Nuwandhika Senarathne

Last updated
Nuwandhika Senarathne
නුවන්ධිකා සේනාරත්න
NuwandhikaSenarathne.png
Born
Nuwandhika Senarathne

(1993-06-23) 23 June 1993 (age 31)
Narammala, Sri Lanka
EducationMayurapada Central College
Alma mater University of the Visual and Performing Arts, University of Kelaniya
Occupations
  • Singer
  • musician
Years active2020–present
SpouseJayanga Kaushalya (m.2023)
Awards2nd in Derana Dream Star Season IX
Website nuwandhikasenarathne.com

Nuwandhika Senarathne (born 23 June 1993) is a Sri Lankan singer and television personality who is most known as a playback singer, as well as a performer of Soprano Opera and Ghazals. She rose to fame as the 1st runner-up of the reality TV show Derana Dream Star Season IX. [1]

Contents

Nuwandhika has been praised for her "amazing vocal abilities and charisma", [2] and hailed for her stellar vocal poise. [3] She earned her first award nomination for the Best Teledrama Singer - Female at the 2019-20 Raigam Tele'es Awards, for singing the theme song of Asanwara Wessak which aired on ITN.

Early life

Nuwandhika Senarathne was born on 23 June 1993 in Narammala, Sri Lanka.[ citation needed ] She is the only child of Sunil Senarathne and Kusum Herath. She grew up in Narammala, a small town near Kurunegala. She completed her primary education at Mayurapada Primary school, Narammala. Then she attended Mayurapada Central College to complete her secondary education. She completed her Visharad Diploma in 2011 before entering the university for higher education. [4]

She studied western music at the University of the Visual and Performing Arts and completed her university degree (Bachelor of Performing Arts Honours degree specialised in Western Music) in 2019 with a Second Class Upper division. She is an A-Grade singer at Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation. [5]

Nuwandhika is currently studying for Master of Philosophy (MPhil.) Degree in Music from the University of Kelaniya. [6]

Career

Nuwandhika started to learn music formally when she was ten years old. She entered into Saundarya Abhimani competition(division of GHAZAL) in 2019 and won the first place and received grand prize of a full sponsorship to represent her university in the South Asian Inter-university Music Festival in India. [5] In 2020, she competed in the TV reality show Derana Dream Star season IX and won the second place in the competition. [7] [8]

"Where voice is simply music"

— Nuwandhika Senarathne [5]

In October 2020, she voiced the theme song “Obata Lanvee” with Raween Kanishka for FM Derana “Apoorva” radio drama. [1] [9] She was pushed more into the public sphere after she sang the theme song Sihinayak Mewna in March, 2021, for the Iskole teledrama, which was broadcast on TV Derana. [1] Following this surge in fame, in August 2021, she voiced the theme song “Malen Upan Samanali” with Raween Kanishka for TV Derana, Deweni Inima tele drama, which has reached over 15 million views on YouTube as of April 2022. [6]

Nuwandhika initiated her film playback singing career in January 2021, when she voiced a duet with Supun Perera for the Sada Diya Salu movie directed by Channa Perera. [10] [11] In the same year, she sang the song Heeneka Paya for the film Kabaddi . [12]

In addition to being a singer, she has hosted a TV program in TV Derana. Nuwandhika has taken part in the popular chat TV shows Maathra in Swarnawahini, and Sihinayaki Re in Rupavahini, on several occasions. [5] Furthermore, she is a brand ambassador for SLTMobitel. [13] [14]

In December 2021, Nuwandhika toured Dubai with veteran musician Keerthi Pasqual for a musical evening at the Radisson Blu Deira Creek Hotel. Moreover, in May 2022, she toured Australia as a part of the Derana Stars Concert 2022 organised by TV Derana, featuring fellow contemporary singers Falan Andrea, Dulanga Sampath, Raween Kanishka, Ravi Royster, and veteran musicians Nadeeka Guruge and Keerthi Pasqual. [15] [16] Nuwandhika was set to tour Canada in June 2022 for the Dream Voices Canada Tour 2022 with fellow artists Falan Andrea and Suneera Sumanga; however, the tour got postponed owing to unavoidable circumstances, with the new dates yet to be announced. On March 22, 2024, the new dates for the postponed Dream Voices Canada Tour was announced, with Lavan Abhishek replacing Falan Andrea.

