Milton Mallawarachchi


Milton Mallawarachchi was a popular Sri Lankan singer also known as one of the greatest singer's to ever be produced out of the country. Milton Mallawarachchi was a trending act in Sri Lanka for more than a decade, performing nearly a total of 850 songs with over 35 albums. Mallawarachchi is also known to be a music composer for most of his songs, a film play-back singer for the silver screen, a talent tabla and sitar player.
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.

Biography

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 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."
In 1978 Mallawarachchi released one of the first music audio cassettes, Anytime-Anywhere, on the Tharanga label, in Sri Lanka under the guidance of Vijaya Ramanayake.
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," with Priya Suriyasena and Gration Ananda 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 last teledrama Hima Kadalla Mallawarachchi sang the song "Sanda Sulange Pawee"
In 1999 Milton Mallawarachchi sing two last movie "Mohothin Mohotha" and Re Ru
He died on 10 March 1998.

Personal life

Mallawarachchi was married to Swarna Mallawarchchi, and had four children: Ranil, Harshini, Nadija, and Tharaka. The song, "Etha epita dura akase...swarnwarna tharuwak wilase", written by Karunarathne Abeysekara for Mallawarachchi, is dedicated to his wife Swarna.
Mallawarachchi's son, Ranil Mallawarachchi, continues his father's legacy by performing his songs in shows and concerts, such as on Hiru's Dell Studio, and Flash Back.