[[St Peter's College,Colombo|St. Peter's College]]"},"spouse":{"wt":"{{marriage|Geetha Perera (née Kulatunga)|1981}}"},"children":{"wt":"4"},"awards":{"wt":""},"signature":{"wt":""},"website":{"wt":""},"occupation":{"wt":"Musician"},"module":{"wt":"{{Infobox musical artist\n| embed = yes\n| instrument = Vocals,Bass guitar\n| genre = {{hlist|[[Pop music|Pop]]|[[Soul music|soul]]|{{nowrap|[[rhythm and blues]]}}|[[Baila (genre)|Baila]]|[[Cha-cha-cha (music)|Western Cha-Cha]]|[[Rock music|rock]]|[[hip hop]]|[[reggae]]}}\n| years_active = 1969–2021\n| label = Gypsy Enterprises,Torana\n| associated_acts = [[The Gypsies (Sri Lankan band)|The Gypsies]]\n}}"}},"i":0}}]}" id="mwBw">.mw-parser-output .infobox-subbox{padding:0;border:none;margin:-3px;width:auto;min-width:100%;font-size:100%;clear:none;float:none;background-color:transparent}.mw-parser-output .infobox-3cols-child{margin:auto}.mw-parser-output .infobox .navbar{font-size:100%}body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .infobox-header,body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .infobox-subheader,body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .infobox-above,body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .infobox-title,body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .infobox-image,body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data,body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .infobox-below{text-align:center}
Sunil Perera | |
---|---|
සුනිල් පෙරේරා | |
Born | Uswatta Liyanage Ivor Sylvester Sunil Perera 14 September 1952 |
Died | 6 September 2021 68) [1] Colombo, Sri Lanka | (aged
Education | St. Sebastian's College St. Peter's College |
Occupation | Musician |
Spouse | Geetha Perera (née Kulatunga) (m. 1981) |
Children | 4 |
Musical career | |
Genres | |
Instrument(s) | Vocals, Bass guitar |
Years active | 1969–2021 |
Labels | Gypsy Enterprises, Torana |
Uswatta Liyanage Ivor Sylvester Sunil Perera (Sinhala: සුනිල් පෙරේරා; 14 September 1952 – 6 September 2021) was a Sri Lankan vocalist, guitarist, songwriter and composer. [2] Described as one of the most influential musicians in Sri Lankan music history, [3] Perera was the leader and the lead vocalist of The Gypsies. [4] [5] [6] He was associated with Sri Lanka's baila genre, and gained the nickname "Baila Chakravarthy". [7] [8] [9]
Perera was born on 14 September 1952, in a family with ten siblings. His father, Anton Perera, was in the military before becoming a musician and forming the original Gypsies band. Anton was a clerk at the government Postal Department and also run a sweet production company called "Glucorasa". [2] [10] His mother was Dorine Perera. He started his education at St. Sebastian's College, Moratuwa until grade four and then until finishing school in the St Peter's College, Colombo. [11] During his school days he was also a member of the college band. When he was 11 years old, he became a guitarist. [12]
Perera was married to Geetha Perera (née Kulatunga) who was born on 18 March 1967, [8] whom he met while she was studying for her O/L classes. [8] She also meets Sunil while he is attending a concert. [2] Kulatunga's father, Mahinda, is a sub-inspector with the Sri Lanka Police. On 25 October 1981, Perera was arrested by police in Homagama following reports from Kulatunga's parents that he had abducted her; the case was later dropped. When Kulatunga was aged 16, she and Perera got engaged. [8] [13]
He had two sons: Sajith and Gayan, and two daughters: Rehana and Maneesha. [12] Eldest son Sajitha is married to the daughter of famous singer Dalreen Suby. [2] [14] His younger son, Gayan is a musician who formed the band "Daddy". [15] His nephew, Lanthra Perera is also a musician and the founder-member of the band "Doctor". [16] [17]
