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Sisira Senaratne

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Sisira Senaratne
සිසිර සේනාරත්න
Born(1935-03-29)29 March 1935
Chilaw, British Ceylon
Died4 February 2015(2015-02-04) (aged 79)
National Hospital of Sri Lanka
Resting placeBorella Cemetery
EducationMaradana Central College
Nalanda College, Colombo
Occupation(s)singer, playback singer
SpouseIndrani Wijebandara (m. 1962)
Parents
  • Henry Soloman Senaratne (father)
  • M. A. Leelawathi (mother)
AwardsBest Music Director
Best Playback Singer
Musical career
Genres
InstrumentVocals
Years active1950–2015

Sisira Senaratne (Sinhala: සිසිර සේනාරත්න; 29 March 1935 – 4 February 2015), was a Sri Lankan singer and lyricist also worked as a playback singer in Sinhala cinema.[1] A career spanned for more than six decades, Senaratne has sung several popular songs Olu Nelum Neliya, Seeta Diyareli, Nuhuru Nupuruda, Mage Puthuta Mal, and Gaya Geethayan Game.[2] He along with wife Indrani Wijebandara played a pivotal role in ushering in a new era in Sinhala music in the 1950s.[3]

Personal life

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Sisira was born on 29 March 1935 in Chilaw. He was educated at Maradana Central College and Nalanda College, Colombo.[4] He also worked at Sri Lanka Customs.[5] His father was Henry Soloman Senaratne and mother was M. A. Leelawathi. Sisira's mother died when he was an infant, whereas his father married second time. Therefore he was raised by his grandfather who was an Ayurvedic doctor.[6]

He was married to Indrani Wijebandara, who was also a popular singer.[7] Indrani was born on 15 July 1935 and she was educated at Musaeus College.[8] Sisira and Wijebandara first met at the moment of departure for Madras on an Air Ceylon flight for the music recordings for the film Rekava.[9] They married on 31 May 1962.[10] On 21 June 2019, Indrani was attended to the National Hospital of Sri Lanka due to breathing difficulties. After two days of treatments, she died on 23 June 2019 at the National Hospital at the age of 83.[11] The funeral took place on 27 June 2019 at Borella Cemetery.[12][13]

The couple has two sons Sanjaya and Sameera; and one daughter Subhani.[14] Eldest son Sanjaya lives in Germany and is married to German lady Anjalika and lives with children. The youngest son Sameera is involved in the singing field and he has his father's voice as well as an executive at Unilever.[15] Subhani was initially educated at Anula Vidyalaya and later from Musaeus College. The two younger brothers are from DS Senanayake College. Subhani is married to Sumith Wijethilaka who is a Hydroelectric Consultant. They have one son Tharindu and one daughter Subhani.[16]

Sisira died on 4 February 2015 at the age of 79 while receiving treatment at National Hospital of Sri Lanka.[17][18] Funeral services was held at Borella Cemetery on 7 February 2015 evening.[19]

Career

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He started composing songs at the age of twelve where he wrote and composed his first solo song for the voice of Dharmadasa Walpola. Meanwhile, at the age of 14, T. F. Latheef and Sirisena Wimalaweera made it possible for him to identify Dr. Lester James Peries. Peries selected Sisira for Sri Lanka's first outdoor film as well as Peries' first feature film Rekava. His song Olu Nelum Neriya Rangala for that film earned him a reputation as one of the most popular playback singers in Sri Lanka.[20] And then he involved with Herbert M. Seneviratne, Shelton Premaratne for classical songs as well as film playback singing.[19]

He rendered his voice for many films in the 1950s and 1960s such as Sirakaruwa, Gehenu Geta, Hadisi Vivahaya, Daskon and Wana Mala.[21] He sang duets only with his wife Indrani.[22]

In 1966, Senaratne won the award for the Best Music Director at 3rd Sarasaviya Festival for the film Handapana. At 1st Radio Award Festival in 1970, he won the award for the Best Male Singer for the song Mage Puthuta Mal in the film Punchi Baba. In 1997, he was honored by "Swarna Jayanthi" Award at the 11th Presidential Film Festival.[23] Sisira had composed the melody for every song sung by Indrani since 1957.

