Milton Mallawarachchi

Milton Mallawarachchi (1944–1998) was a popular Sri Lankan musician.

Mallawarachchi sang 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.

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 four songs with the young vocalist: "Oruwaka Pawena", "Ran Kooduwak Oba Sadu", "Sansare Sewanalle" and "Mangale Neth Mangale". These songs were released on the Exvee label as a double set of 78 rpm records in 1969 and gave Mallawarachchi his first popular hit with "Oruwaka Pawena". It was the last 78 rpm record set issued for non-film songs in Sri Lanka.

Music

Music composer Patrick Denipitiya gave Milton Mallawarachichi's songs such as "Ivuru Tala", "Ma ha Eda" and "Ma Nisa Oba" a modern touch. The song "Sayura theredhi" helped him to become a huge success.

His first duet - "Bindu Bindu" - was sung with R.Chitra.

In 1974, the Ceylonese musician Clarence Wijewardena composed the songs "Gana Andure," "Eda Rae," "Mata Men Ohutada" and "Maga Thotadhii" for an EP release on Gemstone. Wijewardena also wrote "Awasara Natha Mata," "Sulange Pawe," "Thaniwi Sitinai" and "Prem Raja Dahane" for Mallawarachichi.

Mallawarachichi sang with Rukmani (1974) on "Prem Raja Dahane". On "Pem Rajadahane" he sang with Indrani Perera and Samitha Mudukonduwa.

One of Mallawarachchi's most successful songs was "Mai Gaha Yata" produced by Melroy Dharmaratne in 1976. It was released on the Silverline label as an EP along with "Ran Mudu" and two songs - "Andanne Epa" and "Ma Samanalayak" - by Shiromie Fernando."

Mallawarachchi released one of the first music audio cassettes in Sri Lanka under the guidance of Vijaya Ramanyake 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 the best playback singer award at the Sarasawiya Awards for "Kendan Yannam," a song from Sena Samarasinghe's Aethin Aethat. He was the main male playback singer in the movie Senakeliya which was a box office hit in 1974. Its songs included "Reyak Upadda" and duets with Indrani Perera on "Samanala Renak Se" and duets with Victor Ratnayake and CD Fonseka. The music director was Patrick Denipitiya.

Mallawarachchi 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. The one last song he recorded is "Aga Rejiniya" on the album Senehasa Buduwak. On the first teledrama Hima Kadalla Mallawarachchi sang the song "Sanda Sulange Pawee"

He died on 10 March 1998.

Personal life

Mallawarachchi was married to Swarna Mallawarchchi (not the famous Sri Lankan actress with the same name), and had four children: Ranil, Harshini, Nadija, and Tharaka. The song, "Etha epita dura akase...swarnwarna tharuwak wilase", written by Karunarathne Abeysekara for Mallawarachichi, is dedicated to his wife Swarna.