Sarath Dassanayake


Deepa Milton Sarath Dassanayake, 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. 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 mentally retarded.
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", "Pem Sililare", "Roossa Gaha Langa", "Kande Vihare", "Serayatiyen Api" and "Randu Wewi Yalu Wewi".
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

YearFilmRoles
1963Udarata MenikeSitarist
1967Rena GirawSitarist
1972SithijayaMusic composer
1973Sadahatama Oba MageMusic composer
1974Kasthuri SuwandaMusic composer
1974Dinum KanuwaMusic composer
1975Awa Soya AdareMusic composer
1975SangeethaMusic composer
1976VanarayoMusic composer
1976Duhulu MalakMusic composer
1976Unnath Dahai Malath DahaiMusic composer
1976Nilla SoyaMusic composer
1977Hithuwoth HithuwamaiMusic composer
1977Eya Dan Loku LamayekMusic composer
1977Chandi PuthaMusic composer
1977YakadayaMusic composer
1978VishmayaMusic composer
1978MadhuwanthiMusic composer
1978Asha DasinMusic composer
1978Hitha MithuraMusic composer
1978Kumara KumariyoMusic composer
1979SamanmaliMusic composer
1979Jeewana KanduluMusic composer
1979Amal BisoMusic composer
1979Chuda ManikyaMusic composer
1979AnushaMusic composer
1979Nuwan RenuMusic composer
1980Mal KekuluMusic composer
1980Tak Tik TukMusic composer
1980SilvaMusic composer
1980Ektam GeMusic composer
1980Sasaraka PathumMusic composer
1980Bambara PahasaMusic composer
1980Dandu MonaraMusic composer
1980Muwan Palessa 2Music composer
1980Raja DawasakMusic composer
1980SankhapaliMusic composer
1981Situ KumariyoMusic composer
1981SuriyakanthaMusic composer
1981Amme Mata SamawennaMusic composer
1981GeethikaMusic composer
1981SamawennaMusic composer
1981Chanchala RekhaMusic composer
1982Mihidum SihinaMusic composer, Producer
1982Thana GiraviMusic composer
1982Sakvithi SuwayaMusic composer
1982Thani TharuwaMusic composer
1982AyachanaMusic composer
1982Jeewithayen JeewithayakMusic composer
1982Major SirMusic composer
1982Newatha HamuwemuMusic composer
1982Kadawunu Poronduwa remakeMusic composer
1983Ran Mini MuthuMusic composer
1983ChandiraMusic composer
1983SandamaliMusic composer
1983SumithuroMusic composer
1983Samuganimi Ma SamiyaniMusic composer
1983Yali Pipunu MalakMusic composer
1983Niliyakata Pem KalemiMusic composer
1983Athin AthataMusic composer
1983PasamithuroMusic composer
1983Menika MaligaMusic composer
1983Mal MadhuMusic composer
1983SumithuroMusic composer
1984ParasathuroMusic composer
1984Niwan Dakna Jathi DakwaMusic composer
1984Hitha Honda KollekMusic composer
1984Bambara PatikkiMusic composer
1984HithawathiyaMusic composer
1984Sasara ChethanaMusic composer
1984Rana DeranaMusic composer
1984BattiMusic composer
1984BirindaMusic composer
1984Jaya SikuruiMusic composer
1985Aeya Waradida Oba KiyannaMusic composer
1985RosyMusic composer
1986Yali HamuwennaiMusic composer
1986PrarthanaMusic composer
1986Asipatha MamaiMusic composer
1986DevuduwaMusic composer
1986DinumaMusic composer
1987Thaththi Man AdareiMusic composer
1987Yukthiyada ShakthiyadaMusic composer
1987Ran Dam WalMusic composer
1987Obatai Priye AdareMusic composer
1987AhinsaMusic composer
1988Rasa RahasakMusic composer
1988Gedara Budun AmmaMusic composer
1988AngulimalaMusic composer
1988SatanaMusic composer
1988Nawatha Api EkwemuMusic composer
1990Dese Mal PipilaMusic composer
1990Dedunnen SamanaliyakMusic composer
1990Pem RajadahanaMusic composer
1990Madhu SihinaMusic composer, Producer
1991Sihina Ahase WasanthayaMusic composer
1991Salambak HandaiMusic composer
1991DhanayaMusic composer
1991Suwadena SuwandakMusic composer
1992Ranabime VeerayaMusic composer
1992Sakkara SuththaraMusic composer
1992Sinha RajaMusic composer
1992Kiyala Wadak NaMusic composer
1992SuranimalaMusic composer
1992SathyaMusic composer
1992Muwan Palesse KadiraMusic composer
1992Sinhayangeth SinhayaMusic composer
1992Ahimi DadamanAdditional composer
1993ChayaMusic composer
1993PrathigyaMusic composer
1993Sasara Sarisarana ThekMusic composer
1993YasasaMusic composer
1993SandarekhaMusic composer
1994SujathaMusic composer
1994Mawubime VeerayoMusic composer
1994150 MulleriyawaMusic composer
1994AathmaProducer
1995Dalulana GiniMusic composer
1995RodayaMusic composer
1996Hitha Honda Nam Waradin NaMusic composer
1996Mana MohiniMusic composer
1996Mal HathaiMusic composer
1996Bithu SithuwamMusic composer
1997Surayo WadakarayoMusic composer
1997Sudu AkkaMusic composer
1997Pem Mal MalaMusic composer
1997Good Bye TokyoMusic composer
1999Ayadimi SamaMusic composer
1999Seetha SamireMusic composer
1999NagaranMusic composer
2000DanduwamaMusic composer
2000Hansa VilapayaMusic composer
2001Oba Koheda PriyeMusic composer
2001Dinuma KagedaMusic composer
2002Seethala Gini KanduMusic composer
2003Vala In LondonMusic composer
2006Rana HansiMusic composer
2017Kota Uda ExpressMusic composer