Personal life

Nuwandhika married software engineer Jayanga Kaushalya on 27 January 2023.

Tours

YearDateVenue
202117 DecemberRadisson Blu Deira Creek Hotel, Dubai
202220 MayBunjil Place Concert Hall, Melbourne
22 MayConcourse Concert Hall, Sydney
1 OctoberForrest Hill, Auckland
8 OctoberDubai, UAE
TBASurrey, British Columbia
TBAEdmonton, Alberta
TBAPauline-Boutal Hall, Winnipeg
TBAToronto, Ontario
TBAOttawa, Ontario

Milestones

Awards

YearNominee / workAwardResult
2021Mala Hiru Basa Yana - Asanwara Wessak - ITN Raigam Tele'es Best Teledrama Singer(Female) Nominated
2024Mala Hiru Basa Yana - Asanwara Wessak - ITN State Music Awards - Best Singer (Female) of the YearWon

Achievements

YearCompetitionVenuePosition
2019Saundarya Abhimani competition, division of GHAZAL [5] Sri Lanka1st
2011All Island CALYPSO competition1st
2020 Derana Dream Star 2nd
2012All Island GHAZAL competition2nd
2015University wide Western Singing competition [5] 3rd
201912th South Asian Inter-university Music Festival(SAUFEST) [5] IndiaRepresent

Playback singing

Film songs

YearFilmSongComposer(s)Writer(s)Co-singer(s)Ref
2023SinhabahuGangawe GeethayaSaman PanapitiyaSomarathne Dissanayake
2021 Kabaddi (2021 film) Heeneka PayaHashan ChandimaGihan Anushka IlangakoonAmal Perera [12]

Teledrama songs

YearTeledramaSongComposer(s)Writer(s)Co-singer(s)Ref
2023Raajini - TV Derana Man GawaluThilina TharakaAnoma WijayawardaneDinelka Muthuarachchi
Rosa - TV Derana Paya PayaNimesh KulasingheKusala VidanapathiranaHarsha Dhanosh
Muthu Muthu Naade
2022Shakthi - TV Derana Mama Mage NowenamThilina TharakaJanaka Siriwardhana Suneera Sumanga
Mathaka Siththam - Rupavahini [lower-alpha 1] [lower-alpha 2] Jeewithe Gatha Wela YaddiLahiru MadivilaAradhana Ekanayake
Atheethaye Pem KathawaChamara Fernando
Diurumak Dennam
Hithuwakkara - TV Derana Mathaka ImeChathuranga De SilvaYawwana Sameendra
2021Puduma HithuwakkarayaGihan Chamika
Naadi ITN JeewithayeDarshana Ruwan DissanayakePrasadini SenadheeraDarshana Ruwan Dissanayake
Deweni Inima - TV Derana Malen Upan SamanaliChathuranga De Silva, Nimesh KulasingheGihan ChamikaRaween Kanishka [6]
Iskole - TV Derana Sihinayak Mawna - Theme SongNimesh KulasingheShehan Galahitiyawa [1]
2020Asanwara Wessak - ITN Mala Hiru Basa Yana - Theme SongSamantha PereraDr.Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe [17]
2018Kiruli - Hiru TV Kiruli - Theme SongMilinda ThennakoonKasun Mahendra Heenatigala

Radio drama songs

YearRadio dramaSongComposer(s)Writer(s)Co-singer(s)Ref
2021Apoorwa - FM Derana Adareida MandaDuleeka KodagodaDilan GamageDuet With Falan Andrea [6]
2020Obata Lanvee - Theme songNimesh KulasingheSaman EdirimuneeDuet With Raween Kanishka [9] [1]
2016Anuththara - Hiru FM Sandata Duka HithilaThilina RuhunageRachitha WakistaDuet With Isuru Geekiyanage

Discography

[1]

