Kala Bhushana Dhanapala Udawatta JP Bids Adieu to stage on reaching his eightieth birthday after a flawless dominance on stage for six decades-By Sunil Thenabadu
Kala Bhushana Dhanapala Udawatta Justice of Peace, is a household acclaimed name among music lovers in Sri Lanka and in overseas countries as a vocalist whose singing ‘genre’ was ‘Baila’ type six eight beat numbers has pronounced on reaching his eightieth birthday to stop singing in outdoor musical concerts after singing for an unblemished flawless unceasing continuous sixty years .His two sons Gayan and Shameen sans Dhanapala and wife’s any knowledge had organized a majestic celebration to maintain his prestige, popularity inviting his associates with all connected to music at Waters Edge hotel.The duo had not missed a single person in the music arena inviting many vocalists , musicians, lyricists, announcers, concert organisers , sound personnel, film directors and producers etc. Only a few were absent had excused themselves citing health issues. The son duo had organized this huge event all by themselves very secretly while the parental duo had not known anything. The sons had duped the parental duo saying that they be dressed properly to attend a function in Kegalle they had paid advance. The festivity was unique as no such event was unheard in the annals of archives in this country when his legacy in dominance in singing for decades as a sought-after vocalist was reminisced. All invitees were treated sans any limitations to hot drinks which were available in abundance. Many artistes sang clips of their individual songs to make this function labelled ‘Dhanapala Udawatta ‘Sonduru Sandewa’. unbelievably was very prolific. For a person who made his life ‘music’ this function cannot be valued in rupees. At this function the sons had planned to inaugurate a commemorative stamp .. Many ageing musicians and vocalists were present though not in their earlier inimitable traditions. It was in a middle of the party Dhanapala announced his retirement from concerts officially from end December had added that he is contented and pleased about his sixty year singing career.Dhanapala’s legacy will be carried by his sons Gayan and Shameen both could sing having hereditary affiliations to father’s singing dexterity and prowess. It was in year 2019 when Dhanapala and Gayan duo sang together in the TV Derana music extravaganza program ‘Leya Saha Laya’ But Dhanapala openly stated that anyone could sing his songs sans authorisation which nowadays a statement many retiring vocalists do not allow or wish .Dhanapala too could sing songs of any other artistes not on stage but in the TV Derana program ‘Maa” he sang eight songs which was the program substituted for ‘Ma Novena Ma’.
Thelge Wayaman was born on 1st November 1945 , popularly known by stage name Dhanapala Udawatta, is an acclaimed Sri Lankan singer described as a crucial singer on the outdoor stage,He was the eldest sibling lived in Egoda Uyana, Moratuwa. His father Thelge Edwin Peiris was a popular theatre actor. His mother Muthuthanthrige Evelyn Cooray was a housewife. He was educated at Egoda uyana Junior school thereafter at Egoda Uyana Sri Sunandopananda Vidyalaya Dhanapala has been able to show his talents having sang several popular Baila songs such as Ae Neela Warala,Ma Adaraneeya Mage Amma Wethatai, Man Italiye Thani Una, Nelum Wile Nelum Nelana and Ranga Nadeeka,Surangewee, kiyai mihiri Katha’ etc. .[]
Udawatta was born on 8 November in Egoda Uyana, Moratuwa as the eldest of the family. He was educated at Egoda Uyana junior school and then in Egoda Uyana Sri Sunandopananda Vidyalaya.[3] His father Thelge Edwin Peiris was a popular theatre actor. His mother Muthuthanthrige Evelyn Cooray was a typical housewife.
Dhanapala is married to Shiromi Damayanthi de Silva from Batapola, Ambalangoda. Dhanapala had initially seen and met her when Dhanapala and Anil Bharathie had sung in a musical concert in year 1990 when his wife to be as a crazy fanatic had come up to him on stage asked him to sing the song ’Ae Neela Varala Peerala’ written on a small chit.. Later the duo had become friends having exchanged letters for an elongated time. Then the friendship turned to love affair culminating in marriage . The duo has two sons elder is Gayan Udawatta and Shameen Udawatta both educated at Prince of Wales College Moratuwa, both in early thirties. Gayan is an established vocalist is married having his own studios is into full time music who works as a sound administrator competent in sound management involved with popular ‘Gypsies’ band now Gyan owns his own band ‘Plus Minus’, while Shameen a former employee in Hatton National Bank[ ]now attached as an executive in a reputed Human Resources company also a competent musician who could sing well too.