In August 2021, Perera tested positive for COVID-19 and rumors of his death started circulating on social media. [18] In spite of treatment, on 5 September, he was re-admitted to hospital due to pneumonia and died in the early hours of 6 September 2021, at age 68. [19] [20] [21]
At the age of 11, he started to play guitar. [10] His father initially expected him to pursue his higher studies and then to make him a professional doctor. However, he was not able to pursue his higher education due to inadequate results in GCE O/L examinations. His father made arrangements for Sunil to do GCE O/L examination privately, but Sunil again could not produce expected results in order to further continue his studies. [22] Sunil later conveyed his interest in music to his father. In 1969, at the age of 15 when he left school, Sunil joined the band The Gypsies created by his father, Anton Perera, along with his brothers – Nihal, Lal, Nimal, Piyal and uncle's son Neville; there were seven of the crew in all. [23] He learned guitar under Vincent Jayawardane and George Ferdinando and had voice training under Loren Abeysekara, Lily Godridge and Maryanne David. [24]
Later, The Gypsies group consisted of his own brothers and cousins. Accordingly, Nihal, Lal, Nimal and Piyal formed a group of seven including two cousins. Sunil was the main vocalist of the band, along with his brother Piyal Perera. [25] His father also built a studio for the band next to the house on Galle Road in Ratmalana where they were staying at the time. In the '70s, they released nearly 5 albums titled 'Dance with Gypsies'. [2] Their first hit "Linda Langa Sangamaya" was released in 1972/1973 along with "Amma Amma Me Mata". [26] In the mid-1970s, his other brothers left the band and got involved in business activities. [23] In 1980, the Gypsies released the first cassette with the song "Kurumitto". [27] [28] Other tracks sung by Gypsies include, "Kadapathakin", "None Mage Sudu None" (1977), "Lunu Dehi" (1987), "Uncle Johnson" (1987), "Oye Ojaye" (1989), [5] "Piti Kotapan None" and "Signore" (1997). [10] [29] Their song 'Lunu Dehi' released in 1987 was a song that made an amazing difference on the concert stage in the country. In the year 1997, they changed the course of the music field with the song "Piti Kotapan None". [2]
Sunil's recent works, such as "I Don't Know Why" address sociopolitical issues through humor. However, several of his songs have been banned by the state media due to their criticisms of the government. [5] In 2017, he released the song "Koththamalli". He also sang and released "Buongiorno" in 2018, which was the first hit song to be released under the Gypsies label after a gap of four years. [30] In 2019, he sang the song "Diyawannawe Inna" for the film Jaya Sri Amathithuma . [31]
The band The Gypsies celebrated their Golden Jubilee in 2021 by arranging a concert via virtual platforms. [32] [33]
Sunil Perera recently came up with his own ideology about the sociopolitical situation in the country. [34] He was highly critical of Sri Lankan society and politics. [5] He openly talked about sensitive topics, such as sex, which are often deemed as taboo subjects in conservative Sri Lanka. [35] He was also a vocal critic of the administration of Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Mahinda Rajapaksa over the years. In 2015, he revealed that he was afraid of being a target of the Rajapaksa family when Mahinda Rajapakse lost the 2015 Sri Lankan presidential election. [34]
In January 2017, Sunil went to the Department of Inland Revenue and insisted that he should pay income tax. Earlier, he had been paying tax for his income as a member of the music group only. [36]
Year | Film | Roles | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