YearTitleComposer(s)Writer(s)Co-singer(s)
2023Magey HussmaChathurangana De SilvaSampath FernandopulleHector Dias
Ninde Eda Pasu Wu NisaChandana DasanayakeThilakasena Basnayake
Nil Tharu Adana Dasa Rohana Weerasinghe Sunil GamageChandika Vitharena
2022Sande WadinnaNavarathna GamageJagath Rajesh
Puthuni MageAROH, Samantha GeekiyanageDr. Ruwani Nugara
Epa Numba Sanda WennaAruna GunawardanaDr. Rajika Karunadasa
Koi Tharam Sene UnathVisharada Samantha PereraHemamali Hapuarachchi
2021Datha Sudu MahathwaruniDharshana WickramathungaChandana Bandara Wanninayake
Sasara MagaBandara Eheliyagoda
Abhiman LiyaPeshala ManojChaturanga Rajapaksha
Kanda KetiyaWaruna GunathilakePanduka Mahamithawa
Siduhath Oba YannaAruna GunawardanaMahee Kolitha Ferdinando
Geeyak GayannaUpali MendisAnura Magalage Keerthi Pasqual
Ridunu MalakLahiru De CostaKumuduni WickramathanthriGayashan Weerawansha
Kahamal IththakMassane Vijitha Thero
SansariniWaruna GunathilakeTharindu WeerasingheMiyuru Somarathna
Sathimath DaruwoSachee MadurangaIndra Ariyarathne
Mal TattooRoshani Gunawardana
2020Rosa HeenaSachee Maduranga
Bindee WisirunuDarshana WickramatungaLakmali Karunanayake
WasanthayeLishan BandaraHansi SandamaliDesika Kamalanjana
Ma Rahasin [lower-alpha 3] Nimesh KulasingheShehan Galahitiyawa
2019Mathake NubageAmusync EntertainmentReru
2016Rathriya Awadi WeeSam WimaladharmaChaminda Krishantha
Ape Atheethaya H. M. Jayawardena Manjula Senanayaka

Notes

  1. Mathaka Siththam is the Sri Lankan dubbed version of the South Korean drama Saimdang
  2. Nuwandhika provided backing vocals for the song Mathaka Nomiyewi
  3. Ma Rahasin was produced under a special offer made while she was contesting in the Top 5 round of Derana Dream Star Season IX

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TV Derana</span> Sri Lankan television network

TV Derana is a Sri Lankan private entertainment terrestrial television channel broadcasting in Sri Lanka. Launched on 11 October 2005, it is one of the most popular television networks in the country. Its main transmission tower is on the Kikilimana mountain, and coverage is extended nationwide via eight transmission towers.

Upeksha Swarnamali, popularly known as "Paba", is an actress in Sri Lankan cinema and television and a former member of the Sri Lanka Parliament. She gained popularity for her role on the television series "Paba" broadcast on Independent Television Network.

Pasquel Wasam Ananda Keerthirathna, popularly known as Keerthi Pasquel, is a Sri Lankan pop musician and composer. He has been performing for more than three decades and has won a number of awards. Keerthi is a judge on the reality show Derana Dream Star and sets the record as the only judge in Sri Lanka to sit for 10 consecutive seasons in a reality show beginning from 2008 until today. He has been active in music education and in social welfare. He is affectionately known as the "balladeer of Sinhala music".

Roshan Ranawana is a Sri Lankan film actor and a model. Ranawana was awarded the most popular actors award at the Derana film awards in 2013.

Shihan Mihiranga Bennet, is a Sri Lankan musician, composer and songwriter. Considered one of the best products of reality shows, Mihiranga often known as the "Dream Boy" of the youth in Sri Lanka. He became the youth sensation in 2000s after Namal Udugama in 1990s.

Hemal Sachindra Ranasinghe as Sinhala: හේමාල් සචින්ද්‍ර රණසිංහ) is an actor in Sri Lankan cinema and television. He earned the critics' award for 'Best Actor' and 'Most Popular Actor' at the Derana Film Awards in both 2016 and 2018 becoming one of Sri Lanka's most popular actors of modern cinema. Ranasinghe started his career as a model, appearing in several advertising commercials. He made his cinema debut in 2012 appearing in Super Six. In 2016 he won Most Popular Actor, and Best Promising Actor at the Hiru Golden Film Award.

