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Dr.

Nanda Malini
නන්දා මාලනී
Nanda Malini.jpg
Born
Mirihana Arachchige Nanda Malini Perera

(1943-08-23) 23 August 1943 (age 81)
Kotahena, Sri Lanka
Nationality Sri Lankan
Education Sri Gunananda Vidyalaya
Alma mater Heywood Institute of Art
Bhatkhande Music Institute (1963)
Occupation Singer, Music Director
Spouse(s) Suneth Gokula
Children 2
Parents
  • Vincent Perera (father)
  • Liyanage Emily Perera (mother)
Awards Doctor of Philosophy (Fine Arts) Honoris Causa (University of the Visual & Performing Art-2017)
Musical career
Genres
Instruments Vocals
Years active 1956–present
Labels
  • Singlanka/Tharanga/Nilwala
  • MEntertainment
  • Ransilu

Nanda Malini (full name: Mirihana Arachchige Nanda Malini Perera) is a very well-known singer from Sri Lanka. She was born on August 23, 1943. Many people consider her one of the best and most honored singers in her country.

Nanda Malini's songs often talk about real life and social situations. Her music explores ideas about relationships, different life challenges, and the feelings people experience every day.

Early Life and Family

Nanda Malini was born on August 23, 1943, in a village called Lewwanduwa in Aluthgama, Sri Lanka. She was the fourth child in a family of nine children. Her father, Vincent Perera, was a skilled tailor. Her mother, Liyanage Emily Perera, was a homemaker. She has four sisters and four brothers.

When she was a teenager, her family moved to Kotahena in Colombo. She went to Sri Gunananda Vidyalaya, where she was taught by T. N. Margaret Perera.

Nanda Malini is married to Suneth Gokula. They have two daughters, Varuni Saroja and Ama Sarada.

Music Career

Nanda Malini started her music journey in 1956. She won a gold medal in a poetry singing contest. After this win, a famous musician named W. D. Amaradeva invited her to sing on a popular radio show called Lama Mandapaya on Radio Ceylon. She sang a song called Budu Sadu.

In 1963, Amaradeva chose Nanda Malini to sing in the film Ranmuthu Duwa. This was the first color film made in Sinhala. She sang the song Galana Gagaki Jeewithe with Narada Disasekara. This song was very important because it was the first film song written by Chandraratne Manawasinghe. The film won many awards for its music that year, and Nanda Malini won her first major award for Best Female Singer. Since then, she has sung in many films and won many more awards.

Even after becoming famous, Nanda Malini continued to study music. She learned from B. Victor Perera. She also studied at the Heywood Institute of Art for a year. In 1963, she went to Bhatkhande Music Institute in Lucknow, India, to further her studies. She later returned to the University in Sri Lanka and earned a special degree in music in 1984.

When she came back to Sri Lanka, Nanda Malini appeared on W.D. Amaradeva's TV show. Her songs often tell stories about real-life situations, love, and feelings. Songs like Pipunu Male Ruwa and Sudu Hamine show the feelings of women. Some of her songs, like Manda Nawa Karanawa, are funny and sensitive, describing a young woman's loneliness.

In 1971, Nanda Malini performed with Amaradewa in a concert. In 1973, she started her own solo concert series. She performed 530 shows before ending the series in 1979. She started another concert series in 1981 and performed 500 shows. Her next concert series, "Pavana," started in 1987. Some of her songs from "Pavana" were even banned at the time. After many years, she held a new solo concert in 2010 called "Shwetha Rathriya."

In 1984, Nanda Malini opened her own music school called Nanda Malini Ashram. She has released many music albums and CDs. In 2007, she launched her CD Etha Kandu Yaye, which included 16 award-winning songs. She also released a CD called "Kunkuma Pottu" in 1993, which had songs sung in Tamil.

In 2017, the University of Visual and Performing Arts gave her an honorary degree. This was a special award for her amazing work in fine arts. She was the first female artist in Sri Lanka to receive such an honor from a university.

Legacy

Nanda Malini's impact on music is so significant that in 2004, a special type of orchid was named after her. It was called "Nanda Malini Ascosanda" to honor her contributions.

Albums

Saadu Naada (සාදු නාද)

Saadu Naada
Soundtrack album by
Nanda Malini
Released 2017
Genre Classical, Blues, Folk
Length 0:36:10

Sari Podiththak (සාරි පොඩිත්තක්)

Sari Podiththak
Soundtrack album by
Nanda Malini
Released 2017
Genre Classical, Blues, Folk
Length 0:49:31

Sansara Sagare

Sansara Sagare
Soundtrack album by
Nanda Malini
Released 1985
Genre Classical, Folk
Label Tharanga
  • Peedena Goyame
  • Sanda Mala
  • Sansara Sagare
  • Ma Pidu
  • Kothanada Oba
  • Wata Kotu
  • Nil Latha Pura
  • Punchi Punchi
  • Lowe Sonduru
  • Wasanawan
  • Dura Atha
  • Yowun Wasanthe

Discography

Nanda Malini has released many albums throughout her career. Here is a list of some of them:

  • Perada Maha Ra
  • Pahan Kanda
  • Sathyaye Geethaya
  • Hemanthayedi
  • Tharuka Es, Pavana
  • Sindu Hodiya
  • Kinduriyakage Vilapaya
  • Madhu Bandun
  • Tharu
  • Malmada Bisau
  • Cinema Geethavalokana
  • Kirimadu Vel
  • Londonyedi Geyu Gee
  • Yathra, Handahami
  • Sanka Padma
  • Pembara Lanka
  • Kunkuma Pottu
  • Gramaphone Gee
  • Araliya Landata
  • Malata Renu
  • Nilambare
  • Sari Podittak
  • Pirith Pen
  • Katu Gana Kolaya Meda (Yukthiye Ayukthiya

Awards and Recognition

Nanda Malini has won many awards in Sri Lanka for her singing. These include national awards, popular awards, and awards for her songs in films and television.

Sarasaviya Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1964 Ranmuthu Duwa Best Female Vocalist Won
1966 Saaravita Best Female Vocalist Won
1969 Aadayawanthayo Best Female Vocalist Won
1968 Sandol Kandulu Best Female Vocalist Won
1980 Monarathenna Best Female Vocalist Won
1981 Siriboo Aiya Best Female Vocalist Won
1982 vajira Best Female Vocalist Won
1983 Yasa Isuru Best Female Vocalist Won
1988 Saharawe Sihinaya Best Female Vocalist Won
1994 Ambu Semiyo Best Female Vocalist Won
2002 Sudu Sevanali Best Female Vocalist Won
2020 The Newspaper Best Female Vocalist Won

Presidential Film Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1980 Hada Haawan Hade Best Female Vocalist Won
1981 Siribo Aiya Best Female Vocalist Won
1982 Sahara Peranimithi Best Female Vocalist Won
1983 Yasa Isuru Best Female Vocalist Won
1984 Siwraga Sena Best Female Vocalist Won
2020 The Newspaper Best Female Vocalist Won

Nelson Most Popular Award

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1994 ‘’Popular Most Popular Female Vocalist Won

Other Awards

  • Dhashan Soori - University of Visual Arts of Sri Lanka
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