Dharmadasa Walpola
Encyclopedia
Dharmadasa Walpola was the most prominent Sri Lanka
n male playback singer of the 1950s
and 1960s
. Walpola was an accomplished musician adapt at playing the flute
, harmonium
, violin
and tabla
.
's play Amma singing a virindu. He subsequently acted and sang in the play Wessanthara as well.
To master the flute, Walpola began taking lessons from Eddie Master and then attended R. A. Chandrasena's Academy. Chandrasena was impressed by Walpola's ability to sing and after auditioning several songs with harmonium accompaniment, sent a good word to the Radio Ceylon broadcaster Thevis Guruge
. Guruge gave Walpola a sarala gee programme with a duet partner G. S. B. Rani Perera.
style of Mohideen Baig
with his softer more melodic voice which lend itself to love songs. His best known work from this period include "Seeya Manamalaya" from Asoka
(1955), "Amu Pitisareyeki" from Seda Sulang
(1955), "Upatha Labaa" and "Suba Aasiri (Hanika Yamang)" from Mathalang (1955), "Surathalee" from Surathalee (1956), "Katey Kiri Suwanda" from Sandesaya
(1960), "Oya Belma" and "Waththe Wetunu Pol Athu" from Kurulu Bedda
(1961) and "Man Mula Wela" from Deepashika (1963).
Walpola's dueting partners included Vivian de Silva Boralessa, Chitra Somapala ("Pem Suwandai") and Rukmani Devi
in addition to Latha.
Walpola served as a music teacher later on in his life. He died on December 25, 1983.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
n male playback singer of the 1950s
1950s
The 1950s or The Fifties was the decade that began on January 1, 1950 and ended on December 31, 1959. The decade was the sixth decade of the 20th century...
and 1960s
1960s
The 1960s was the decade that started on January 1, 1960, and ended on December 31, 1969. It was the seventh decade of the 20th century.The 1960s term also refers to an era more often called The Sixties, denoting the complex of inter-related cultural and political trends across the globe...
. Walpola was an accomplished musician adapt at playing the flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
, harmonium
Harmonium
A harmonium is a free-standing keyboard instrument similar to a reed organ. Sound is produced by air being blown through sets of free reeds, resulting in a sound similar to that of an accordion...
, violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
and tabla
Tabla
The tabla is a popular Indian percussion instrument used in Hindustani classical music and in popular and devotional music of the Indian subcontinent. The instrument consists of a pair of hand drums of contrasting sizes and timbres...
.
Early life
Walpola's father Palis Ayya worked with costumes for the Tower Hall theater. Walpola had to forgo his education at a young age to support his family and for a time built masks for the Sri Lankan army. At that time he won a role in Sirisena WimalaweeraSirisena Wimalaweera
Sirisena Wimalaweera was an early Sri Lankan director. He made some of the first Sinhala films after the industry was begun by B. A. W. Jayamanne's Kadawunu Poronduwa....
's play Amma singing a virindu. He subsequently acted and sang in the play Wessanthara as well.
To master the flute, Walpola began taking lessons from Eddie Master and then attended R. A. Chandrasena's Academy. Chandrasena was impressed by Walpola's ability to sing and after auditioning several songs with harmonium accompaniment, sent a good word to the Radio Ceylon broadcaster Thevis Guruge
Thevis Guruge
Thevis Guruge was a distinguished broadcaster with Radio Ceylon and subsequently the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation. He was the first Sinhala Announcer with Radio Ceylon - the oldest radio station in South Asia...
. Guruge gave Walpola a sarala gee programme with a duet partner G. S. B. Rani Perera.
Playback singing (1953-1965)
Walpola debuted as a playback singer in the 1953 film Prema Tharangaya alongside his future wife Rita Genevi Fernando. Around 1956, Walpola married Fernando who subsequently adapted the name Latha Walpola. From his debut to the early 60s, Walpola dominated male playback singing in Sri Lankan cinema providing a counterpoint to the harsh CarnaticCarnatic music
Carnatic music is a system of music commonly associated with the southern part of the Indian subcontinent, with its area roughly confined to four modern states of India: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu...
style of Mohideen Baig
Mohideen Baig
Mohideen Baig was a popular Sri Lankan musician. He was a Muslim who moved to Sri Lanka from Salem in Tamil Nadu, India. Beg's son, Ishak is also a singer but not that popular in Srilanka like his father was. Baig has dueted with H. R. Jothipala, G.S.B. Rani Perera, Latha Walpola, Sujatha...
with his softer more melodic voice which lend itself to love songs. His best known work from this period include "Seeya Manamalaya" from Asoka
Asoka (1955 film)
-Songs:The songs were recorded by the cast for the movie and by prominent playback singers for general release:*"Katharagamey" – Sathyawathi, Dharmadasa Walpola and chorus...
(1955), "Amu Pitisareyeki" from Seda Sulang
Seda Sulang
Seda Sulang is a 1955 Sri Lankan romantic musical starring Florida Jayalath and Prem Jayanth.-Songs:*"Pem Kekulu Pipee" – Jamuna Rani and A. M. Rajah...
(1955), "Upatha Labaa" and "Suba Aasiri (Hanika Yamang)" from Mathalang (1955), "Surathalee" from Surathalee (1956), "Katey Kiri Suwanda" from Sandesaya
Sandesaya
Sandesaya is a 1960 film. The film based on the war between the Sri Lankan people and the Portuguese invaders in Sri Lanka. It was directed by Sri Lankan film director Lester James Peries. It was produced by K...
(1960), "Oya Belma" and "Waththe Wetunu Pol Athu" from Kurulu Bedda
Kurulu Bedda
Kurulu Bedda is a 1961 Sri Lankan drama written by P. K. D Seneviratne. It attempted to follow in the precedent set by Rekava and create a truly Sinhala film.-Plot:...
(1961) and "Man Mula Wela" from Deepashika (1963).
Walpola's dueting partners included Vivian de Silva Boralessa, Chitra Somapala ("Pem Suwandai") and Rukmani Devi
Rukmani Devi
Rukmani Devi was a Sri Lankan singer and actress, who was often acclaimed as "The Nightingale of Sri Lanka". She made it to the silver screen via the stage and had acted in close to 100 films, at the time of her death...
in addition to Latha.
Later life
Walpola successfully returned to Radio Ceylon with "Uthama Muni Dalada" (lyrics by Ajantha Ranasinghe and music by Sanath Nandasiri.)Walpola served as a music teacher later on in his life. He died on December 25, 1983.