When speaking of the golden era of Sri Lankan music, the name Milton Mallawarachchi resonates as the most soulful and beloved romantic vocalist of all time. For over nearly four decades, his mesmerising and comforting voice captured the hearts of youths and adults alike. Even decades after his passing, Milton's timeless melodies continue to soothe broken hearts and bring immense joy to music lovers across the nation.
Early Life and the Musical Blueprint
Milton Mallawarachchi was born on April 7, 1945, in the historic town of Kotte. From his childhood, he developed a deep passion and addiction to music. In the mid-1960s, he formally entered the musical arena as a vocalist and a member of a local beat group called "The Shakyans". Later, he also performed alongside another popular musical group named "La Ceylonians".
It was during his time singing with these bands that his destiny was completely rewritten by a chance encounter with a prominent industry insider.
The Historic Discovery and First Hits
While recording group songs, Milton's unique, deep vocal texture caught the attention of Mervyn Rodrigo, a highly respected and talented sound engineer who worked for the renowned 'Gothic' recording company. Recognizing Milton's immense potential, Rodrigo gave him a career-defining piece of advice: "Do not just sing in bands. You have an incredible solo voice. Come forward by yourself, and I will give you the breakthrough."
Mervyn Rodrigo, along with producer Patrick Perera, approached the legendary lyricist Karunaratne Abeysekera to write songs for this fresh talent. Abeysekera penned four beautiful tracks, which were masterfully composed by the veteran music director Mohammed Salley.
These four debut tracks made history upon their release on a 45 RPM vinyl disk under the 'Gowri' label:
Oruwaka Paawena
Ranwan Karal Minisa (Ganesh Dark Lashes)
Sansaara Chaaya
Awadhiwanna Awadhiwanna
The release was an instant commercial success, catapulting Milton Mallawarachchi from a band singer into a national musical sensation.
A Cinematic Legend and Prestigious Awards
Milton’s popularity extended far beyond the radio; he became the ultimate voice for silver-screen heroes in Sri Lankan cinema. As a legendary playback singer, he lent his golden voice to the background in over 150 Sinhalese films.
His exceptional contributions to cinema were officially recognised in 1984, when he won the prestigious Sarasaviya Award for Best Male Playback Singer for the iconic song "Kanda Gaawa" in the blockbuster film Kandulu Paani.
A Pioneer of Musical Milestones in Sri Lanka
Milton Mallawarachchi holds two legendary records that marked massive technological shifts in the Sri Lankan music industry:
The First Hindi Song in Sinhala Cinema: He became the first-ever Sri Lankan artist to sing a Hindi song adapted for a Sinhalese movie, showcased in the popular film Cyril Malli.
The First Cassette Tape in Sri Lanka: When the music industry transitioned into magnetic tapes, the very first commercial cassette produced in Sri Lanka was titled "Sanden Eha", featuring the solo songs of Milton Mallawarachchi. This earned him the historic title of the First Cassette Singer in the country.
Personal Life and Musical Legacy
On July 19, 1973, Milton married his beloved partner, Swarnamali Malini. The couple was blessed with four children. Keeping his legacy alive, his sons, Ranil Mallawarachchi and Tharaka Mallawarachchi, have stepped into the musical world, beautifully performing their father's timeless songs for modern audiences.
On March 10, 1998, the nation plunged into deep grief when Milton Mallawarachchi passed away at the age of 52. Though his live singing voice was silenced forever, the "Milton Alchemy" remains untouched. Through the radio waves, digital playlists, and the comforting corners of our minds, his voice will forever remain the greatest romance of Sri Lankan pop music.
kindly publish Sihinen Oba Mta song - sung by milton Mallawarachchi
ReplyDeletethanks nihal
Dear Nihal..your request has been done ..
DeleteSinhala Song Chords
Sihinen Oba Mata
http://www.chordssrilanka.com/2017/08/sihinen-oba-mata.html
Can you publish Ea nowe maa soya-chords
ReplyDeleteMilton mallawaarachchi.
Very old song...
Dear jontyperera - January 15, 2019 at 7:26 PM
ReplyDeleteYour request has been done
Ae Nowe Ma Soya
ඈ නොවේ මා සොයා
http://www.chordssrilanka.com/2019/01/ae-nowe-ma-soya.html
Thank for you...
ReplyDeleteDanuka Madushank
ReplyDeleteyou welcome