Milton Mallawarachchi
Encyclopedia
Milton Mallawarachchi was a popular Sri Lanka
n musician.
Mallawarachchi has sung songs by Karunaratne Abeysekera
, K. D. K. Dharmawardena, Premakirthi de Alwis
, Clarence Wijewardena, Upali Danawalawithana, Dharmasiri Gamage, Ajantha Ransinghe, Shelton Weeraratne, Kularatne Ariyawansa, Ananda Padmasiri, Vernon Perera, Chitrananda Abeysekera
, Bandara Wijetunga and Vijaya Ramanayake.
In 1974 renown musician Clarence Wijewardena composed the songs "Gana Andure," "Eda Rae," "Mata Men Ohutada" and "Maga Thotadhii" for a Mallawarachchi EP release on Gemstone. Wijewardena would also write "Awasara Natha Mata," "Sulange Pawe," "Thaniwi Sitinai," and "Prem Raja Thahane" for Milton.
One of Mallawarachchi's most successful songs was "Mai Gaha Yata" done under the production of Melroy Dharmaratne
in 1976. It was released on the Silverline label as an EP backed with "Ran Mudu" and two songs ("Andanne Epa" and "Ma Samanalayak") by Shiromie Fernando.
Mallawarachchi released one of the first music audio cassette's in Sri Lanka under the guidance of Wijewardene in 1978. It was titled Anytime-Anywhere and was on the Tharanga label.
Mallawarachchi debuted as a playback singer in the 1971 film, Poojithayo. In 1984, he was honored with a best playback singer award at the Sarasawiya Awards for "Kendan Yannam," a song from Sena Samarasinghe's Aethin Aethat. He was the main male play back singer in the movie "Senakeliya" which was a box office hit in 1974 where he sang songs like "Reyak Upadda" and Duets with Indrani Perera "Samanala Renak Se" and also with Victor Ratnayake and CD Fonseka to the Music Direction of Music Director Patrick Denipitiya.
Mallawarchchi was a popular live attraction; at a time when there was no TV in Sri Lanka, his appearances at variety shows sponsored by the Ceylon Tobacco Company drew huge crowds. Mallawarachchi appeared alongside the Super Golden Chimes at the Super Concert 101/102 organized by Wijewardene.
He died on March 10, 1998.
, the eldest, continues in his father's tradition. "Etha epita dura akase...swarnwarna tharuwak wilase" song written by Karunarathne Abeysekara for Milton dedicated to his wife Swarna.
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 musician.
Mallawarachchi has sung songs by Karunaratne Abeysekera
Karunaratne Abeysekera
Karunaratne Abeysekera was one of Sri Lanka's most famous Sinhala broadcasters. He was also an acclaimed poet and songwriter and was widely admired for his excellent command of Sinhala....
, K. D. K. Dharmawardena, Premakirthi de Alwis
Premakirthi de Alwis
Premakeerthi de Alwis was a Sri Lankan broadcaster, lyricist and television personality. He worked as an anchorman on state-run television. He was murdered on July 31, 1989....
, Clarence Wijewardena, Upali Danawalawithana, Dharmasiri Gamage, Ajantha Ransinghe, Shelton Weeraratne, Kularatne Ariyawansa, Ananda Padmasiri, Vernon Perera, Chitrananda Abeysekera
Chitrananda Abeysekera
Chitrananda Abeysekera was a veteran broadcaster, poet, writer and an administrator. He joined Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, then Radio Ceylon as a radio announcer and retired as the Director of Sinhala Services in 1989...
, Bandara Wijetunga and Vijaya Ramanayake.
Early life and career
Mallawarachchi completed his early education at Ananda Sastralaya Kotte. He was a member of a short lived group called the Sakyans and subsequently the La Ceylonians. Mallawarachchi's vocals on the latter group's "Daha Duke Vidyahala" and "Mal Ravamal" led to his discovery by producer Patrick Corea. Kurera offered to record the young vocalist on four songs "Oruwaka Pawena," "Ran Kuduwak Oba Sadu," "Sansare Sewanale" and "Mangale Neth Mangale." The songs were released on the Exvee label as a 78 rpm record in 1969 and gave Mallawarachchi his first popular hit with "Oruwaka Pawena."Music
Well known music Composer Patrick Denipitiya gave Milton Mallawarachichi's songs a modern touch with Songs Like "Ivuru Tala" , "Ma ha Eda", "Ma nisa Oba" . "Sayura theredhi" on which helped him to become a huge success.In 1974 renown musician Clarence Wijewardena composed the songs "Gana Andure," "Eda Rae," "Mata Men Ohutada" and "Maga Thotadhii" for a Mallawarachchi EP release on Gemstone. Wijewardena would also write "Awasara Natha Mata," "Sulange Pawe," "Thaniwi Sitinai," and "Prem Raja Thahane" for Milton.
One of Mallawarachchi's most successful songs was "Mai Gaha Yata" done under the production of Melroy Dharmaratne
Dharmaratne Brothers
Dharmaratne Brothers was an influential Sri Lankan music group, composed of the brothers Christie, Maxwell, Melroy and Ronald Dharmaratne. They were the first all family Sinhala pop group, and racked up several hits in the late '60s and early '70s....
in 1976. It was released on the Silverline label as an EP backed with "Ran Mudu" and two songs ("Andanne Epa" and "Ma Samanalayak") by Shiromie Fernando.
Mallawarachchi released one of the first music audio cassette's in Sri Lanka under the guidance of Wijewardene in 1978. It was titled Anytime-Anywhere and was on the Tharanga label.
Mallawarachchi debuted as a playback singer in the 1971 film, Poojithayo. In 1984, he was honored with a best playback singer award at the Sarasawiya Awards for "Kendan Yannam," a song from Sena Samarasinghe's Aethin Aethat. He was the main male play back singer in the movie "Senakeliya" which was a box office hit in 1974 where he sang songs like "Reyak Upadda" and Duets with Indrani Perera "Samanala Renak Se" and also with Victor Ratnayake and CD Fonseka to the Music Direction of Music Director Patrick Denipitiya.
Mallawarchchi was a popular live attraction; at a time when there was no TV in Sri Lanka, his appearances at variety shows sponsored by the Ceylon Tobacco Company drew huge crowds. Mallawarachchi appeared alongside the Super Golden Chimes at the Super Concert 101/102 organized by Wijewardene.
He died on March 10, 1998.
Personal life
Mallawarachchi was married to Swarna Mallawarchchi, and had four children: Ranil, Harshini, Nadija, and Tharaka. Ranil MallawarachchiRanil Mallawarachchi
Ranil Mallawarachchi is a popular, well-known, singer from Sri Lanka.He is the son of musician Milton Mallawarachchi. Following his fathers foot steps he shot in to fame among the young music fans. In 1996 he did a song with his father, May Lowa Gemburui, for his maiden album.He started his...
, the eldest, continues in his father's tradition. "Etha epita dura akase...swarnwarna tharuwak wilase" song written by Karunarathne Abeysekara for Milton dedicated to his wife Swarna.