Rathnayake Arachchilage Somapala (Sinhala:සෝමපාල රත්නායක; 7 November 1947 – 18 July 2017), popularly known as Somapala Rathnayake, was a Sri Lankan actor, composer, lyricist and a renowned musician.[1]

Somapala Rathnayake
සෝමපාල රත්නායක
Born
Rathnayake Arachchilage Somapala

(1947-11-07)7 November 1947
Kadugannawa, Kandy, Sri Lanka
DiedJuly 18, 2017(2017-07-18) (aged 69)
Colombo National Hospital
EducationKadugannawa Maha Vidyalaya
Occupations
  • Actor
  • composer
SpouseMary Margaret Mayadunne (m. 1970)
Children4
Parents
  • Rathnayake Arachchilage Don James (father)
  • Abeykoon Mayadunnelage Sumanawathi (mother)
RelativesVictor Rathnayake (brother)
Jayantha Rathnayake (nephew)
Lelum Rathnayake (nephew)
AwardsSarasaviya Best Composer
Musical career
Genres
Instrument(s)violin, harmonium, cello
Years active1969–2016

Personal life

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Rathnayake was born on 7 November 1947[2] in a small village near Kadugannawa as the fourth of the family with 10 siblings.[3] His father was Rathnayake Arachchilage Don James. He was popularly known as Rathnayake Veda Mahaththaya, was an apothecary and sang "noorthi gee," a type of Sinhala folk songs. His mother was Abeykoon Mayadunnelage Sumanawathi. He was educated at Kadugannawa Junior School and then attended to Kadugannawa Maha Vidyalaya for secondary education.[4] He learned music under K.M. Sugathapala at the school.[5]

One of his elder brothers, Victor Rathnayake is a renowned musician in Sri Lanka.[6][7] Victor has two daughters and two sons from first marriage with Chithra Rathnayake. His daughter Chandani is a dancer and a vocalist.[8] His elder son Jayantha Rathnayake was a renowned musician and composer. Jayantha started his music career as the keyboard player in Sihashakthi musical band. Jayantha was married as has one daughter and one son.[9] His younger son Lelum is also a musician and singer who worked in a musical band.[10] On 6 April 2020, Jayantha Rathnayake died at the age of 52 while receiving treatments at Apeksha Hospital, Maharagama.[11]

In 1960s, he joined with farmer's army. After few years of work, then he joined with Wildlife Department. He worked in the job for only one month. He was married to longtime partner, Mary Margaret Mayadunne. He met Mary during music classes at Heywood academy. They married in September 1970. It was the only day that he shaved his beard completely. She is a retired music teacher. The couple has four children, where one died at very small age. His daughter and two sons are not related to music.[5]

On 17 July 2017, he was admitted to the Colombo National Hospital due to a sudden illness.[12] He died on 18 July 2017 at the age of 69 while receiving treatments.[13] The remains were placed at his residence at No: 78/C, Bopitiya Road, Uswetakeiyawa. The funeral took place on 20 July 2017 at the Hunupitiya Cemetery.[4]

Music career

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He went to M.G.P music academy to learn music under Ananda Perera's father. In 1968, he attended to the State Music College, now known as the Institute of Aesthetic Studies. Then he learned Western music under R.A. Chandrasena. At that time, he attended to the music classes conducted by Premasiri Khemadasa. He started to play cello under the guidance of M. K. Rocksamy and then from Miss Joyce at Ceylon Symphony. He became the only cello artist in the preceding years of 60s and 70s in every film.[5]

Rathnayake joined cinema as a backing violin player under Khemadasa for the film Hanthane Kathawa directed by Sugathapala Senarath Yapa in 1969.[3] The country's first cartoon film, Dutugemunu by Givantha Arthasadge was his first film as a musical director.[4] Unfortunately, the film was only screened one day.[5] Subsequently, he composed music for the blockbuster film Handaya. The film won several awards and received positive reviews from critics. His composed the popular song Kawuruda Kawuruda Dan Lokko in that film.[14]

Rathnayake was the music director for many films directed by Gamini Fonseka such as Uthumaneni, Sagarayak Meda, Koti Waligaya and Nomiyena Minisun.[4][5] He composed the song Paaradise sung by H.R. Jothipala and Desmond Rodrigo. He made the lyrics for the song Mihipita Bim Agalak sung by W.D. Amaradeva for the film Nomiyena Minisun.[14]

He was the music director for all the films directed by Dinesh Priyasad including, Demodara Palama and Peralikarayo.[4] Then he continued to work in many blockbuster commercial films of Roy de Silva such as Re Daniel Dawal Migel film series, Jonsun and Gonsun, Cheriyo film series and Sepata Dukata Sunny.[5] He had to compose music for Hindi tunes in certain Sinhala films such as Jaya Mangalam Suba Mangalam song sung by Jothipala for the film Peralikarayo This song was the last film song written by Karunaratne Abeysekera. Jothipala has sung to his music in many films such as Ridee Thella, Waradata Danduwam, Paaradise and Peralikarayo.[14]

