Ellamulla Kapuge Gunadasa better known by his stage nameGunadasa Kapuge, was a Sri Lankan musician. He was well known among Sri Lankans due to the philosophical background of his music renditions and lyrics selected for his work. Kapuge's one man show called Kampana was a historical advent of the Sinhala music industry.
Early life
Kapuge was born on August 7, 1945 in the tiny village of Thanabaddegama in Elpitiya. Being the second of eight siblings, he attended Karandeniya Central College up to grade five and the latter part at Dharmasoka College in Ambalangoda, where he initially studied science before switching to music. In 1963, he left Haywood college of music, where he was studying at that time, to follow a degree course in India. In late 1960, Kapuge joined the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and in 1969, he worked as an operational assistant and in 1975 started out as a programme producer. In 1981, he was appointed in charge of the music section of the Rajarata Sevaya and later on promoted to the position of the controller of the station. Rajarata Sevaya is one of the provincial radio stations of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation. He later married Prema Withanage in 1978.
Music career
Kapuge's initial release was titled "Daesa Nilupul Thema" in 1973, which became an instant hit. After which, Kapuge was quoted as a 'Grade A' vocalist by the Radio Ceylon. Thus the three decade long music career of Visharada Kapuge began. The first stage drama for which he provided background music was "Thuranga Sanniya" by Sugathapala De Silva. Since then he provided background music for the highly popular musical "Tharawo Igilethi" by Lucien Bulathsinhala and several other. His first movie background music gig was for Stanley Perera's "Sandha." In 1980, Kapuge released his first music compact cassette titled "Dhampatin Laa Sandha" featuring Malini Bulathsinhala. Now his son Mithra Kapuge, and his brother, Premawardhana Kapuge singing his song to save Kapuge's memory as well.
Kapuge staged a one-man musical show titled "Kampana" during the 1990s and also released a cassette and CD with the same title.
Death
On returning from a tour at Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Kapuge had a fall at the Bandaranaike International Airport whilst disembarking a shuttle bus. He sustained injuries on the back of his head. He was taken to the medical center at the airport at around 4.30 AM where he was given saline. After initial treatment, he was to be taken to the Colombo National Hospital. However, there was no male nurse available to assist. Kaupuge later died at Colombo National Hospital. His son Mitra Kapuge continues to sing his father's songs.
