, Nimal Mendis
, and sang most famously by Neville Fernando of Los Caballeros. Nimal Mendis was born in Ceylon(Sri Lanka). The song was composed by Nimal Mendis and released in Sri Lanka. The song was also recorded in an English version.
The song, 'Master Sir,' was first featured in the early 1970s on Radio Ceylon
, the oldest radio station in South Asia. It still receives extensive airplay on the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation
and other commercial radio stations in Colombo. Mendis has also played his classic hit 'Master Sir' in front of capacity crowds in concerts organised in Colombo
.
'Master Sir' reached new audiences in London when the Sri Lankan broadcaster Vernon Corea
featured it on his BBC Radio London program, ' London Sounds Eastern
.'http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2005/07/31/fea33.html
laws – including new copyright laws in Sri Lanka – by not crediting the composer.
"Master Sir" was written by Nimal Mendis in English for the 1970s for the Sri Lankan film Kalu Diya Dhahara (A column of black water).http://www.sinhalajukebox.org/feature/Nimal.php The song was sung by the composer and Sandra Edema in the film. Later, the song was translated to Sinhala by the late Karunaratne Abeysekara and sung by Neville Fernando of Los Caballeros.
Many years later, another up-tempo version was recorded by female vocalist Neela Wickremesinghe, who many erroneously attribute the original song to. Recently, another arrangement of this song was performed live by popular Sri Lankan duo Bathiya and Santhush, with the blessing of the original composer.
All recorded versions of the song were released on the Lotus label and distributed by Lotus Entertainment.
Nimal Mendis
Nimal Mendis is a Sri Lankan singer and songwriter. He is one of a handful of Sri Lankan musicians to make it to the BBC television programme Top of the Pops in 1968....
, and sang most famously by Neville Fernando of Los Caballeros. Nimal Mendis was born in Ceylon(Sri Lanka). The song was composed by Nimal Mendis and released in Sri Lanka. The song was also recorded in an English version.
The song, 'Master Sir,' was first featured in the early 1970s on Radio Ceylon
Radio Ceylon
Radio Ceylon is the oldest radio station in Asia. Broadcasting was started on an experimental basis in Ceylon by the Telegraph Department in 1923, just three years after the inauguration of broadcasting in Europe.- Edward Harper :...
, the oldest radio station in South Asia. It still receives extensive airplay on the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation
Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation
The Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation came into existence on January 5, 1967 when Radio Ceylon became a public corporation. Dudley Senanayake who was the Prime Minister of Ceylon in 1967 ceremonially opened the newly established Ceylon Broadcasting Corporation along with Minister Ranasinghe...
and other commercial radio stations in Colombo. Mendis has also played his classic hit 'Master Sir' in front of capacity crowds in concerts organised in Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
.
'Master Sir' reached new audiences in London when the Sri Lankan broadcaster Vernon Corea
Vernon Corea
Vernon Corea was a pioneer radio broadcaster with 45 years of public service broadcasting both in Sri Lanka and the UK. He joined Radio Ceylon, South Asia's oldest radio station, in 1956 and later the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation...
featured it on his BBC Radio London program, ' London Sounds Eastern
London Sounds Eastern
London Sounds Eastern was one of the most popular ethnic minority radio program's on the BBC. It was presented by Vernon Corea and produced by Keith Yeomans.-The Launching of London Sounds Eastern -BBC Radio London:...
.'http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2005/07/31/fea33.html
History
"Master Sir" is probably one of the all-time great songs from the island of Sri Lanka. The song was a number one hit in South Asia for Nimal Mendis. It has been covered by several Sri Lankan musicians. Some have breached international copyrightCopyright
Copyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving the creator of an original work exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time...
laws – including new copyright laws in Sri Lanka – by not crediting the composer.
"Master Sir" was written by Nimal Mendis in English for the 1970s for the Sri Lankan film Kalu Diya Dhahara (A column of black water).http://www.sinhalajukebox.org/feature/Nimal.php The song was sung by the composer and Sandra Edema in the film. Later, the song was translated to Sinhala by the late Karunaratne Abeysekara and sung by Neville Fernando of Los Caballeros.
Many years later, another up-tempo version was recorded by female vocalist Neela Wickremesinghe, who many erroneously attribute the original song to. Recently, another arrangement of this song was performed live by popular Sri Lankan duo Bathiya and Santhush, with the blessing of the original composer.
All recorded versions of the song were released on the Lotus label and distributed by Lotus Entertainment.
Music
The song is a musical ballad in Sinhala - with a traditional outlook. The rhythm is very traditional- hence its popularity at home and around the world among expatriate Sri Lankan communities. The song is still being featured in international concerts sung by Sri Lankan artists.http://www.mediaeyeproductions.cm/downloads.htmlhttp://www.mediaeyeproductions.cm/downloads.htmlLyrics
Master Sir is set in colonial Sri Lanka; the words tell a story about the dignity of labour, a story not about wages but about social justice. The song was recorded both in English and Sinhala, and has remained a hit in Sri Lanka for over thirty years.External links
- Master Sir Guitar Chords
- [Web Link - http://helanada.com]
- Download Nimal Mendis Song: Master Sir
- New York Times Filmography/Music Composer: Nimal Mendis
- Nimal Mendis Autism Song for Autism Speaks UK
- Tony Blair, Lee Scott Presented With A Nimal Mendis Song For Autism
- The Guardian UK: Nimal Mendis composes Tsunami Song