SARATH DASSANAYAKE MOST PROLIFIC MUSICIAN PRODUCED IN SRI LANKA REMINISCED
Legendary musician Sarath Dassanayake one of the pioneer music composers in Sinhalese films who was instrumental in revolutionizing our film music not copying the Indian dominated Hindi and Tamil melodies. was born on 13th August 1942 as Deepa Milton Sarath Dassanayake to parents, father Don Dharmapala Dassanayake a businessman and mother Malalage Podinona Peiris a teacher, was the second in a family of six siblings, four brothers and two sisters in Katukurunda,Moratuwa. His initial education was at Anuruddha Vidyalaya ,Nawalapitiya where his mother taught. Later has had his education in a number of schools v.i.z., Nawandama Vidyalaya Je Ela,Shiksadana Vidyalaya,Laksapathi,Hunumullaa Central College and finally at Horana Buddhist school now called Don Pedrick Maha Vidyalaya Horana. Though not a studious student had passed the senior school examination in year 1957,In fact he himself had been surprised when he results were released as he was internally the last in class.
Since leaving school Sarath had found difficult to find the ideal profession was desperate to find employment owing to the then financial crisis at his dwelling .Sarath had tried in many fields, once been a mechanic in a garage, then had attempted to be a radio repairer in a shop, thereafter, had followed shorthand typing to seek employment as a stenographer, also had successfully sat for the Public health inspector examination but had failed in obtaining a job. When he approached a government institution located behind the Treasury building with his qualifications had been chased away saying he is too young, this job does not suit him and to study further.
Having heard of a heartening music melody played at a temple in his vicinity had thought of learning music .Having heard of a music class close to his dwelling at Horana Sri Palee College he had visited to inquire about the music class as he had thought he should learn music. After losing every job, he finally decided to learn music. It was on 8th October 1959, where he listened to a nice melody from Horana Sri Palee College area in the vicinity to his dwelling. When he visited SrI Palee Horana to meet the owner of the music class Hewage Premamdasa with a bundle beetles on his push bike, in search to learn music, had asked the purpose of his visit.When he said to enrol to the class the owner had added today it is closed as a mark of respect to a teacher Edwin Samaradiwakara who had taught music there. Sarath had thought his ambition to learn music was also shattered. But as he walked back the owner had called him and added as a mark of deep respect to the deceased teacher will enrol with the intention of grooming a competent musician , had taken him to the music room and showed all the instruments.Not knowing head or tail about musical instruments had pointed his finger to the most conspicuous instrument which was the Sithar,the name he had heard only then.In this manner he joined with music classes conducted by music teachers Hewage Premadasa and Weerasena Gunatilleke.After the basics were taught Sarath had practiced playing the Sitar for about eight hours a day with keen enthusiasm. His best friend at the music class was Navaratne Attanayake, who later became the husband of songstress Sujatha Attanayake. Sarath finished music class as an accomplished ‘Sitar’ exponent under the teachers, K.A. Dayarathna, Lionel Edirisinghe, K.A. Dharmasiri Perera, Gunapala Perera and S.D.S. Jayasekara. Sarath had soon led the orchestra of the music college as well. Suddenly Sri Palee College was acquired by the government which ended the tenure of the music class which caused all students to leave..But the architect of Sri Palee had other ideas. musician Wilmot A Perera had commenced a Sri Palee Kala institute inside the Arundathi hall where it was handed over to Sarath Dassanayake and Nawaratne Attanayake.After which the Kala Ayathanaya had progressed to tall heights with many students. This ability was not through any hereditary affiliations but exclusively through innate abilities .
While attending to the music classes had entered the government music school then called the Heywood in year 1960 where he followed a six year gruelling music course with passion .But the duo Sarath and Nawaratne never missed attending to the work at the Sri Palee Kala Ayathanaya.In year 1961 Sarath was absorbed to R Muthusamy’s orchestra as the Sitharist. At the Heywood he had met his future wife Preethi Neela Wijesundera who was from Kadugannawa Central College had studied music at a Kandy music class which was a boost to Sarath’s music career when he contributed music to about 126 astounding Sinhala films and had composed over six hundred film songs alone. Sarath Dassanayake was a legend in music when he died young at the age of fifty seven years in year 1999.
After his graduation in the six year gruelling course at Heywood school of music Sarath had excelled in the Esraj had become a teacher with competence. He married Preethi Neela Wijesundara . Neela had studied at Kadugannawa Central College had learnt her music at the Kandy Music Class. After which Sarath had learned to play the esraj at the class. After the graduation, Sarath found employment, worked initially as a music teacher at Bibile Central College in year 1966 Subsequently had worked as the music master in charge of Pilyandala Madhya Maha Vidyalaya.Later Sarath had worked as a music director and Music Inspector of schools in Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Vavuniya, Trincomalee, Jaffna districts in 1966. The duo had tied the nuptial knot in December 1970. In 1977, he was appointed as the Deputy Director of Aesthetic Education in the Colombo District, a prestigious appointment, while his wife worked as a music instructor at Lumbini Vidyalaya.