<i>Ho Gaana Pokuna</i> 2015 Sri Lankan film

Ho Gana Pokuna (The Singing Pond) (Sinhala: හෝ ගානා පොකුණ) is a 2015 Sri Lankan children's musical drama film written and directed by Indika Ferdinando. It depicts a teacher in a remote village, Uma (Anasuya Subasinghe), teaching her students to focus on something they have never seen before.

Deweni Inima is a 2017 Sinhalese Sri Lankan television prime-time soap opera which premiered on 6 February 2017 on TV Derana. The series is directed by Saranga Mendis, produced by Chamika Mendis and written by Saman Edirimunee. It airs every weekday from 8:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The first season was aired from 6 February 2017 to 6 October 2023. The second season premiered on 9 October 2023.

Ada Derana Sri Lankan of the Year is an annual award presented to Sri Lankans who have raised Sri Lanka's profile in the international arena through their careers and lifted the name Sri Lanka globally. The awards are presented by the Sri Lankan television channel, TV Derana. The awards were established in 2016 and are presented in a number of categories including arts, sports and civil servants.

Derana Film Awards is an award bestowed to distinguished individuals involved with the Sri Lanka's silver screen, each year by the TV Derana, Sri Lanka in recognition of the contributions made by them to the Sri Lankan cinema industry and cinema achievements. The Derana Film Awards ceremony is one of the most popular cinema award events in Sri Lanka. The awards were first introduced in 2012 with Unilever Sri Lanka has been the main sponsors of this Film festival.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raigam Tele'es</span> Award

Raigam Tele'es is an award bestowed to distinguished individuals involved with the Sri Lanka's television screen, each year by the Kingdom of Raigam, Sri Lanka in recognition of the various contributions made by them to the Sri Lankan teledrama industry, television programs and media sector in the preceding year. The Raigam Tele'es is one of the most popular television program events in Sri Lanka. The awards were first introduced in 2005 and continuously undertaken with one interruption in 2021.

Silmesthri Giriraj Kaushalya, popularly known as Giriraj Kaushalya, is a Sri Lankan actor in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television. Highly versatile actor from drama to comedy, Kaushalya also has worked as an assistant director, producer, script writer and a filmmaker.

Semini Dinusha Palihawadana née Iddamalgoda [Sinhala]), popularly as Semini Iddamalgoda, is an actress in Sri Lankan cinema, theater and television. Performing in both dramas to comedies, she is best known for the role Roshini in television sitcom Yes Boss, role Kumari in the film Sinhawa Atharin and as Suddi in film 28.

Wakunugoda Gayathri Irosha Dias [Sinhala]), popularly as Gayathri Dias, is an actress in Sri Lankan cinema and television. Apart from acting, she is also a beauty queen, a presenter, a beautician and a entrepreneur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Surfing in Sri Lanka</span>

Surfing in Sri Lanka is one of the popular sports in Sri Lanka among foreign tourists despite not being popular among the Sri Lankan locals. Surfing in Sri Lanka dates back to early 1960s. The country has many beaches for surfing, especially in the southern and eastern regions. Places such as Arugam Bay, Hikkaduwa, Weligama, Mirissa and Unawatuna are popular surf spots in Sri Lanka and among tourists. The Tourism in Sri Lanka is also very closely related to the sport of surfing and the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau considers the sport of surfing as one of the measures of attracting tourists.

Mapa Mudiyanselage Suraj Laksiri [Sinhala]), popularly as Suraj Mapa, is an actor in Sri Lankan cinema and television as well as a Teledrama Producer, model, dancer, and a choreographer. Mapa is best known for the roles in many television serials such as Olu, Pooja, and Haara Kotiya. Apart from acting, he owns partnership in the brand named Elsa Clothing.