Sisira, with his wife Indrani, conducted concerts titled ‘Sisindra’ in Sri Lanka and around the world, including Canada, United Kingdom, United States of America, Dubai, Australia, Germany, Switzerland and Italy.[9][24] The first "Sisindra" concert in Sri Lanka was held on the 20th at 6.30 pm at the Kularatne Hall of Ananda College, Colombo. The autobiography "Ranpiyawara" written by Wijebandara and the album "Iresha" featuring the songs of the Sisira– Indrani couple were also released at that occasion. The book contains information about their fifty-five-year artistic life.[7]

The Customs Department where he worked organized a concert called 'Sisirasa' under the patronage of its Superintendent Ashoka Ratnayake and others.[25]

Filmography

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Year Film Role Ref.
1955 Podi Putha Playback singer
1956 Rekava Playback singer
1957 Sirakaruwa Playback singer
1957 Le Kandulu Playback singer
1958 Ekamath Eka Rataka Playback singer
1959 Maa Ale Kala Tharuniya Playback singer
1959 Gehenu Geta Playback singer
1959 Hadisi Vivahaya Playback singer
1960 Wana Mala Playback singer
1961 Jeewitha Poojawa Playback singer
1962 Daskon Playback singer
1965 Handapana Composer, playback singer
1965 Hithata Hitha Composer
1968 Punchi Baba Composer, playback singer
1969 Hari Maga music director
1969 Golu Hadawatha Playback singer
1969 Senehasa Composer, playback singer
1969 Kawuda Hari Composer, playback singer
1971 Samanala Kumariyo Playback singer
1973 Suhada Pathuma Playback singer
1976 Aasha Playback singer
1977 Sudu Paraviyo Playback singer
1978 Mage Ran Putha Composer, playback singer
1978 Deepanjali Composer
1981 Ran Ethana Composer
1997 Punaruthpaththiya Composer

References

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  1. ^ "Indrani Wijebandara ඉන්ද්‍රානි විජේබණ්ඩාර films". Digital Identity of Sinhala Cinema. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  2. ^ "Veteran singer Sisira Senaratne passes away". Divaina. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  3. ^ "Sisira's melodious songs still mesmerise listeners". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  4. ^ Sisira passes away
  5. ^ "A rush of young blood". Daily News. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  6. ^ "Sihala Cinema Saptha Svaraya Opalu Sisi Kirana". geemuthumala. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  7. ^ a b "No one else has such a beautiful heart as Sisira". Divaina. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  8. ^ "Funeral of singer Indrani Senaratne on the 27th". Siyatha News. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  9. ^ a b "Indrani Wijebandara passes away". News24. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  10. ^ "7 arts". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  11. ^ "Singer Indrani Wijebandara bids farewell". cinema.lk. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  12. ^ "Funeral of the late Mrs. Indrani Wijebandara". helawoodpopcorn. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  13. ^ "Indrani Wijebandara leaves". Hiru FM. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  14. ^ "Indrani Wijebandara passes away". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  15. ^ "The walls were tied and the taste of the mind did not go anywhere". Silumina. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  16. ^ "Sisira – The indelible memory of Indrani harmony". Mawrata News. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  17. ^ "Indrani Wijebandara passes away". Hiru News. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  18. ^ "Sisira Senaratne passes away". Lankadeepa. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  19. ^ a b "Sisira Senaratne passes away". Dinamina. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  20. ^ "Merciful one day Your heart is dumb". Divaina. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  21. ^ "Sisira's voice was silent". infosrilankanews. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  22. ^ "The last verse of the Sisira Jeevan Gee". Lankadeepa. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  23. ^ "Sisira Senaratne සිසිර සේනාරත්න (1935–2015)". Digital Identity of Sinhala Cinema. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  24. ^ "Veteran singer Indrani Senaratne passes away". SLBC. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  25. ^ "Oh my heart went dumb". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
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