Dilhani Duwani

Dilhani, my daughter
Why are you still asleep?
You bring sweet light
Into our home
Yet you’re still asleep

She moves her hands and feet so delicately
A precious sight to see
She is the gift of fortune to me
My beautiful Dilhani

On a golden swing
I imagined gently rocking her
On a golden tray, filled with milk and honey
I wished to bring her everything sweet
With golden wings
Like butterflies fluttering
Her little lips blossomed like flowers
Seeing her radiant golden face
I longed to kiss her

Dilhani, my daughter
Why are you still asleep?
You bring sweet light
Into our home
Yet you’re still asleep

“Dilhani Duwani,” sung tenderly by Indrani Perera and composed by Clarence Wijewardena, is a timeless expression of love – but what makes it even more special is that it was written for a real child, Dilhani Corea, the daughter of Clarence’s close friend and mentor, Sri Sangabo Corea. This was more than just a beautiful song. It was a musical gift, a gesture of sincere gratitude.

From the very first lines, the song radiates the soft warmth of affection. The lyrics paint Dilhani as the light of the home, someone whose presence brings sweetness, brightness, and quiet joy. She’s still asleep, yet her spirit seems to illuminate everything around her.

Clarence’s imagination runs beautifully wild in this composition – he envisions golden swings and trays filled with milk and honey, butterflies, and radiant smiles. These are not just poetic devices. They’re the kind of vivid, loving thoughts any parent or close family friend might have when admiring a sleeping child, full of potential and innocence.

What makes this even more touching is knowing that this wasn’t written about an imagined child or an abstract muse – it was written about someone real. Someone whose father helped shape the trajectory of Clarence’s career. And Clarence, ever the storyteller, chose to say thank you not with grand speeches but by capturing a father’s love for his daughter in song.

So “Dilhani Duwani” is more than a lullaby. It’s a legacy. It captures the power of music to celebrate relationships, to preserve love in melody, and to turn real moments into timeless art.

For Sri Lankan music lovers, this song holds nostalgic beauty. But for those who know the story behind it, the song becomes something even more intimate – a true dedication wrapped in golden words and soft harmonies.