TV Times

TV Times

‘Sunila Sara’ : 23 years of creations on stage
By Ranjith Bandara Attanayake
Veteran Music Director Sunil Dharmasena’s ‘Sunila Sara’ musical extravaganza will be held on May 29 at the BMICH at 6.30 p.m. This will include his music creations rendered by 26 artistes; Edward Jayakody, Sanath Nandasiri, Rukantha Gunatileka, Chandraleka, T.M. Jayarathna, Jagath Wickremasinghe, Indrani Perera, Chandana Liyanaarachchi, Asanka Priyamantha, Rohana Bogoda, Sanjeewani Weerasinghe, Lalith Ponnamperuma, Athula-Samitha, Keerthi Pasquel, Gratien Ananda, Nuwan Gunawardena, Ranil Mallawarachchi, Dayan Vitharana, Mariazelle Gunatileka, Saman de Silva, Michael Perera, Neil Warnakulasooriya and Paul Fernando.

Sunil Dharmasena’s first song creation ‘Kasapupurana Handa Langama Esenewita’ sung by Michael Perera dates back to 1972. His tunes and melodies that became very famous are ‘Me Malyaaye’ (Edward Jayakodi), “Mithuri Mage Sadaakal” (Rukantha Gunatileka), “Saagara Tharanga” (Jagath Wickremasinghe), “Samanala Kumari” (Paul Fernando/Shakeela, “Pin Malu Wale” (Neil Warnakulasooriya), “Den Inne Ammilane” (Neil).

Sunil Dharmasena, a product of Ananda Shashthralaya, Kotte, was influenced by Milton Mallawaarachchi, Dayarathna Ranatunga, who later became outstanding figures in the musical field then in the same school, though in higher forms.

Sunil contributed his talents by joining the school literary society as a musical player. Late Herbert Ranjith Peiris, (later became a film director) too instructed him to brush up Sunil’s musical abilities at the school. Sunil practised his guitar at home when father was not at home. Because Sunil’s parents wanted to see him as a docoter some day.

After school education Sunil was able to get to know Victor Ratnayake. Sunil played an instrument for Victor’s songs. Through Victor, Sunil became a bass guitarist in vocalist Jayatissa Hettiarachch’s ‘Sath Sara” Orchestra in 1968. Sunil formed a Musical Group, “Triangles” in 1965. Then the vocalists were Niranjala Sarojini and Shayamali Livera. Other members were Upendra Fernando, Sarath de Alwis, Tilak Samarakoon, Chandranath Hettiarachchi and Michael Perera. In 1982 Neil Warnakulasooriya and Lucian Alahakoon too joined.

Sunil was able to issue his first cassette “Me Mal Yaye” under ‘Amila’ label that comprised 8 songs rendered by Edward Jayakody, Niranjala Sarojini, Sujatha Attanayake, Paul Fernando, Nihal Nelson, T.M. Jayarathna and Rohana Siriwardena. Sunil says his first Musical Show ‘Sunila Sara’ will be a turning point in his musical life that ran for four decades though he didn’t pursue after publicity. Sunil said though there were many instances that obstructed his progress he underwent such mental disturbances since he loved the musical field.

Sunil is grateful to his mother who directed his life towards musical field and who extended their helping hand to come forward such a journey.

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