Though Dhanapala has had no real hereditary affiliations to vocal singing during school days, he had sung songs of Rukmani Devi and Indrani Wijebandara. At the age of thirteen, he has had a break to play a character called ‘Udawaththa Mudalali’ in a stage play held at school perhaps with some hereditary affiliations to his father’s acting prowess as a theatre actor.at which was adjudicated as the best actor at school level after which everyone called him ‘Udawaththa’. He had the prospect to pass the GCE Ordinary Level Examination and obtain a high pass in music under the guidance of music educator Anura Mahanama.[2]
Dhanapala commenced to sing Baila songs with fellow singers. His first song was his own production composed after the Bandarawela Dowa bus accident. In 1968–70, Dhanapala made his first cassette tape under the label ‘Sisara’ produced by Sing Lanka, which embraced with 14 songs. One of the songs,’ Kiayie Mihiri Katha ‘melody was composed by legendary musician R A Chandrasena to the lyrics of another legendary lyricist Saman Chandranath Weerasinghe. This song is still a widespread hit among fans. In 1970, he sang the song ‘Ae Neela Varala Peerala’.
In year 1980, he was gifted a song penned by a lyricist named Hector Wijesiri. The song was written as ‘Ma Adaraeeya Mage Amma Wethatai’. At that time LTTE SL Army war was raging furiously fought in Sri Lanka which he thought this was the best time to sing this song. Because at that time there were no such war hero songs. But he did not record the song on the day it was supposed to be recorded. This was because the second and fourth lines did not touch the mind of Dhanapala. He changed the two lines himself and presented it to Hector. Two or three times he read the two lines Udawaththa had written, and he rolled up the paper and knocked it to the ground and said ‘I will never write songs for you again’ came out of the studio. However, Dhanapala later recorded this song, which is the first EVER song composed for war heroes in Sri Lanka.It is believed that there is no army personnel engaged in the war had written these lines to their mothers The song was sung to inspire and encourage war protagonists in the country. However, it is a pity that he had not been praised by any government for singing such a boosting song. Dhanapala has sung to date over 1,500 songs of innumerable genres comprising for 28 cassettes.
During the July 83 riots, Dhanapala went for an outdoor musical show. Suddenly a stranger approached him and told that two people on the other side of the stage were looking forward to meeting him. Dhanapala had gone to see those two men who were found with their faces covered with a black cloth. One of them held a gun to his head and said that he would kill him if he sang his acclaimed song ‘Ma Adaraneeya Mage Amma Wethatai”. Totally horrified by that incident, that day he sang his song ‘Ae Neela Warala’ five times after that shock. On another day in Bahrain, while Dhanapala was singing the song ‘Ma Adaraneeya Mage Amma Wethatai”, a large glass bottle was brought on stage by LTTE supporters to frighten him. It should reminisced that during his long existence in concerts there is no country Dhanapala had not visited to perform, he had visited many countries several times during his singing tenure of sixty long years.]
In year 1993, Dhanapala was appointed as an A-grade Baila singer by Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC), ranked as the first out of eighty-eight contestants. After that he was invited to sing for the films ‘Sathweni Dawasa’ and ‘Jeewanthi’. At that time he also joined amateur bands as a renowned singer. Later he performed two solo concerts called ‘Suranganavi’ and ‘Nelum Vile’, to coincide with names of his popular songs In the concert ‘Suranganawee’ as fans thronged to the hall in huge numbers the venue had to be changed to a play ground in the vicinity. Meanwhile Dhanapala made the songs about almost all the special events that took place in the Sri Lanka including ‘Aranthala LTTE attack, ‘’Indira Gandhi incident,’Hasalaka Gamini’,’Bandaranaike assassination case,’Upali Wijewardene disappearance case,’ ‘Ahungalla incident’.,’ Rishana Nafiq’ murder case,’ :Robert Kennedy Murder,’ ‘Princess of Wales Diana;. Through them, Dhanapala was able to educate the society receiving a lot of devotion for each story.
On 27 June 2015, he performed a ‘’Dhanapala Udawatta Live in Concert ‘music composition was solely via the music competency accomplishment of elder son Gayan’s owned Plus Minus’ band at 6.00 pm at Panadura Town Hall to celebrate fifty years for his music career. It was the third solo concert performed by him in concerts. Each solo show was patronized by passionate fans. Dhanapala also sang songs belonged attached to a series of films made in the country. Dhanapala to add to his repertoire of songs sang the first political song, ’Kathira Paara’, as well as the first tribute song sung to legendary actress ’Malini Fonseka’.
The very popular song ‘Man Ithaliye Thani Una” of Dhanapala has an ironic history that reflects the artist’s deep link with Sri Lanka’s culture and music The lyrics of the song , which are set in the framework ofa Sri Lankan typical family story, have resonated with
In the above context all Dhanapala Udawatta’s fans will be disappointed as he will not be performing on stage from this year 2026.But his legacy and popularity will live on. All his fans and well wishes would wish him good health and longevity with blessings of God.
Sunil Thenabadu in Brisbane email sthenabadu@hotmail.com Whatsapp 0061444533242
