Deepa Milton Sarath Dassanayake (Sinhala:සරත් දසනායක; born 13 August 1942 and died 18 November 1999), popularly known as Sarath Dassanayake, was a Sri Lankan composer, film producer and a renowned musician. One of the pioneer music composers in Sinhala cinema, Dassanayake has contributed to more than around 150 films and 600 film songs as a composer.
Personal life Dassanayake was born on 13 August 1942 in Katukurunda, Moratuwa as the second of the family. His father Don Dharmapala Dassanayake was a businessman. His mother Malalage Podi Nona Peiris was a teacher. He was educated at Anuruddha Vidyalaya, Nawalapitiya where his mother worked as a teacher and then attended to Nawandama Vidyalaya, Ja-Ela, Shiksadana Vidyalaya, Laksapathi and Hunumulla Central College. Finally he completed education from Horana Buddhist School (currently known as Don Pedrick Maha Vidyalaya Horana). Even though he was not good at studies, he surprisingly passed the Senior Examination in 1957. He has four siblings.
After interrupting school life, he once trained as a mechanic in a garage and as a radio reporter. Then he learned the log and typing. Afterwards, he just applied for the public health inspector exam. Having passed the preliminary inquiry, he went to the Treasury, which is near Parliament, but did not get the job.
He was married to Preethi Neela Wijesundara. He first met Neela during music classes at Government Music College known as Heywood College. Neela studied at Kadugannawa Central College and studied music at the Kandy Music Class. After that, she joined the Government College of Music and followed a six-year course. She learned esraj at the class. After the graduation, Dassanayake worked as a music teacher at Bibila Central College. Dassanayake worked as a music director and Music Inspector in Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Vavuniya, Trincomalee, Jaffna districts in 1966. They married in December 1970. In 1977, he was appointed as the Deputy Director of Aesthetic Education in the Colombo District, while his wife worked as a music instructor at Lumbini Vidyalaya.
The couple has 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 and also a film music director. Daughter Lakmali obtained a degree in English from the University of Delhi. Youngest son Sankha is a talented musician but intellectually disabled.
Dassanayake died on 18 November 1999 at the age of 57 following a brief illness.
Music career After losing every job, he finally turned to learn music. It was 8 October 1959, where he listened to a nice melody from Horana Sri Palee College. He joined with music classes conducted by music teachers Hewage Premadasa and Weerasena Gunatilleke. His best friend at the music class was Navaratne Aththanayake, who later became the husband of songstress Sujatha Aththanayake. Dassanayake finished music class as an accomplished sitar player under the teachers, K.A. Dayarathna, Lionel Edirisinghe, K.A. Dharmasiri Perera, Gunapala Perera and S.D.S. Jayasekara. He led the orchestra of the music college as well.
Dassanayake first appeared as a sitar player in the 1963 film Udarata Menike under the music direction by R. Muttusamy. Dassanayake was a regular sitar player in the films music directed by Premasiri Khemadasa. Under the guidance of Wahalle 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.
His most memorable music direction came through 1973 blockbuster hit Sadahatama Oba Mage where he was joined to this film by Leelananda again. The film overcomes the challenge of rescuing Sinhala cinema from the Hindustani style and copy music films of the day through a combination of innovative melodies and standalone 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; "Paata Podak Thilakala", "Hada Viman Dorin", "Pemwathiyanne", "Lassana Lokeka Ipadila" in Kasthuri Suwanda; "Ron Soya", "Ranmasu Ran" in Awa Soya Adare; "Lokaye Wenas Wune", "Sal Sapuna", "Ira Sanda Wadala", "Mee Pirunu Suwanda" in Sangeetha and many more. And then in the three decades: seventies, eighty and nineties of Sinhala cinema moved under the music direction of Dassanayake. He was a pioneer in the creation of a new kind of fusion of Sinhala folk and Ragadhari music. Popular singers T.M. Jayarathne, Neela Wickramasinghe, Gratien Ananda and Chandralekha Perera appeared in playback singing for the first time in the films music directed by Dassanayake. He also produced the melody for the song "Samanala Mudune Siripada Simba Simba" penned by President Ranasinghe Premadasa and sung by Jothipala.
Dassanayake won Sarasaviya Awards in 1983 for the Best music direction for the films Athin Athata and then in 1984 for Sasara Chetana. Then he won the Best Music direction awards for the film Muwan Palessa in 1992 and film Chaya in 1993.
He contributed to many of the popular songs of the seventies in radio such as "Punchi Dawaswala Nindata Yaddi" sung by Sujatha Aththanayake. The song mixed with Jayamangala's singing style and simple musical rhythm provide 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), "Roossa 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 film producer. He produced popular films Madhu Sihina, Mihidum Sihina and Aathma.
On 17 November 2015, the "Sarath Siritha and Harasara" ceremony was held at Tharangani Cinema, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7.