1989 | Shakthiya Obai Amme | Playback Singer | |
1995 | Chitti | Playback Singer | |
2001 | Mahadena Muththai Golayo Roththai | Playback Singer | |
2001 | Hai Hui Babi Achchi | Playback Singer; Bele Kade Saima 'Kapirimudukuwe Gotaimbre' | |
2002 | Bahubuthayo | Playback Singer | |
2005 | One Shot | Playback Singer; Minister Pushpakumara | |
2007 | Sikuru Hathe | Playback Singer | |
2008 | Wada Bari Tarzan Mathisabayata | Playback Singer | |
2009 | Leader | Playback Singer, Lyricist | |
2011 | King Hunther | Playback Singer | |
2013 | Peeter One | Himself, cameo role | |
2014 | Ko Mark No Mark | Playback Singer | |
2019 | Jaya Sri Amathithuma | Composer, Playback Singer | |
2023 | Gajaman | Magodisthuma (Voice) |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Olu Pipeela" (Acoustic Version) | |
2. | "Podi Kurullane" (Acoustic Version) | |
3. | "Lowe Sama" (Acoustic Version) | |
4. | "Rasa Ahara Kawala" (Acoustic Version) | |
5. | "Ratak Watinawa" (Acoustic Version) | |
6. | "Saima Cut Wela" (Acoustic Version) |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "One Way Wind" (Album Version) | |
2. | "Russian Lady" (Album Version) | |
3. | "You Are The Reason Why" (Album Version) | |
4. | "Last Farewell" (Album Version) | |
5. | "We Love To Boogie" (Album Version) | |
6. | "I Am A Cider Drinker" (Album Version) | |
7. | "Blue Danube" (Farewell song for cricketer's retirement) | |
8. | "Lying In The Arms of Mary" (Album Version) | |
9. | "You, You, You" (Album Version) | |
10. | "Life Is Too Short Girl" (Album Version) | |
11. | "Ramaya" (Album Version) | |
12. | "She Went Into The Water" (Album Version) | |
13. | "Oma Misste Missisthe" (Album Version) | |
14. | "Ring Ring" (Album Version) |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "No Woman No Cry" (Album Version) | |
2. | "Heart-ache" (Album Version) | |
3. | "Brown Girl In The Ring" (Album Version) | |
4. | "Boogie Shoes" (Album Version) | |
5. | "Blue Suade Shoes" (Album Version) | |
6. | "Second-hand News" (Album Version) | |
7. | "Staying Alive" (Album Version) | |
8. | "In The Mood" (Album Version) | |
9. | "Night Fever" (Album Version) | |
10. | "Mull Of Kintyre" (Album Version) | |
11. | "Three Times A Lady" (Album Version) | |
12. | "Rivers Of Babylon" (Album Version) | |
13. | "Funky Horn" (Album Version) |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Signore" (Album Version) | |
2. | "Piti Kotapan None" (Album Version) | |
3. | "Kasade" (Album Version) | |
4. | "Lorenzo" (Album Version) | |
5. | "Latha No Katha" (Album Version) | |
6. | "Dili Dili" (Album Version) | |
7. | "Oba Lassanai" (Album Version) | |
8. | "Wayasata Yanawa" (Album Version) | |
9. | "Kedapathi" (Album Version) | |
10. | "Obe Rasa Katha" (Album Version) | |
11. | "Thaththa Mata Anapu" (Album Version) | |
12. | "Vaadiya" (Album Version) | |
13. | "Lassana Sahakara" (Album Version) | |
14. | "Sal Mal Wal Onchili" (Album Version) | |
15. | "Divya Anganawo" (Album Version) | |
16. | "Podi Kurullane" (Album Version) | |
17. | "Lassana Hasarel" (Album Version) |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Trinidad" (Album Version) | |
2. | "Funky Town" (Album Version) | |
3. | "Coming Up" (Album Version) | |
4. | "More Than I Can Say" (Album Version) | |
5. | "Rest Your Love On Me" (Album Version) | |
6. | "Rock Around The Clock" (Album Version) | |
7. | "Anniversary Waltz" (Album Version) | |
8. | "Breakfast In America" (Album Version) | |
9. | "American Dream" (Album Version) | |
10. | "It's Still Rock & Roll To Me" (Album Version) | |
11. | "Another Brick In The Wall" (Album Version) | |
12. | "Kurumitto" (Album Version) |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Ojaye" (Album Version (with Piyal Perera, Rookantha Gunathilake)) | |
