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From passion to purpose: Anand Ramanathan and rise of Tamil live entertainment in SL
Daily FT
|August 29, 2025
COLOMBO is buzzing. Posters flutter, radio stations loop snippets, and social media is alive with anticipation.
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On 6 September at Havelock Grounds, the legendary Music Director and Singer, Deva, the “King of Gaana”, will take the stage, joined by an ensemble of iconic voices that have defined Tamil music for decades. For fans, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience—a chance to see history meet the present.
Behind this cultural crescendo stands the Aaraa Entertainment visionary Founder Anand Ramanathan, a man who has spent two decades transforming concerts into ecosystems—blending entertainment with empowerment, and turning passion into purpose.
Born in Colombo and educated at Isipathana College, Anand’s journey into live entertainment has been anything but conventional. What began as a love for art and music in his school days evolved into a career that now defines him as one of Sri Lanka’s most influential cultural curators.
He began as a drawing artist for serialised novels at Thinakural newspaper before moving into marketing. That shift sparked an entrepreneurial fire, and soon he was running his own advertising firm—an early immersion into branding, creativity, and strategy. But music kept calling him back. Supporting his brother’s Shruthi Live Band rekindled his love for performance and production, and before long he was ready to take the leap.
In 2002, Anand made his debut as an event producer with Youth Star Night, featuring top Indian artists including S.PB. Charan, Vijay Yesudas, Venkat Prabhu, Tippu, and Yugendran. The success of this event marked the beginning of a career that would redefine live entertainment in Sri Lanka.
Today, Aaraa Entertainment stands as the country’s leading event management powerhouse. With over two decades of experience, Anand has orchestrated concerts that blend precision, creativity, and professionalism, bringing international legends and rising stars to Sri Lankan audiences.
SPB Golden Night — a moving tribute to the late S.P. Balasubramaniam.
This story is from the August 29, 2025 edition of Daily FT.
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