Filmography
Year Film Roles 1963 Udarata Menike Sitarist 1967 Rena Giraw Sitarist 1972 Sithijaya Music composer 1973 Sadahatama Oba Mage Music composer 1974 Kasthuri Suwanda Music composer 1974 Dinum Kanuwa Music composer 1975 Awa Soya Adare Music composer 1975 Sangeetha Music composer 1976 Vanarayo Music composer 1976 Duhulu Malak Music composer 1976 Unnath Dahai Malath Dahai Music composer 1976 Nilla Soya Music composer 1977 Hithuwoth Hithuwamai Music composer 1977 Eya Dan Loku Lamayek Music composer 1977 Chandi Putha Music composer 1977 Yakadaya Music composer 1978 Vishmaya Music composer 1978 Madhuwanthi Music composer 1978 Asha Dasin Music composer 1978 Hitha Mithura Music composer 1978 Kumara Kumariyo Music composer 1979 Samanmali Music composer 1979 Jeewana Kandulu Music composer 1979 Amal Biso Music composer 1979 Chuda Manikya Music composer 1979 Anusha Music composer 1979 Nuwan Renu Music composer 1980 Mal Kekulu Music composer 1980 Tak Tik Tuk Music composer 1980 Silva Music composer 1980 Ektam Ge Music composer 1980 Sasaraka Pathum Music composer 1980 Bambara Pahasa Music composer 1980 Dandu Monara Music composer 1980 Muwan Palessa 2 Music composer 1980 Raja Dawasak Music composer 1980 Sankhapali Music composer 1981 Situ Kumariyo Music composer 1981 Suriyakantha Music composer 1981 Amme Mata Samawenna Music composer 1981 Geethika Music composer 1981 Samawenna Music composer 1981 Chanchala Rekha Music composer 1982 Mihidum Sihina Music composer, Producer 1982 Thana Giravi Music composer 1982 Sakvithi Suwaya Music composer 1982 Thani Tharuwa Music composer 1982 Ayachana Music composer 1982 Jeewithayen Jeewithayak Music composer 1982 Major Sir Music composer 1982 Newatha Hamuwemu Music composer 1982 Kadawunu Poronduwa remake Music composer 1983 Ran Mini Muthu Music composer 1983 Chandira Music composer 1983 Sandamali Music composer 1983 Sumithuro Music composer 1983 Samuganimi Ma Samiyani Music composer 1983 Yali Pipunu Malak Music composer 1983 Niliyakata Pem Kalemi Music composer 1983 Athin Athata Music composer 1983 Pasamithuro Music composer 1983 Menika Maliga Music composer 1983 Mal Madhu Music composer 1983 Sumithuro Music composer 1984 Parasathuro Music composer 1984 Niwan Dakna Jathi Dakwa Music composer 1984 Hitha Honda Kollek Music composer 1984 Bambara Patikki Music composer 1984 Hithawathiya Music composer 1984 Sasara Chethana Music composer 1984 Rana Derana Music composer 1984 Batti Music composer 1984 Birinda Music composer 1984 Jaya Sikurui Music composer 1985 Aeya Waradida Oba Kiyanna Music composer 1985 Rosy Music composer 1986 Yali Hamuwennai Music composer 1986 Prarthana Music composer 1986 Asipatha Mamai Music composer 1986 Devuduwa Music composer 1986 Dinuma Music composer 1987 Thaththi Man Adarei Music composer 1987 Yukthiyada Shakthiyada Music composer 1987 Ran Dam Wal Music composer 1987 Obatai Priye Adare Music composer 1987 Ahinsa Music composer 1988 Rasa Rahasak Music composer 1988 Gedara Budun Amma Music composer 1988 Angulimala Music composer 1988 Satana Music composer 1988 Nawatha Api Ekwemu Music composer 1990 Dese Mal Pipila Music composer 1990 Dedunnen Samanaliyak Music composer 1990 Pem Rajadahana Music composer 1990 Madhu Sihina Music composer, Producer 1991 Sihina Ahase Wasanthaya Music composer 1991 Salambak Handai Music composer 1991 Dhanaya Music composer 1991 Suwadena Suwandak Music composer 1992 Ranabime Veeraya Music composer 1992 Sakkara Suththara Music composer 1992 Sinha Raja Music composer 1992 Kiyala Wadak Na Music composer 1992 Suranimala Music composer 1992 Sathya Music composer 1992 Muwan Palesse Kadira Music composer 1992 Sinhayangeth Sinhaya Music composer 1992 Ahimi Dadaman Additional composer 1993 Chaya Music composer 1993 Prathigya Music composer 1993 Sasara Sarisarana Thek Music composer 1993 Yasasa Music composer 1993 Sandarekha Music composer 1994 Sujatha Music composer 1994 Mawubime Veerayo Music composer 1994 150 Mulleriyawa Music composer 1994 Aathma Producer 1995 Dalulana Gini Music composer 1995 Rodaya Music composer 1996 Hitha Honda Nam Waradin Na Music composer 1996 Mana Mohini Music composer 1996 Mal Hathai Music composer 1996 Bithu Sithuwam Music composer 1997 Surayo Wadakarayo Music composer 1997 Sudu Akka Music composer 1997 Pem Mal Mala Music composer 1997 Good Bye Tokyo Music composer 1999 Ayadimi Sama Music composer 1999 Seetha Samire Music composer 1999 Nagaran Music composer 2000 Danduwama Music composer 2000 Hansa Vilapaya Music composer 2001 Oba Koheda Priye Music composer 2001 Dinuma Kageda Music composer 2002 Seethala Gini Kandu Music composer 2003 Vala In London Music composer 2006 Rana Hansi Music composer 2017 Kota Uda Express Music composer
References
External links කොපි නොවේ ඔර්ජිනල් Archives for Sarath Dasanayaka Rap not round good oldies- Sarath