Touching Sinhala classic reflecting on the bittersweet transition from childhood to adulthood.
Song Lyrics
රන් ටිකිරි සිනා
මුව මුව පාලා
ලංවී අත් අල්ලාගෙන
ඇස් දැල්වූවා
දෑතේ බැදිලා ඈතට දුවලා
නොපෙනී යනවද සුදු නංගී
ඉනිමං බැදලා ලස්සන හොයලා
ගමනක් යනවද සුදු මල්ලී
බාලේ ගෙවලා ආලේ දුරැලා
නොපෙනී යනවද සුදු නංගී
දගකර සිටලා ගංතෙර හැරදා
ගමනක් යනවද සුදු මල්ලී
Song Information
Song Title: රන් ටිකිරි සිනා (Ran Tikiri Sina)
Artist: T.M.Jayaratne
Lyrics: Augustus Vinayaga Ratnam
Genre: Classical / Sarala Gee
Language: Sinhala
Release Year: 1980s
Song Summary
“Ran Tikiri Sina” is a beloved masterpiece by T.M. Jayaratne that captures the innocence and eventual departure of childhood. The mood is nostalgic and protective, framed as an elder observing the growth of younger siblings (or the younger generation). It depicts the transition from playful days spent by the riverbank to the ambitious, often distant journey into adulthood, asking with a hint of sorrow if they are moving too far away from their roots.
Song Meaning
The song explores themes of sibling bonds and the inevitable passage of time. The “golden smiles” (Ran tikiri sina) represent the pure, untainted joy of youth. As the lyrics progress, the narrator notices the younger ones “building ladders” (inimang badala) to reach for success or beauty in the world. There is a poignant question asked of the “little sister” (sudu nangi) and “little brother” (sudu malli)—wondering if they are leaving behind their playful mischief and the familiar riverbank forever. It serves as a reminder of the fleeting nature of childhood and the bittersweet pride of seeing loved ones grow up and move on.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who is the singer of Ran Tikiri Sina?
The song is performed by the legendary Sri Lankan vocalist T.M. Jayaratne.
What is the central theme of the lyrics?
The central theme is the nostalgia of childhood and the observation of younger siblings growing up and leaving their home environment.
Who wrote the lyrics for this song?
The lyrics were written by Augustus Vinayaga Ratnam.
What does the phrase “Inimang badala” symbolize?
It symbolizes the effort and ambition of young people as they try to climb higher in life and seek out beauty or success.
What is the significance of the “riverbank” (ganthera) in the song?
The riverbank represents the familiar, grounded place of childhood where the siblings played together before life took them in different directions.