He was also awarded the Sarasaviya Award for Best Music Director for the film Ekada Wahi directed by Parakrama Jayasinghe. He also acted in that film. Rathnayake's maiden cinema acting came through the 1992 film Raja Daruwo directed by Daya Wimalaweera.[4] For that film, he composed the popular song Dilidune Daruwane Mage sung by Gratien Ananda. He also composed music for several television serials such as Sannaliyane and acted in the serial Kiri Kandulak.[14]

Apart from that, Rathnayake also composed music for television cartoons. His song Muhuda Mage Goda Bimai in the cartoon "Dosthara Honda Hitha" gained large popularity. He composed the most number of Christian songs as a Buddhist.[14]

Filmography

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Year Film Roles
1969 Hanthane Kathawa Violinist
1976 Nilla Soya Lyricist
1979 Dutugemunu Composer
1979 Handaya Composer
1979 Podi Malli Celloist ("Kohe Sita")
1980 Uthumaneni Composer
1981 Sagarayak Meda Composer
1981 Ridee Thella Composer
1983 Subodha Composer
1984 Podi Ralahami Composer
1984 Sahodariyakage Kathawa Composer
1986 Peralikarayo Composer
1986 Koti Waligaya Composer
1987 Sathyagrahanaya Composer [15]
1987 Kele Kella Composer
1987 Nommara Ekai Composer
1989 Okkoma Rajawaru Composer
1989 Waradata Danduwam Composer
1990 Hondin Naththam Narakin Composer
1990 Honda Honda Sellam Composer
1990 Hitha Honda Puthek Composer
1991 Paaradise Composer
1991 Hithata Dukak Nathi Miniha Composer
1991 Cheriyo Doctor Composer
1992 Oba Mata Wishwasai Composer
1992 Raja Daruwo Actor
1993 Weli Sulanga Composer, Music supervisor
1993 Surayan Athara Veeraya Composer
1993 Come O'Go Chicago Composer
1993 Bambasara Bisaw Composer
1994 Nohadan Landune Composer
1994 Nomiyena Minisun Composer
1994 Love 94 Composer
1994 Eka Da Wahi Composer, Actor
1994 Hello My Darling Composer
1995 Ira Handa Illa Composer
1995 Demodara Palama Composer
1995 Edath Chandiya Adath Chandiya Composer, music supervisor
1995 Cheriyo Captain Composer
1995 Chandani Composer
1995 Vijay Saha Ajay Composer
1996 Hiru Sanduta Madivee Music Arranger
1996 Naralowa Holman Composer
1996 Seema Pawuru Composer
1996 Cheriyo Darling Composer
1997 Puthuni Mata Wasana Composer
1997 Ramba Saha Madhu Composer
1997 Aparaye Thappara 84000k Composer
1998 Re Daniel Dawal Migel Composer
1998 Anthima Reya Composer
1998 Sexy Girl Composer
1998 Mohothin Mohotha Composer
1999 Kolompoor Composer, Poosari (acting)
1999 Koti Sana Composer
2000 Anuragaye Ananthaya Music Arranger
2000 Re Daniel Dawal Migel 2 Composer
2000 Kauda Bole Alice Composer
2000 Pem Kekula Composer
2001 Hai Baby Hai Composer
2001 Oba Magema Wewa Composer
2001 Pissu Puso Composer
2001 Jonsun and Gonsun Composer
2002 Parliament Jokes Composer
2002 Mamath Geheniyak Composer
2002 Sansara Prarthana Composer
2002 Cheriyo Holman Composer
2002 Kama Suthra Composer
2002 Onna Babo Composer
2002 Love 2002 Composer
2002 Somy Boys Composer, music supervisor
2003 Ping Pong Composer
2003 Sepata Dukata Sunny Composer
2003 Numba Nadan Apita Pissu Composer, music supervisor
2003 Jim Pappa Composer
2004 Re Daniel Dawal Migel 3 Composer
2004 Selamuthu Pinna Composer
2005 One Shot Composer
2006 Naga Kanya Composer
2006 Supiri Balawatha Composer
2010 Dakina Dakina Mal Composer
2010 Thank You Berty Composer
2012 Daruwane Composer
2013 Kauda Machan Alice Composer
2013 Doni Composer
2014 Que Sera Composer
2014 Duwana Muwan Composer
2016 Sinhaya Composer

References

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  1. ^ "Somapala Rathnayake". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  2. ^ "Happy birthday to all artists". suratha. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Veteran musician Somapala Ratnayake passes away". Ada Derana. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Somapala Ratnayake passes away". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Veteran composer Somapala Ratnayake passes away". Hiru News. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  6. ^ "Victor's biography". Victor Rathnayake official website. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  7. ^ "Veteran musician Somapala Rathnayake passes away". Hiru News. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  8. ^ "Ira, Handa, Tharu - a three generation musical treat". The Island. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  9. ^ "Running in the family". Daily News. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  10. ^ "Lelum In Concert". lankahelp. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  11. ^ "Musician Jayantha Ratnayake passes away". News First. Retrieved 2020-04-08.
  12. ^ "Somapala Rathanayake dies". Boston Lanka. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  13. ^ "Veteran musician Somapala Rathnayake passes away". Ada Derana. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  14. ^ a b c d e "The bearded musician says goodbye". Dinamina. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  15. ^ "All about Sathyagrahanaya". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
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