2. | "Sima Cutwela" (Album Version (with Roshan)) | |
3. | "Lunu Dehi" (Album Version (with Piyal Perera)) | |
4. | "Uncle Johnson" (Album Version) | |
5. | "Vaduwa" (Album Version (with Piyal Perera)) | |
6. | "Ay Ayio" (Album Version (with Mariazelle Gunathilake)) | |
7. | "Sada Radenne" (Album Version (with Piyal Perera)) | |
8. | "Adare Soya" (Album Version (sung by Piyal Perera)) | |
9. | "Amatheka Karannepa" (Album Version (sung by Sanjeewani and Piyal Perera)) | |
10. | "Pem Suwe" (Album Version (sung by Piyal Perera)) | |
11. | "Lowe Sama" (Album Version) | |
12. | "Our Land" (Album Version) | |
13. | "Birthday Song" (Album Version (sung by Piyal Perera)) | |
14. | "Wine Women & Song" (Album Version (with Manilal)) | |
15. | "You're The Best" (Album Version (sung by K. Nimal)) | |
16. | "Yaluwo - Friends" (Album Version (with Mervin)) | |
17. | "Thattaya - Baldi" (Album Version (sung by Ronnie Leitch)) |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Apita Kiyanna" (Album Version) | |
2. | "Koththamalli" (Album Version) | |
3. | "Sundarai Adare" (Album Version) | |
4. | "Adareta Adarewela" (Album Version) | |
5. | "Koththamalli (Reprise)" (Album Version) | |
6. | "Upandine Udawela" (Album Version) | |
7. | "Mahela Jayawardene Tribute" (Farewell song for cricketer's retirement) | |
8. | "Is This A Dream" (Album Version) | |
9. | "Grandma We Love You" (Album Version) |
Baila is a form of music, popular in Sri Lanka and among Goan Catholics in India. The genre originated centuries ago among the Portuguese Burghers and Sri Lankan Kaffirs. Baila songs are played during parties and weddings in Sri Lanka, Goa, and Mangalore accompanied by dancing.
The Gypsies are a Sri Lankan baila band that performs Sinhala and English songs. The band was founded in the early 1970s and has since garnered a huge fan base across Sri Lanka and is one of Sri Lanka's most famous bands. They are a highly paid band in Sri Lanka, as they constantly perform at parties, dances and at many concerts.
Mario Glory Rookantha Goonatillake, is a Sri Lankan singer, musician and songwriter. One of the most influential musical artists in Sri Lanka, Rookantha started his career as a solo singer in late 1980s after few stints as a keyboard player. He frequently performs duets with his wife, Chandralekha Perera. His daughters Raini Charuka and Windy are both singers.
Sri Lankabhimanya Wannakuwattawaduge Don Albert Perera, better known by his adopted name Amaradeva, was a prominent Sri Lankan Sinhalese vocalist, violinist and composer. Primarily using traditional instruments like sitars, tablas and harmoniums, he incorporated Sinhala folk music with Indian ragas in his work. Many consider his contribution to the development of Sinhala music as unmatched; hence, he is occasionally cited as the "Maestro of Sri Lankan Music".
Jayasinghe Arachchige Milton Perera, popularly known as Milton Perera, was a singer, composer and playback singer of Sri Lankan cinema. One of the most respected artists in Sri Lanka, Milton Perera rendered his voice to diverse array of artists as a playback singer for many films in a career spanned for more than three decades. He was the leading playback singer of Sri Lankan cinema during the 1960s and 1970s.
Mariazelle Goonetilleke is a Sri Lankan singer and musician.
Dinesh Subasinghe is a Sri Lankan composer, violinist, and music producer. He composed Karuna Nadee, a Buddhist oratorio, and re-introduced a lost, ancient musical instrument known as the ravanahatha to Sri Lanka. He is also a film and television composer whose works integrate western and eastern classical music with electronic music, Buddhist music, folk music, traditional orchestral arrangements, and world music genres. From 2002 to 2009 he led the pop classical band, Dee R Cee Members.
