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MiltonMallawarachchi
click on the name to go to tharumal yaya Milton's Page
The year was 1969. He was a smart young manof 25, fond of music. It was the heyday of lyricist KarunaratneAbeysekera. Musician Mohamed Sally was equally well known. Theyoung man sang a song written by 'Karu', as he was fondly known,set to the music of maestro Sally. The words began thus: 'Oruwakapavena re gana andure'. The songwas an instant hit. Singer Milton Mallawarachchi was born.
For the past three decades his wasa household name. 54 years was not an age for him to say goodbye.But he did last Tuesday leaving behind a voice which fans willcontinue to hear. Hundreds of memorable songs sung in a style ofhis own.
'Poojithayo'directed by W. A. B. de Silva was released in 1971. With thefilm, Milton became a playback singer. He sang in over a hundredfilms partnering the popular songstress, Angeline Gunatilleka inmost of them.
At the 1984 Sarasaviya FilmFestival, he was adjudged the best playback singer for 'KendanYannam' which he sang in SenaSamarasinghe's 'Aethin Aethat'(Neela Wickremasinghe became the best female playback singer foranother song in the same film while Ajantha Ranasinghe was thebest lyric writer, also for a song he wrote for the same film).
For many years, Milton was the mostsought after vocalist at musical shows. At the Mahajana Sampathadraws when Ceylon Tobacco Company sponsored variety shows allover the country, Milton could not get off the stage singing oneor two numbers. It was always a non-stop 'Encore" from thethousands who gathered at these shows. And Milton always obliged.There was no TV then. Seeing a popular artiste live was what fanswaited for. And Milton was always among the top two or three.
Milton had a massive backing amongyoung men and women who loved his romantic numbers. They got himto sing them over and over again. That is why his early numbersare still so popular.
A great cricket fan, Milton wasoften seen at a Test match or a One Day International wheneverthere was a foreign tour.
Following the father's footsteps,Milton's son Ranil, the eldest of four children, has startedsinging. We wish he too will be a great success as his fatherwas.
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