LEGENDARY INDRANI PERERA REMINISCED AFTER SIX DECADES OF DOMINANCE IN MELODIC ARENA – by Sunil Thenabadu
Indrani Perera is the celebrated Sri Lankan singer and playback singer labeled as the “Nightingale of Sri Lankan music” who was along with Clarence Wijewardena and Annesley Malewana are known as the “Original Sinhala Pop Trio”. She was born in Borella ,a resident of Rajagiriya is the second of three girls in the family. Her father, Abeypala Perera was a Buddhist, mother, Muriel Perera was a Christian. She has one elder sister, Mallika and one younger sister, Iranganie. Indrani studied at Presbyterian Girls School in Regent Street., Clifford Girl’s College and later at Stafford College to study medicine having been interested to be a doctor. Indrani had been an avid reader focusing mainly on Martin Wickremasinghe’s novels. She had studied Kandyan Dancing in the school but had been following, singing mainly English songs. Her sister Mallika has been singing since 1965 when initially she was the ‘playback singer’ for the film Sama.for which she sang the popular song “Wananthare”. Mallika and Iranganie had been fortunate to portray small roles in many films with stalwarts like Gamini Fonseka, Ananda Jayaratne ,Clarice de Silva etc also had acted in stage plays along with elder sister Mallika. Indrani had learnt dancing at Chitrasena dance institute as she had a trend for it.
Indrani married James Sri Nivasan in 1979 also involved in the music field manufacturing compact discs. She had met him during the production of her song “Ha Ha Hore Danuna”, where he was the Lotus Disc producer. The duo has one elder daughter, Anjalie Charukeshi and one son, Pastor Nimendra Dhananjaya who studied at St. Thomas’ Preparatory School, Kollupitiya, after that he had studied A/L at the Royal Institute. Later in 2009, Nimendra obtained a degree in Business Studies while Anjalie too possesses a degree.Nimendra having worked as an executive had opted to become a ‘Pastor” with the prime intention of guiding many in the society. Her mother Muriel Perera had died when Indrani was a teenager. Father instead of marrying again had been both mother and father to the three daughters attending to all their schooling and other extracurricular activities. When elder sister Mallika excelled in singing having learnt music under WD Amaradeva younger sister Iranganie had sung in school winning awards for her singing aptitudes .Irangani from her school days had portrayed small roles in many films beginning from the film ‘Sama’ for which elder sister Mallika too had portrayed a minor role in addition to contributing songs to films. Indrani had taken part in school concerts and singing competitions, showing innate talent but not with any inherited affiliations. Indrani from her small days and even to date has been an passionate reader having been a fan of author Martyn Wickremasinghe. The two children may via hereditary affiliations has been avid readers too. The two children had been brought up leniently allowing them to take own decisions but had been closely monitered what they were doing. The books they read were checked by the parental duo had been very inquisitive to know what types of books they read also had allowed to associate with friends but has had made inquiries as to who they were. Indrani reminisced that she used to visit her daughter’s school on parents day each month clad in a saree as how a mother should visit the school in the appropriate custom. The children were never given luxuries like video decks until they were adults not that the parents could ill afford , the children were allowed to enjoy with basic stuff they possessed. Her son Pastor Nimendra had sacrificed a lucrative job to become a Pastor owing to his trust and belief in order to advise those who attended church in correct paths. Both Nimendra and Anjalie could sing having inherited mothers’ aptitudes.
From a young age Indrani had preferred going to church dressed up to sing hymns. She started her singing career with the ‘Fire Flies’ in the band of Dalrene Suby when she was selected on listening to her singing attributes. Not before long in 1969 but soon she was forced to join the “Moonstones”, Indrani sang her first song Dilhani Duwani, which was previously voiced by Annesley Malewena[.]Then she was invited to join the popular musical band The ‘Moonstones’ led by Clarence Wijewardena and Malewana. One of Indrani’s close friends had been Marie who was a cousin of Annesley who had lodged at her place to which dwelling Indrani had been a relentless visitor .It is Marie who had informed her that the musical group “Moonstones” were on the lookout for a female vocalist. Indrani’s father Abeypala Perera had accompanied her to meet the owner of Sooriya record bar Gerald Wickremasuriya via whom she had met eminent musician Clarence Wijewardena In December 1969.After a voice test taped she was unanimously selected to sing the song “Dilhani” when Indrani was still a school girl. She had affirmed that initially that her school friends had disliked her performance saying it was a slow number also not impressively sung. But after three months or so the song had become a ‘hit’ disproving her friends’ comments when was played at the Children’s’ record bar.The father had taken the initiative , had formed the female vocal group the “Three Sisters”.the first of its kind in Sri Lanka. On 31 December 1969, the trio had made her first appearance at a dance show at the Hotel Taprobane with the ‘Moonstones’.Indrani knowing she had a long journey ahead had studied music under reputed Shanthi Geethadeva, Sanath Nandasiri and Ratnakumara all renowned musicians then. Indrani had remarked that she had seen Dilhani only after ten years , the daughter of Sangabo Corea. Dilhani is now a close friend of hers.
