The "Sri Lanka Matha" is the national anthem of Sri Lanka. "Sri Lanka Matha" was composed by Ananda Samarakoon and was originally titled "Namo Namo Matha".
The music of Sri Lanka has its roots in five primary influences: ancient folk rituals, Hindu religious traditions, Buddhist religious traditions, the legacy of European colonisation, and the commercial and historical influence of nearby Indian culture—specifically, Kollywood cinema and Bollywood cinema.
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.
Hettiarachchige Reginald Jothipala, popularly as H. R. Jothipala, was a Sri Lankan playback singer in the Sinhala cinema as well as a film actor. Considered as the best playback singer in Sri Lankan film history, Jothipala lent his voice to all classes of actors ranging from Eddie Jayamanne to Ranjan Ramanayake. He also worked as an opera singer. He died in July 1987 at the age of 51 year from cardiac arrest.
Mahagamage Samson Fernando,, popularly as M. S. Fernando, was a Sri Lankan singer and musician. He is a major player in the development of Baila music and was widely popular among Sri Lankan audiences commonly referred to as the "Baila Chakkrawarthi".
Pandhayam (transl. Bet) is a 2008 Indian Tamil-language action thriller film directed by S. A. Chandrasekhar, starring Nithin Sathya and Sindhu Tolani while Prakash Raj and Radhika play supporting roles. Vijay did a guest role as himself. The music was composed by Vijay Antony with cinematography by Srinivas Devamsam and editing by J. N. Harsha. The film released on 19 September 2008.
Chintamani is a 1937 Indian Tamil-language film directed by Y. V. Rao starring M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, Serugulathur Sama and Aswathamma. It was the first Tamil film to run for a year in a single theatre.
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.
Bulathsinhalage Hubert de Silva [Sinhala]), popularly known by his stage name Eddie Junior, was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema and theater as well as a music composer and singer.
Tamil cinema in Sri Lanka is not as developed as Sinhala cinema or its Indian counterpart, the Tamil cinema of Kodambakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. This is especially due to the high production rates of the influential commercial Tamil films from Tamil Nadu, India and the long run ethnic civil war in Sri Lanka. Tamils contributed significantly to Sinhala cinema as well as Indian Tamil cinema, also known as Kollywood. Only a few Tamil language films were produced in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. Earlier Tamil movies produced were all most destroyed or unrecovered due to civil war.
Ceylon Manohar, popular name of A. E. Manoharan also known as Surangani Manohar, was a pop singer and actor. He has played roles in Tamil films and other Sri Lankan Tamil works. Manoharan was 73 when he died in Chennai of age-related ailments.
Manamagan Thevai is a 1957 Indian Tamil-language romantic comedy film produced and directed by P. S. Ramakrishna Rao. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan and Bhanumathi. Based on the American film The Fabulous Senorita (1952), it was simultaneously produced in Telugu as Varudu Kaavaali with Jaggayya replacing Ganesan. Manamagan Thevai was a commercial success, running for over 100 days in theatres.
Aaryan Dinesh Kanagaratnam, also known by his initials A. D. K. or simply Dinesh Kanagaratnam, is a Sri Lankan R&B and hip hop artist and music producer who has composed tracks in Tamil language. He also often collaborates with music directors in Tamil cinema as a playback singer.
Panchanathan Arunachalam was an Indian writer, director, producer and lyricist who worked in the Tamil cinema. He was mentored by poet Kannadasan who was his uncle. He also worked as a lyricist in the Tamil cinema industry. He started producing films under his production banner named P. A. Arts. His son Subbu Panchu Arunachalam is an actor and dubbing artist in the Tamil film industry.
Thangaikkaaga is a 1971 Indian Tamil-language film, directed by D. Yoganand. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, Vennira Aadai Nirmala and Lakshmi. It was released on 6 February 1971.
Vedha was an Indian composer who started working in Sinhala films during the early 1950s when they were being produced in Madras. Then he worked mainly in Tamil films. He was active in the field for about 25 years since 1952.
Kala Suri Gnai Seenar Bangsajayah,, popularly known as G. S. B. Rani, was a Sri Lankan actress in Sri Lankan cinema, theater as well as a songstress, politician and a media personality. She was one of the most popular playback singers in early Sri Lankan cinema industry with a career spanned over five decades.
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".
Richard Herbert Seneviratne, popularly as Herby Seneviratne, was an actor and filmmaker in Sri Lankan cinema.
Avar Enakke Sontham is a 1977 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by Pattu and written by Panchu Arunachalam. The film stars Jaishankar and Srividya.
