MILINDA SANDARUWAN RUNNER UP IN DERANA DREAM STAR SEASON 1 A RENOWNED VOCALIST FOR NEARLY TWO DECADES MARRIED TO FORMER SLRC ENGLISH NEWS ANCHOR ZEENATH BONGSO – By Sunil Thenabadu
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Having impact of inheritances on musical talent Milinda Sandaruwan has evidenced with many illustrations. Many singers have emerged via hereditary affiliations, while others through innate talent some professionally via voice training and practice. There are individuals who seem to effortlessly hit every note while they sing , others struggle to transmit a melody. The answer lies in our genetics as proved by researchers who have long studied the link between genetic ability and musical aptitude. Milinda fits to this category having inherited vocals ability via genetic affiliations from his father who has had the habit of having singing sessions at home in evenings when he had leisure.
Milinda is a native of village Ogodapola in Boyagane in the Rideegama divisional area in Kurunegala, his ancestral dwelling in the vicinity of Galgekande viharaya Father had worked as an officer in Udupola estate Mother had been a teacher. He has a solitary elder sibling in renowned vocalist Manjula Dilruckshi who had followed on stage from his age of about thirteen years is now also an accomplished celebrated artiste.He had been educated at Maliyadeva model school
Milinda recollects that he had not been inclined to sing in his school days, had been very shy had not endeavoured to sing even a verse. Milinda reveals he has had a passion to play drums to be involved in a band with school friends. His memories in his musical journey had begun when he had accompanied sister acclaimed Manjula Dilruckshi when she sung in concerts. During such visits Milinda had watched and enjoyed watching how the bands played had developed a passion to play drums for a few bands.
How Milinda emerged to the signing arena is interesting reading.One day at a concert Milinda had sung a song of Charmara Weerasinghe leaning to a van which had been heard by Flashback leader Roshan Fernando.It had been Roshan who had induced Milinda to sing a song on stage initially by inviting him to sing three songs at a concert in Anuradhapura area saying ‘Malli’ for you to sing on stage is a better option than playing drums.Milinda recalls it was the very first time he had sung into a microphone That occasion Milinda still reminisces paying immense tribute to Roshan.
The experience gained had prompted Milinda to apply to the inaugural Derana Dream Star season 1 .After a gruelling journey Milinda was adjudged as the runner up second to Udesh Indula in year 2008. Via his triumph some Had come to know the name of Milinda Sandaruwan.After which had sung in the ‘Horizon’ band after which had joined the ‘Feedback’ music band having known Chamal and Shalika well where Milinda had worked together happily also Milinda was known to music lovers while at Feedback more than for his triumph at Dream Star contest. Later Milinda had joined Athula Adhikari’s band having participated in indoor events like weddings and concerts before the band was abandoned.Milinda has had a made an album’ Nil Nethu’. under the ‘Ransalu’ label with sixteen songs but not had drawn much viewer attention though included songs like ‘nil nethu’, ‘piyaman kala’ etc,.Milinda always endeavours to make melodies, music arrangements with a variance to capture the courtesy of viewers compounding western and eastern both comparable to those melodies in India.
How Milinda met his wife Zeenath Bongso a reputed English news anchor at the SLRC daughter of elite television presenter Faisal Bongso a household name for decades also sister of younger brother Javed Bongso who has followed footsteps of father and sister.Faizal Bongso had followed Derana Dream Star season one in year 2008 had been a fan of Milinda had bought two tickets to witness the final of the dazzling contest when his colleague could not make it.Faizal had asked Zeenath to join him which she had reluctantly agreed. Milinda after he was crowned the runner up had been in a bit of disgusted mood when Faizal had gone to congratulate him had told my daughter Zeenath too had come had introduced to Milinda who recollects had shaken hands in a peculiar which both evoke well. Faizal had as a fan of Milinda’s songs had told we live in Nawala please do drop in when time permits. It had been a sheer coincidence when Milinda was driving through Nawala for a recording the ‘clutch’ of his car had crashed down coincidentally right in front of Bongso’s dwelling., though not intentionally as it was revealed when Milinda called Faizal. Milinda had sought Faizal’s assistance to get in touch with a mechanic , then had gone for the recording in Faizal’s vehicle. Once again on a subsequent date Milinda’s car had broken down again close to Zeenath’s dwelling had believed cannot be a coincidence but Milinda had confirmed it was again true.This is the manner how Milinda’s love affair had begun though Zeenath did not wish to have a relationship as her intention was to complete her studies particularly as she her mother was not among the living.When the car broken down for the second time Zeenath had questioned father Faizal isn’t there any other place his car to break down.When Milinda asked for Zeenath’s contact number she had said she is not using a mobile ‘use Dada’s mobile’, but Faizal in a little while asked Baba give me your mobile.
Milinda has had a terrific interest to get friendly with Zeenath.When it was proposed she had kept silent for some time. Later she had told Dad, who had given taught to it had telephoned Milinda at 2 am one day had asked whether it is serious as she was brought up by him after mother’s demise, if it is serious he consents if Zeenath is willing. That is how the relationship had commenced after two weeks.
On the day when Faizal Bongso completed twenty five years in news reading at the Sri Lankan Rupavahini Corporation when Zeenath was just seventeen years old following father’s footsteps congratulated him in an unique event when she read news alongside father. This well be a unique occurrence in the annals of history in the entire globe .As the technology was not at high ebb then Zeenath had confessed that she did not preserve the event then.It should be added that younger brother Javed Bongso too had been a sports reporter at the SLRC. this event Faizal had commented that though he is a Muslim he was not concerned about religions, casts etc even Zeenath had studied in a Buddhist school Musaeus College having secured a distinction in Buddhism .In this backdrop giving the consent to Milinda who is a Buddhist was not an issue
Zeenath and Milinda are blessed with son and a daughter while the tenure at Kurunegala living his Milinda’s dwelling built by his father ,Zeenath had worked in Kurunegala Royal International school as a lecturer in ‘Public speaking’.
Milinda had sung many songs but lately since year 2019 he had sung many songs which had become popular hits .Some of them are ‘Sada Wasanawan’,’Adara Ninethu’, ‘Hamata Wada’, ‘ Ashirwadaya’, ‘Mal Paren’, “Saththai Raththaranai’,’ ‘Oba Aye Enawanam’, ‘Sudu’, ‘Mage Pana’, ‘ Labannata Wasanawak’,’Sihinayaki’,etc etc, ‘The most popular perhaps is “Nopathuwa Mohothaka”.Most of his songs are in music videos but Milinda is of the view for a song to be a hit a well made audio is sufficient.
Milinda is fulltime into music making melodies for other artistes.Is busy with invitations to sing in both indoor and outdoor conserts. Many do not know Milinda is the younger brother of famous vocalist and schoolteacher presently at Anula Vidyalaya Nugegoda -Mangala Dilruckshi.All followers of music would no doubt wish Milinda a resounding success in his future endeavours.
