Dharmadasa Walpola

Dharmadasa Walpola (Sinhala: ධර්මදාස වල්පොල) (1927–1983) was the most prominent Sri Lankan male playback singer of the 1950s and 1960s.

Walpola was an accomplished musician adapt at playing the flute, harmonium, violin and tabla.

Walpola's father Palis Ayya worked with costumes for the Tower Hall theater.

Walpola had to forgo his education at a young age to support his family and for a time built masks for the Sri Lankan army.

At that time he won a role in Sirisena Wimalaweera's play Amma singing a virindu.

He subsequently acted and sang in the play Wessanthara as well.

To master the flute, Walpola began taking lessons from Eddie Master and then attended R. A. Chandrasena's Academy.

Chandrasena was impressed by Walpola's ability to sing and after auditioning several songs with harmonium accompaniment, sent a good word to the Radio Ceylon broadcaster Thevis Guruge.

Guruge gave Walpola a sarala gee programme with a duet partner G. S. B. Rani Perera.

Born on 27 November 1927 in Deiyannewela, Kandy, this future play-back singer displayed his innate talents of musical virtuosity since his boyhood.

His mother was Mrs Karunawathie and father Mr Charles Appuhamy, a dressmaker by profession, tailored costumes to the Tower Hall artists.

His father’s close association with them paved way for him to know the leading artists on the stage.

By 7 years of age he started singing Nadagam songs and his father took him for support work behind the stage.

Acquaintance with Tower Hall staff opened the rare opportunity of playing a character on the stage.

Later he played the main role of Prince Dhanapala in Samudra Devi.

He displayed his skills in "Amma", the stage-play produced by Veteran Producer/Director Sirisena Wimalaweera, reciting Virudu gayana.

In "Wessanthara" he availed of the opportunity to show his colors on the stage.

Influenced by Mr. Jamis Perera from Kandy, Dharmadasa turned to music furthering his talents under Musicians Lionel Perera, Eddie Master and R.A.Chandrasena.

He mastered the flute as his favorite instrument.

Dharmadasa Walpola incontrovertibly dominated the Sinhala Cinema in 1950s & 60s as the best play-back singer.

The melodious and romantic voice of Dharmadasa Walpola, a household name, resonates even today in the hearts of music fans over the island.

In early 1950s he joined Radio Ceylon orchestra.

He was a superb player of harmonium, violin, tabla and flute.

It lends high degree of credence to M. Ariyadasa, tablist who encouraged Dharmadasa with fullest support to succeed in his musical career.

Mr.Thevis Guruge, the then Director of Radio Ceylon, opened the opportunity for him to display his inborn talents of singing in Sarala Gee Program broadcast by Radio Ceylon.

Dharmadasa joined popular Radio Artist G. S. B. Rani Perera in her Sarala Gee Program to sing his first duet, the favorite song "Thotiyo thotiyo" in 1951.

Walpola debuted as a playback singer in the 1953 film Prema Tharangaya alongside his future wife Rita Jenevi Fernando.

His best known work from this period include "Seeya Manamalaya" from Asoka (1955), "Amu Pitisareyeki" from Seda Sulang (1955), "Upatha Labaa" and "Suba Aasiri (Hanika Yamang)" from Mathalang (1955), "Surathalee" from Surathalee (1956), "Katey Kiri Suwanda" from Sandesaya (1960), "Oya Belma" and "Waththe Wetunu Pol Athu" from Kurulu Bedda (1961) and "Man Mula Wela" from Deepashika (1963).

Walpola's dueting partners included Vivienne de Silva Boralessa, Chitra Somapala ("Pem Suwandai") and Rukmani Devi in addition to Latha.

Walpola successfully returned to Radio Ceylon with "Uthama Muni Dalada" (lyrics by Ajantha Ranasinghe and music by Sanath Nandasiri.)

Walpola served as a music teacher later on in his life.

Around 1956, Walpola married Fernando who subsequently adapted the name Latha Walpola.

From his debut to the early 1960s, Walpola dominated male playback singing in Sri Lankan cinema providing a counterpoint to the harsh Carnatic style of Mohideen Baig with his softer more melodic voice which lend itself to love songs.

He died on December 25, 1983.

Dharmadasa Walpola was married to Latha Walpola and had five children; Amith Walpola, Dhammika Walpola, Chaminda Lolitha Walpola, Suneth Walpola and Sumith Walpola, who have already entered the music industry

Children

Geethan Bandara, Thisara Bandara, Mayura Bandara, have already entered the music industry

By T. K. Premadasa

(The writer is the retired former Head of Corporate Affairs and Communications - Sri Lanka Export Development Board.'' )'

This is a commemorative appreciation of the 30th Death Anniversary of this versatile musician on December 25, 2013.