The duo is blessed with two sons – Ranga and Sanka and one daughter, Lakmali. Elder son Ranga is a lecturer in sound administration at the University of the Visual and Performing Arts follows father’s footsteps, also a film music director. Daughter Lakmali had obtained a degree in English from the University of Delhi. Youngest son Sanka is a talented musician but unfortunately, he is mentally retarded.
Sarath first appeared as a Sitar player in the 1963 in the film ‘Udarata Menike’ under the music direction by R.Muthusamy. Sarath was a regular Sitar’ player in the films music directed by Premasiri Khemadasa.. Under the guidance of Wehalle Piyathilaka, Dassanayake entered to music direction with the 1972 film ‘Sithijaya’. His second film music composing was ‘Vishmaya’ directed by Charles Perera under the guidance of Somapala Leelananda.
After the dominance of musicians like PLA Somapala, Somadasa Elvitigala, Dr Premasiri Khemadasa ,Pandit Amaradeva it was Sarath who ended the copying repetition of Indian melodies in their films songs thus allowing musicians to stop the earlier practice which was absolutely a boost to our own music .
His most memorable music direction came through 1973 blockbuster film ‘Sadahatama Oba Mage’ where he was joined to this film by Leelananda again. The film overcame the challenge of rescuing Sinhala cinema from the Hindustani and Indian Tamil style and copy music films dominance through a combination of innovative melodies and independent music. Then in 1974, he produced melodies and music for the film ‘Kasthuri Suwanda’ directed by Sena Samarasinghe.
He has made many changes to the music industry by producing many popular songs in the film such as “Miyuru Kalpana” and “Irata Akeekaru”
in the film ‘Dinum Kanuwa’, the songs “Paata Podak Thilakala”, “Hada Viman Dorin”, “Pemwathiyanne”, “Lassana Lokeka Ipadila” in the film Kasthuri Suwanda, the song “Ron Soya”, “Ranmasu Ran” in film ‘Awa Soya Adare; “Lokaye Wenas Wune”, “Sal Sapuna”, “Ira Sanda Wedanla”, “Mee Pirunu Suwanda” in film Sangeetha and many more were the original music melodies of Sarath. Theareafter in the three decades of seventies, eighties and nineties of Sinhala cinema was dominated by the music direction of Sarath. He was a pioneer in the instrumental of the creation of a new kind of fusion of Sinhala folk and Ragadhari music too. The popular singers in the calibre of T.M. Jayaratne, Neela Wickramasinghe, Gratien Ananda and Chandralekha Perera appeared in playback singing for the first time in the films where music was composed and directed by Sarath himself. He also fashioned the melody for the song “Samanala Mudune Siripada Simba Simba” penned by President Ranasinghe Premadasa , sung by HR Jothipala
Sarath won Sarasaviya Awards in year 1983 for the Best music direction for the films ‘Ethin Ethata’ ,again in year 1984 for the film ‘Sasara Chetana’. Then again Sarath won the Best Music direction awards for the film ‘Muwan Palessa’ in year 1992 and the film ‘Chaya’ in year 1993.
He contributed to many of the popular songs of the seventies in the radio too such as “Punchi Dawaswala Nindata Yaddi” sung by Sujatha Attanayake. The song was mixed with Jayamangala’s singing style and simple musical rhythm providing the backdrop to the entire song as the unexpected news of a wedding journey unfolds. He has also used beautiful melodies to a number of classical songs such as “Bol Vee Ahuru” (Amradeva), “Pem Sililare” (Amara-Dayaratne), “Roosa Gaha Langa” (Vijaya), “Kande Vihare” (Chandralekha), “Serayatiyen Api” (Vijaya-Chandralekha) and “Randu Wewi Yalu Wewi” (Sunil-Chandrika).
Apart from music direction, he was also a successful film producer. He produced popular films ‘Madhu Sihina’, ‘Mihidum Sihina’ and ‘Aathma’
It was very unfortunate that following a brief illness Sarath passed away at a relatively young age of just fifty seven years in year 1999 leaving a void that never could be field..
In year 1970 Sarath was appointed to SLBC as a producer of children’s’ songs in the ‘Lama Mandapaya’ also was instrumental in contributing to classical and patriotic songs also at the SLBC..In year 1973 was elevated to the position of music inspector who until year 1977 served in the north central and northern province in this position.It is learnt that he had scarified a lot by walking many kilometres to enhance the music knowledge of students in rural areas.Sarath Believes this period was the most self-satisfying period in his life.The songs Sarath composed had a blend of western taste too are ever green for ever.
On 17 November 2015, the “Sarath Siritha and Harasara” ceremony was held at Tharangani Cinema, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7 to felicitate the legendary musician whose achievements could not be surpassed easily by any musician.
MAY HE ATTAIN SUPREME BLISS OF NIBBANA
SUNIL THENABADU IN BRISBANE EMAIL STHENABADU@HOTMAIL.COM WHATSAPP 0061444533242
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