Bathiya and Santhush are two of South Asia’s biggest pop stars. They are fronting several advertising campaigns including one for the Maliban brand.
It so happens that in the 1960s Vernon presented the hugely popular Maliban Talent Contest also know as the Maliban Show and the Maliban Bandwagon over the airwaves of Radio Ceylon. Vernon devised the Maliban Show and it went on to enjoy ratings success on Radio Ceylon. Vernon has his trademark gimmickof throwing packets of Maliban biscuits to the audience – he travelled all over Sri Lanka with the Maliban Show.
Bathiya and Santhush released a message on Vernon Corea to mark his 10th Death Anniversary.
Bathiya and Santhush said:
‘We are sorry we are unable to be at the Memorial Service to Vernon Corea as we are touring Sri Lanka in connection with the T20 cricket series, but we want to pause and remember a son of Sri Lanka who has made a significant contribution to broadcasting in our country. Vernon created history by introducing Sinhala music on the English Services of Radio Ceylon/SLBC. As musicians of the current generation we can see it as a pivotal moment in broadcasting and to the advancement of music in Sri Lanka. Vernon together with his cousins Sangabo Corea and Vijaya Corea are known throught the land and in South Asia as the ‘Godfathers of Sinhala popular music.’ For this we want to say ‘thank you’ to Vernon Corea for his wholehearted support to musicians from our country and to the music industry – he helped and supported them all when he was a broadcaster with Radio Ceylon and the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation. He was in the forefront of pioneering shows – it is now that people are realising that Vernon’s ‘Maliban Show’ on Radio Ceylon in the 1960s was the ‘X Factor’ of the day – he found new Sri Lankan talent and even mentored some of them. Distinguished broadcasters like Vernon Corea have been a tower of strength to our country’s music industry.’
Here are some films on youtube on the music of Bathiya and Santhush:
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