Victor Rathnayake’s second solo concert, “Sarasa” will take place on t February 2 at 6.30 pm at the Nelum Pokuna theatre.
Victor Rathnayake was born on February 18, 1942, in the town of Kandy, to Ratnayake Arachchilage Don James and Abeykoon Mayadunnelage Sumanawathi. He was the third in a family of ten children.Victor loved listening to Hindi and Tamil film songs, and was fascinated by the Dolki drummers and Japanese mandolin players who regularly performed at the weekly flea market in town on Sundays. His first mentor was D. A. D Dharmadasa, known for his singing and playing of the Indian harmonium.
An important landmark in his career was when he auditioned at the Kandy Lake Social Club Hall in front of legendary musicians such as R. A. Chandrasena, M. K. Roksami, A. J. Kareem and Wimal J. Ariyaratne. Following his application, Victor received a call to participate in the “Airship Music Competition” where he performed “Yannata Siduwei Maranaya Ada- Maruwa Hata Na Kisiwita Bada.”
In 1963, he joined the State Aesthetic School (Haywood- University of Visual and Performing Arts) for higher education.
His first recorded song “Devangana Paradana Komala Katha” aired on radio for the first time on July 6, 1963. Victor’s debut song for a Radio Vinyl record was “Hade Susumak Pathitha Weemen.”
He started his teaching career in 1966 at the Nawalapitiya Central College in Bandarawela.
His film song debut was “Sara Sonduru Mal Patali”, a duet performed with Nanda Malini from the film “Hanthane Kathawe”.
On July 20, 1973, he performed his “Sa” concert at the Lumbini theatre and it became the first musical solo concert to reach 1500 performances.
In 2010, he was offered a PhD from the University of Visual and Performance Art for his service to Sri Lankan music.
He also created original music for a handful of films belonging to different genres.
President’s Award - 1981
President’s Award for Best Background Score
Film - Siribo Ayya (1980)
Film Directed By - Professor Sunil Ariyarathne
President’s Award 1987
President’s Award for Best Background Score
Film - Athuru Mithuru (1987)
Film Directed By - Ariyarathna Withana
Sarasavi Award
Sarasavi Award for Best Background Singer
Film - Aadarawanthayo
Song - Aetha Himale Seethala Sewane
Film Directed By - Amaranath Jayathilake
Desha Nethru Sammanaya - 2009
Sumathi Award - 2012
The modernist movement founded by Victor during mid-60s attracted many veteran and amateur artists. He was also a pioneer in introducing Western musical instruments banned from SLBC during that time and shaped the way of Sinhala music.
He became the first musician to enlist a larger orchestra to record a song and also the first musician to record a song using a minimal orchestra.
LP discs play in two different formats according to rpm (rounds per minute) and Victor was the first to create a song using both formats, a technique known as “Chipmunks”.
Written by Prof. Sunil Ariyaratne, the song “Maliniye” was another experimental endeavor of Victor using the “sound on sound” technique to create a novel recording.
- CT
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