Father had helped the trio wholeheartedly by importing sound system, TV sounds and three mikes in gold colour. The Three Sisters sang together successfully to astonish all audiences in concerts in many parts of the island for a about a decade with many popular hits until Mallika died in year 1980 following a sudden heart failure when her daughter Hiranya was only eleven months old.The daughter was brought up by her husband and mother in law as she was familiar with them . After the death of elder sister, younger sister Iranganie and Indrani sang as a duo, but later Iranganie moved away signing as “three sisters” Indrani too did not like to continue in the absence of Mallika particularly to use the name ‘Three Sisters”. Presently Iranganie is bed ridden her son Sangeeth who like Hiranya is a graduate could sing, Indrani had lamented that if the authorities could give them an opening to the duo it would be highly appreciated. Indrani had learnt Bharatha Natyam dancing at the Chitrasena dance academy also learnt Indian Ragadari music under famous musicians. Indrani’s songs were recorded under labels Tharanga, Torana, Sooriya and Phillips .Beginning from the year 1969 the Genres of music had been Pop ,Soul, Rhythm and Blues, Indian Classical music .The lyricists of all her songs have been the cream of lyricists viz., Karunaratne Abeysekera,Premakeerthi de Alwis,Dharmasiri Gamage,Sunil Ariyaratne. Hemasri de Alwis ,Hudson Samarasinghe etc where no flaws were detected in the lyrics for which there had been no objections from any quarter. The music directions had been by veteran Sarath Dassanayake,Victor Dalugama, Rocksamy, Melroy Dharmaratne, Stanley Pieris Ernest Zoysa etc., all celebrated musicians.
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Indrani has sung subsequently several popular hits after her debut song Dilhani including, Thiline Lesin, Wasanthaye Mal Kekulai, Sudu Asu Pita Nagala, Kageda Gon Wassa, Kumudu Mal ,Samugena Yannata and Mathakaya Asurin. In 1973, she sung many songs with The Moonstones such as Sigiriya and Ha Ha Hore. Apart from that, she also worked as a playback singer in many films such as Podi Malli, Dinum Kanuwa, Lassana Kella, Sadahatama Oba Mage ,Athegini Bidune and Sikuruliya. In 1970s, she had also recorded Baila duets too with Desmond de Silva and Paul Fernando which were instant hits.
At a recent television dialog Indrani lamented that she had spent her own money and recorded many songs in compact discs and casettes. Some unscrupulous elements have changed music by adding octopods etc had even included in you tubes claiming they are theirs .If she wanted to find her own song from the you tube she has to pay and obtain which a sad state of affairs. She blames the authorities in not having a system to punish the culprits which she laments is a sad state which hurts her.She confessors it really hurts her but no action against those could be instituted as laws have not been inacted.She also had brought to light that there are so many radio Frequency Modulation channels well over fifty who play her songs and of others too for which she and others are not benefitted. She has a desire to see her grandchildren sing. Her son has twins ‘Susan and Daniel” still toddlers , she is hoping she would live long enough to see them sing as imitated by the grandchildren of Latha and Sujatha. She reminisced the good old days she reminded that it was four songs that were recorded to a CD. Then , if even one song becomes popular the disc will sell fast.She reminded about the talented During her younger days she had been a huge fan of sitarist Ravi Shanker.For the craze to learn to play the sitar she had studied under musician Lionel Algama.Indrani had also been a fan of Indian vocalist Balasubramaniam had been anxiously waiting for an opportunity to meet him in person. Indrani had toured many overseas countries like England. Australia, Italy , Japan and many other European countries with Moonstones and other musical groups. On a visit to Italy she reminisces having got an unique opportunity in meeting his eminence the POPE. Also during that historic meeting she had been fortunate to meet ace footballer Diego Maradona with the Argentine football team.
Son is Pastor Nimendra James a religious missionary preacher and lecturer,could also sing well including mother’s songs. Mother was described by him in a television dialog that she as a very charitable kind person. Daughter Anjali too had been brought up having a close eye.Both had the freedom to take decisions, to read books and associate with friends. But the mother has had a close look on what books they read and who were their friends .Nimendra is a complete teetotaller of course other than his preaching work is also a vivid readers otto is Anjalie. As an enthusiastic mother had visited daughter’s school’s parents day monthly wearing sarees as a conventional mother .The children were not given luxury items they two were satisfied with what they possessed. A video deck was brought when only they had matured. The duo had participated in extracurricular activities like sports playing cricket with neighbouring children, music, and dancing. Nimendra added the duo enjoyed life as things came on sans aspirations.
In 2014, Indrani won the Soul Sounds Award for her contribution to the music industry. Then in 2015, she won an award from the National Catholic Literary Association and in 2016 by the Provincial Literary Association. In 2019, The Janabhimani or Hela Maha Rawana Rajabhimani Awards Ceremony was held at the Jasmine Auditorium at the BMICH where Indrani won the Best Service Award.Indrani is a factual human being possessing humanitarian qualities, multitude of cultures and ideologies within our living humanity been selfless. From family members and close associates of Indrani it had revealed Indrani was unselfish was willing to help anyone in distress. Late Neela Wickremasinghe had quoted in her book “Gee mee Saraniya” that She had met Indrani Perera at the Radio Ceylon who had requested Neela to get into her car and driven her to Walk Rite institute in Maradana had ordered for her a pair of special expensive shoes to assist her in walking. This is ample proof of her inner heart in feeling deeply for others. Indrani’s selfless attitude was spoken by son Nimendra during a television dialog saying even if they had only a kilo or raw rice at home she would donate to a needy sans any disinclination. All fans and followers would no doubt wish Indrani good health and longevity with blessings of God.
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Sunil Thenabadu
email sthenabadu@hotmail.com
WhatsApp 0061444533242