Deepanath Channa Perera, is an actor in Sri Lankan cinema and television as well as a filmmaker and screenplay writer.
Vicumpriya Perera is a Sri Lankan born mathematician, lyricist, poet and music producer. He has published three books of Sinhala poetry, Mekunu Satahan in 2001, Paa Satahan in 2013, and Mawbime Suwandha in 2023. He has written over 200 songs and has produced eleven Sinhala song albums. He currently works as a mathematics professor in Ohio, US.
Vidyodaya Vibhushana Sahithya Kala Shiromani Prof. Sunil Ariyaratne Kuruwita Bandara, popularly as Sunil Ariyaratne, is a Sri Lankan scholar, film director, author, poet and a lyricist. One of the most popular filmmakers and lyricists in Sri Lankan cinema, Ariyaratne has won six Sarasaviya awards, four Presidential awards from the year 1981 as a film lyricist and then won three awards as a teledrama lyricists.
Mahendra Shrikantha Perera, is an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television. One of the most influential actors in Sinhala cinema, Mahendra performed from drama to comedy in many blockbuster films.
Anagarika Dharmapala Srimathano is a 2015 Sri Lankan Sinhala biographical history film directed by Sanath Abeysekara and co-produced by Ven. Banagala Upatissa Thera and Sunil T. Fernando for Sunil T. Films. It stars Palitha Silva in lead role along with Lucky Dias and Sriyantha Mendis. Music composed by Rohana Weerasinghe. It is the 1211th Sri Lankan film in the Sinhala cinema.
K. P. Shashika Udari Perera, popularly known as Udari Perera, is a Sri Lankan film actress and model. In 2016, she won the title Mrs. Sri Lanka and subsequently participated in the Mrs. Universe pageant.
Ronnie Luke Leitch, better known as Ronni Leitch and Thattaya, was a Sri Lankan actor, comedian, singer, presenter and social activist. Largely popularized as a comedian, Leitch was also gained fame for singing over 350 songs, most notably "Thattaya" and "Kauda Bole Alice".
Balasuriyage Steven Perera [Sinhala]), popularly as B. S. Perera, was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema and theater as well as a director and singer. One of the earliest pillars and popular comedy artists ever in Sri Lankan film history, Perera had a career spanned about three decades. He holds the record for the highest number of films acted by a Sri Lankan well over 180 films.
Kala Keerthi Madurawela Arachchilage Christy Leonard Perera [Sinhala]), popularly as Christy Leonard Perera, was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema as well as a musician and comedian.
Kala Suri Visharadha Dr. Mudunkotuwa Munasinghe Arachchige Sujatha Perera , colloquially known as Sujatha Aththanayaka , is a Sri Lankan singer. She is a prominent playback singer in Sinhala cinema and also in Sri Lankan and Indian Tamil cinema. Considered the golden bell of Sinhala music, she holds the record for the most number of cassettes produced by a Sri Lankan woman singer with more than 115 cassettes in a career spanning more than seven decades. She is the first female music director in Sri Lanka. She contributed for nearly 400 Sinhala films and 20 Sri Lankan-Indian Tamil Films as a playback singer. She sang more than 6000 Sinhala songs and more than 1000 songs in 9 different languages.
Indrani Perera, is a Sri Lankan singer and playback singer. Indrani along with Clarence Wijewardena and Annesley Malewana are known as "The Original Sinhala Pop Trio".
Can You Hear Me? is a 2020 Sri Lankan thriller teledrama broadcast on Jathika Rupavahini. The series is directed and written by Sunil Costa. It is produced by Chinthaka Kulathunga and music direction is by award winning musician Dinesh Subasinghe. The series is the first ever attempt to take Sri Lankan teledrama to international audience via social media where it is airing with English subtitles.
The following lists notable events that took place during the year 2021 in Sri Lanka.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)