An artiste to remember

Mario Ananda, son of legendary musician Gration Ananda will launch a documentary of his father’s life, on December 29 to coincide with his 10th death anniversary commemoration, through the Youtube channel of Mario Ananda. The documentary will feature Gration Ananda’s life story and his creations. They also hope to telecast it through a television channel soon.

Birth of a legend

Bajjalawalauve Gration Ananda Abeykoon was born on March 15, 1957 in Colombo. His father was Bajjala Walauve Shelton Abeykoon who was a police officer and his mother was Bernadeth Bernadeen Jayawardane Amadoru who was also nicknamed as Brenda was a music teacher. Gration’s elementary school was the Little Flower convent in Tangalle. Due to his father’s duty transfers, the family had to move to many areas which made Gration study in several schools. During his teenage, he moved to Colombo to live with his uncle, and began schooling at St. Mathew’s college and then attended St. Joseph’s College, Colombo.

Since his childhood, Gration lived by God’s ways and believed in Jesus Christ and never did he forsake Him, but proclaimed the glory of his God at all times.

Gration, when he was only two and half years old, first learnt to play the harmonica from his mother, and gradually the piano. While he played the organ as a chorister of the All Saints Church, Borella, he learnt western music and to play the Trumpet from parish priest Fr. John Herath.

Gration has been playing in several musical bands. Once he was playing at a wedding reception in Horana, veteran music Director Sarath Dasanayake witnessed Gration’s talent. Identifying the potential, he approached Gration and invited him to join his orchestra.

This was the ultimate turning point of Gration’s musical career. From there Gration joined in the musical productions of Dasanayake.

He learnt Ragadhaari Hindustani music and assisted Dasanayake in preparing the notations and conducting the musical recordings. He was also involved in the productions of late Stanley Peiris.

Music career

Gration recorded his debut single with Neela Wickramasinghe, Atha Duraka music directed by Gration himself and written by Kularathna Ariyawansha. This song was broadcast on Radio Ceylon for the first time in 1979. Instantly the masses embraced his unique voice.

His first play back singing was for the film Mal Kekulu the duet Bindu Bindu Kandulu sung with Shyami Fonseka music directed by Sarath Dasanayake and lyrics by Somapala Leelananda.

Gration’s first solo playback singing was for the film Bicycalaya a production of Rex Kodippili, Music directed by Stanley Peiris and lyrics by late Bandara K. Wijethunga. It became a hit overnight. After this, Gration was in demand in the film industry.

The first duet with veteran playback singer H. R. Jothipala was Sihina Ahase of the film Newatha Hamuwemu which was voiced for Sanath Gunathilake.

Gration Ananda took the hand of Srima Chandrani in marriage his sweetheart from school days after an affair of 10 years, in 1985 on January 11 at the St. Cicilia’ Cathedral of Kotahena.

They were pronounced as husband and wife by Rev. Fr. Benadict Joseph. Srima has been a great blessing, strength and support in Gration’s life. She herself is a student of Jeo Dambulugala, the veteran artiste, and draws masterpieces to date and has also collaborated as a lyricist with Grationand still does, now with her son Mario.

Melodious songs

He had duets with female singers from Latha Walpola to Uresha Ravihari, with male singers from H. R. Jothipala, Milton Mallawarachchi, Vijeya Kumarathunga to Freddie Silva. Playback singing for actors from Gamini Fonseka, Vijaya Kumarathunga, to Channa Perera, but significantly it has been mostly for Sanath Gunathilake.

Veteran film director K. A. E. Perera offered Gration to direct music for the first time for his film Durga in 1985. For the music direction, Gration was nominated in the best music director category at the Sarasaviya film awards of the year.

Neela Wickramasinghe who sang the first song with Gration was awarded the best female singer in the same award festival for the song Rasa Musuwu Pemkalpana of the same film, music directed by Gration himself. K. A. W. Perera entrusted this responsibility to Gration impressed by hearing Gration’s music direction for the song Thediniviraja sung by Edward Jayakody, which was included in a cassette dedicated to the Katharagama pilgrim devotees, produced by Rex Kodippili which had many other melodious songs with a Sri Lankan touch of music directed by Gration, sung by Victor Rathnayake and many others.

Gration has directed music for some 20 teledramas and film productions such as the famous theme song Adaraseenuwa, of teledrama Pramadawediya.

Lead artiste

In 1993, Gration was awarded the Best Singer at the Sarasaviya film awards for the song in Raja Daruwo film directed by Daya Wimalaweera, titled Bilidune music directed by Somapala Rathnayake and written by Somapala Leelananda.

In 2006, Gration was awarded the best singer at the Sarasaviye film awards for the song in Anjalika film directed by Channa Perera, titled Sandusengawila music directed by Navarathne Gamage and written by Bandara Ahaliyagoda. Gration was also awarded the OCIC signis salutation.Gration was an artiste the fans never missed in live stage performances. He sang with the guitar and entertained thousands of crowds with his singing.

He used to put the sign of the cross and recalled the names of the lyricists and music directors before singing a song.

Gration who sang and created melodies till the end, left the world on December 29, 2010.

Since then Gration’s son Mario Ananda took up singing. He too creates melodious music, lyrics and takes forward his father’s legacy. Gration’s daughter is an English News Anchor of Channel Eye of Rupavahini and also an assistant Television Producer of Channel Eye.