The Wind Blows Over the Waves

media

posted on 2025-09-15, 04:24 authored by Tharupathi Munasinghe, Sudath Devapriya

The Wind Blows Over the Waves<p></p>

History

Alternative title

සුළඟ මහමෙරක (Sulanga Mahameraka)

Location

Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation

Notes

Directed by Sudath Devapriya, Sulanga Mahameraka is a teledrama exploring the aftermath of the 1980s youth uprisings in Sri Lanka through the story of Wasantha and his family. My role as composer was to create the original score, integrating Sinhala melodic traditions with modern arrangements to shape the series’ emotional tone.

Start date

2019-01-01

Research statement

Background Sulanga Mahameraka (The Wind Blows Over the Waves, 2019), directed by Sudath Devapriya, is a teledrama set in the aftermath of Sri Lanka’s 1980s youth uprisings. The story follows Wasantha, a young man released from wrongful imprisonment, as he returns to a family devastated by loss, sacrifice, and trauma. The narrative reflects the political and social impact of conflict on rural communities, situating personal tragedy within broader histories of violence and resilience in Sri Lankan society. Contribution As composer, I created the original musical score for Sulanga Mahameraka, using motifs drawn from Sinhala melodic traditions and contemporary arrangements to underscore themes of grief, endurance, and hope. My work provided emotional texture for pivotal scenes, reinforced character relationships, and heightened dramatic pacing. Awarded Best Composer and Best Background Singer at the Raigam Festival, my contribution demonstrates the vital role of music in shaping affect and narrative depth in Sri Lankan teledrama. Significance Sulanga Mahameraka demonstrates how teledrama can address political trauma and collective memory while engaging broad audiences. My music contributed to the series’ national recognition, showing how composition mediates between cultural expression and emotional resonance. Winning Raigam Festival awards highlights the importance of sound in sustaining Sri Lanka’s teledrama tradition. This work illustrates the capacity of music to support socially engaged storytelling and affirms the continuing artistic value of teledrama within South Asian media cultures.

Recognition, awards & prizes

Best Composer – Raigam Tele’es Festival (2020) Best Background Singer – Raigam Tele’es Festival (2020)

Event

Television broadcast of Sulanga Mahameraka (The Wind Blows Over the Waves)

Publisher

Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation

Place of publication

Sri Lanka

Usage metrics

Keywords

Sri Lankan teledrama; Sudath Devapriya; music composition; Sinhala melodics; post-conflict drama; Raigam Awards; Tharupathi Munasinghe