Melodic folk-pop track depicting the perilous life and toil of a fisherman.
Song Lyrics
මහ මුහුදු විමානේ
රණ තිසර උදානේ
සවනට නෑසුනේ මාගේ
සවනට නෑසුනේ මාගේ
මහ මුහුදු විමානේ
රණ තිසර උදානේ
සවනට නෑසුනේ මාගේ
සවනට නෑසුනේ මාගේ
ඈත දියේ පාවී මහ සයුරේ රෑ වී..
ඔ.. ඔ.. ඔ.. ඔ.. ඔ.. ඔ
ඈත දියේ පාවී මහ සයුරේ රෑ වී
අඳුර මැදින් අපි යනවා
ඔරුව නුඹේ රුවල උඩින්
වෙරල කොහේදැයි බලපන්නේ
හෙල හෙල හෙලෙයියා
හෙල හෙල හෙලෙයියා
හෙල හෙල හෙලෙයියා… හේ…
පහනට තෙල් නෑ…නිවසේ
මහ මුහුදු විමානේ
රණ තිසර උදානේ
සවනට නෑසුනේ මාගේ
සවනට නෑසුනේ මාගේ
දරු පැටවුන් මාගේ රෑ බත ඉල්ලාවී..
ඔ.. ඔ.. ඔ.. ඔ.. ඔ.. ඔ
දරු පැටවුන් මාගේ රෑ බත ඉල්ලාවී
සොඳුර මගේ වෙරළේ ඉඳි
ඔරුව නුඹේ රුවල උඩින්
මගේ පවුලේ කඳුලු බලාපන්
හෙල හෙල හෙලෙයියා
හෙල හෙල හෙලෙයියා
හෙල හෙල හෙලෙයියා… හේ…
පිරුනත් මඩිය ඉරේවී..
මහ මුහුදු විමානේ
රණ තිසර උදානේ
සවනට නෑසුනේ මාගේ
සවනට නෑසුනේ මාගේ
Song Information
Song Title: මහ මුහුදු විමානේ (Maha Muhudu Wimane)
Artist: Sathish Perera
Lyrics: Sathish Perera
Genre: Folk Pop / Fisherman’s Ballad
Language: Sinhala
Release Year: 1990s
Song Summary
“Maha Muhudu Wimane” is a rhythmic yet soulful track that provides a glimpse into the arduous and dangerous life of a fisherman. The mood is a blend of rhythmic work-song energy and deep familial concern. It portrays a narrator out in the vast, dark ocean, navigating through the night while his thoughts remain fixed on his home. The song depicts the physical struggle of the sea journey, punctuated by traditional “Heleiyya” chants, while highlighting the weight of responsibility he carries for his hungry children and waiting wife.
Song Meaning
The song functions as a tribute to the resilience of the coastal working class. The lyrics analyze the contrast between the majesty of the “Great Ocean Palace” (Maha Muhudu Wimane) and the harsh reality of poverty—noting that there is no oil for the lamp at home. Themes of sacrifice and survival are central; the narrator is driven by the image of his children asking for their night meal. The phrase “even if the pocket is full, it might tear” (pirunath madiya irewi) serves as a metaphor for the precarious nature of their income and the constant threat of loss. It captures the essence of a life lived on the edge of the horizon, where every catch is a battle against the elements for the sake of those on the shore.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What does the chant “Heleiyya” signify?
It is a traditional rhythmic chant used by Sri Lankan fishermen to synchronize their movements and maintain morale during physically demanding tasks.
Who wrote and performed “Maha Muhudu Wimane”?
The song was both written and performed by Sathish Perera, showcasing his ability to blend pop melodies with traditional folk themes.
What are the narrator’s primary concerns in the song?
He is primarily concerned about his children’s hunger (“ra bath illawi”) and the lack of basic necessities like lamp oil at his home while he is lost in the darkness of the sea.
How does the song describe the ocean?
The ocean is described as a “Wimane” (Palace or Mansion), suggesting its vastness and power, but it is also a place of darkness and isolation where the narrator searches for the shore.