Hewakalu Ambalage Sachini Nipunsala, popularly as Sachini Nipunsala, is a Sri Lankan television presenter and dancer. Started as a child artist, Nipunsala became a popular television presenter in Sri Lanka by hosting the reality show Derana Little Star and musical chat program Champions Stars.

Wijesinghe Pathirage Harindra Madhava Wijesinghe [Sinhala]), popularly as Madhava Wijesinghe, is an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, theater and television as well as a television presenter. Started as a child artist, Wijesinghe became one of the popular television presenters in Sri Lanka by hosting the reality show Derana Little Star and musical chat program Champions Stars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Umaria Sinhawansa</span> Sri Lankan singer

Umaria Binthy Ayesha Sinhawansa, popularly referred to by the mononym Umaria, is a Sri Lankan pop, R&B and jazz singer. She is the youngest musician to be ever awarded A-Grade by Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation. She has won the 'Kala Keerthi Abhimani' award for her contribution to Sri Lanka's music industry. Umaria began her music career at age 11 in the 2005, performing with her sister at various stages. She made her debut as a playback singer in the film Asai Man Piyabanna. And also she has won silver awards at Pan Asia Music International Music Competition and the Crimea Music Fest international competition.

<i>Derana Dream Star</i> Sri Lankan reality show

Derana Dream Star is a Sri Lankan reality television series by television channel TV Derana. Dream Star first season was started in 2008 as the first season of Derana Dream Star. By 2023 TV Derana has presented over 11 seasons of Dream Star since the beginning of 2008. The program name means "Way to be a star". Program is presenting in TV Derana Dream Star studio in Colombo, Sri Lanka. From season one to nine, the winner was elected by the SMS votes cast by the people and the program wasn't live, since season ten, the program has been turned into a live reality program, the winner is elected by the majority of people votes cast through the online.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "රිද්මය". e-Tunes. Retrieved 2021-01-07.
  2. "SLT-MOBITEL appoints popular reality stars Falan Andrea and Nuwandika Senarathna as Brand Ambassadors". February 2021.
  3. "Rupane Episode 308". 13 August 2022.
  4. "වෙල් එළියේ මඳ නලට මුමුණපු අහිංසකාවිය – නුවන්දිකා සේනාරත්න". Aruna Official Website. Retrieved 2021-01-07.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "A journey beyond 'reality'". Sunday Observer Official Website. Retrieved 2021-09-30.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "sadalla". sunday lankadeepa. Retrieved 2021-09-30.
  7. "Derana Dream Star Season IX". TV_Derana Official Website. Retrieved 2021-09-01.
  8. "What Mr. Keerthi Pasqual say about Nuwandhika?". PC World. Retrieved 2021-09-05.
  9. 1 2 "Obata Lanvee - Apoorwa radio drama Theme Song". FM_Derana Official Website. Archived from the original on 2022-01-04. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
  10. "Channa's 'Sanda Diya Salu', a Sri Lanka -India joint venture". www.sundaytimes.lk. Retrieved 2021-01-07.
  11. "CHANNA STARTS 'SANDA DIYA SALU'". daily-mirror-sri-lanka. Retrieved 2021-01-07.
  12. 1 2 "ක්‍රීඩාව ඉක්මවා ගිය ආදරයක්". සරසවිය-ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ ජාතික කලා පුවත් පත. Retrieved 2021-10-08.
  13. "SLT-MOBITEL Appoints Popular Reality Star Nuwandhika Senarathna as Brand an Ambassador". Sunday Observer Official Website. Retrieved 2021-09-30.
  14. "SLT-MOBITEL Appoints Popular Reality Star Nuwandhika Senarathna as Brand an Ambassador". Ada derana biz. Retrieved 2021-09-30.[ permanent dead link ]
  15. "Derana Stars in Concert 2022 | Bunjil Place".
  16. "Derana Stars Concert 2022". Archived from the original on 2022-07-03. Retrieved 2022-05-20.
  17. "Asanwara Wessak (අසංවර වැස්සක්) - Theme Song". ITN official website. Archived from the original on 2021-12-15. Retrieved 2021-08-31.