MILTON’S SONGS-PERMISSION ISSUE

There are no ringing tones anywhere in the world-only in Sri Lanka
Because of money I have been prohibited in singing certain songs of my late Father
-RANIL MALLAWARACHCHI

The late popular singer Milton Mallawarachchi’s son Ranil Mallawarachchi is now domiciled in Melbourne, Australia. He is presently in Sri Lanka with his family for a short holiday. The other day he participated in a discussion at a programme at the National television ’Rupavahini’. It was made known that a number of both male and female singers are now engaged in the ringing tone business. He says that the ringing tone business has not much of a long life. According to him everything is now money. Ranil quipped that he is even prohibited in singing certain songs of his own father. However, in contrast so many sing his father’s songs without any payment to his family or to him.
The views of Ranil Mallawarachchi made at this discussion are as follows:
“Now all are running behind the ringing tone business for money. Those who have rights for father’s songs are selling them to ringing tone companies and earn huge sums of money. I do not think it would be successful venture on the long run. There are no ringing tones installed in mobiles in any other country in the world. This is like a joke.  If I call someone, I do not like to listen and hear a song of another singer whom I do not like. Yet I am forced to listen to someone’s song which I do not like as there is no option.
I have received a letter from a Lawyer, prohibiting me in singing a song a certain composer had done for my father. For that only alternative is to sing the song by removing the music, which is not difficult for me. What has happened currently is that most lyric writers and music composed have died. Hence the wives and children of those persons have sold the songs to other singers.
All of you know that many singers sing my father’s songs, which people enjoy by listening. We have not taken even 25 cents from them. These happened for having had close links and friendships. Nowasdays there are no close links and friendships. Everything happens for money.”
A video from the discussion at the Rupavahini, the story how Ranil Mallawarachchi spoke on this matter could be viewed and heard from BELOW: