Nanda Malini

Nanda Malini
නන්දා මාලනී
Malini in 2006
Born
Mirihana Arachchige Nanda Malini Perera

(1943-08-23)23 August 1943
Kotahena, British Ceylon
Died20 August 2026(2026-08-20) (aged 82)
Nawala, Sri Lanka
Education
OccupationSinger
SpouseSuneth Gokula
Children2
Parents
  • Mirihana Arachchige Vincent Perera (father)
  • Liyanage Emily Perera (mother)
AwardsDoctor of Philosophy (Fine Arts) Honoris Causa (University of the Visual & Performing Arts – 2017)
Musical career
Genres
InstrumentVocals
Years active1956–2026
Labels
  • Singlanka/Tharanga/Nilwala
  • MEntertainment
  • Ransilu

Mirihana Arachchige Nanda Malini Perera (Sinhala: මිරිහාන ආරච්චිගේ නන්දා මාලනී පෙරේරා; 23 August 1943 – 20 August 2026), popularly known as Nanda Malini (නන්දා මාලනී), was a Sri Lankan musician. One of the best-known and most honoured singers of Sri Lanka, Malini's choice of singing themes is based on real-life and socio-cultural situations.[1] Her songs have intricate notional ideas of relationships, life-circumstances, and emotions that stem out of human realities.[2][3]

Early life

Nanda Malini was born in Lewwanduwa in Aluthgama, Ceylon on 23 August 1943, as the fourth child to a rural family of nine. Her father, Vincent Perera, was a skilful tailor and ready-made coat maker. Her mother, Liyanage Emily Perera, was a housewife.[4] She had four sisters and four brothers. She moved to Kotahena in Colombo as an adolescent and was admitted to Sri Gunananda Vidyalaya, where she came under the tutelage of T. N. Margaret Perera.[5]

She was married to Suneth Gokula, and the couple had two daughters – Varuni Saroja and Ama Sarada. The elder daughter Varuni is married to Chaminda, son of popular lyricist Dharmasiri Gamage. The younger daughter Ama is married to Sanjeewa.[6]

Career

In 1956, she contested the 'Padya Gayana' competition held at Borella YMBA, in which she won a gold medal. After winning the poetry contest, Radio Ceylon W. D. Amaradeva invited Nanda to take part in a song. She sang the song Budu Sadu written by Asoka Colombage and set to music by D. D. Danny on Karunaratne Abeysekera's popular programme known as Lama Mandapaya on Radio.[7] In 1963, Amaradeva selected Malini for background singing for the film Ranmuthu Duwa, the first Sinhala colour film.[8] In that film, she sang the song Galana Gagaki Jeewithe Sinhala: ගලන ගඟකි ජීවිතේ with Narada Disasekara which was the first song written by Chandraratne Manawasinghe for cinema. The film won all the Sarasavi awards for music that year, where Malini won the award for Best Female Singer, her first major award. Later, she sang in many films and won 11 Sarasavi awards, 8 Presidential awards and was adjudged the most popular female vocalist from 1995–98.[5][4]

Malini continued her training after achieving fame, learning under B. Victor Perera.[8] She studied for a year at the Heywood Institute of Art and moved on to Bhatkhande Music Institute in Lucknow, India in 1963. She would later return to the University to obtain a Visharada degree in 1984 with a First Division Distinction.[5]

Upon her return to Sri Lanka, Malini appeared on W.D. Amaradeva's programme "Madhuvanthi" singing the songs Sannaliyane and Ran Dahadiya Bindu Bindu. Malini had a string of successful releases. Her lyrics depict realistic life situations, love, relationships, and emotions.[4] The songs Pipunu Male Ruwa, Sudu Hamine, and Kada Mandiye attest to her effort to expose the hearts of women.[8] Some of Nanda's popular songs, such as Manda Nawa Karanawa, show a humorous and sensitive account of a young woman's experience of loneliness.[2][9]

In 1971, Malini collaborated with Amaradewa in the "Srawana Aradhana concert". In 1973, she started her first solo concert series, and after having 530 shows the series ended on 22 May 1979. In August 1981 she started another concert series "Sathyaye Geethaya". She played 500 shows and ended in August 1984.[4] She conducted her next solo musical concert series "Pavana" in June 1987 which ran for 18 months with 205 shows. Her songs in "Pavana" were banned in SLBC and SLRC where the concert was also banned.[8] After 22 years her newest solo musical concert titled "Shwetha Rathriya" was held with the collaboration of Sirasa FM in 2010.[10]

In 1984, she established a music academy Nanda Malini Ashram.[11]

She produced 25 cassettes such as Malata Renu, Saadu Naada and Sari Podiththak.[5] On 8 September 2007, she launched her CD Etha Kandu Yaye comprising a collection of 16 award-winning songs. The launching ceremony was held at the BMICH Open Air Theatre at 7.30 p.m. In 1993, she composed a CD "Kunkuma Pottu" which has songs sung in Tamil. Another of her CD's titled "Andaharaya" is made up of music composed of computer software.[12]

In 2017, the honorary degree 'Darshana Shuri', Doctor of Philosophy of Fine Arts, was conferred on her by the University of Visual and Performing Arts. It was the first time that a female artiste was recognized by a university in Sri Lanka.[13][14][15]

Death and legacy

Malini died on 20 August 2026, three days before her 83rd birthday.[16]

In 2004, a hybrid orchid was named "Nanda Malini Ascosanda" in honour of Nanda Malini.[6]

Albums

Saadu Naada (Sinhala: සාදු නාද)

Saadu Naada
Soundtrack album by
Nanda Malini
Released2017
GenresClassical, blues, folk
Length36:10
  • "Budu Saadu" (Sinhala: බුදු සාදු)
  • "Buddhanubhawena" (Sinhala: බුද්ධානුභාවේන)
  • "Budu Karunaa" (Sinhala: බුදු කරුණා)
  • "Aku Daa" (Sinhala: අකු දා)
  • "Danno Budunge" (Sinhala: දන්නෝ බුදුන්ගේ)
  • "Lokananda Thilona" (Sinhala: ලෝකානන්ද තිලෝනා)
  • "Seela Samadhi" (Sinhala: ශීල සමාධි)
  • "Muni Nandana Siripaada" (Sinhala: මුණි නන්දන සිරිපාද)

Sari Podiththak (Sinhala: සාරි පොඩිත්තක්)

Sari Podiththak
Soundtrack album by
Nanda Malini
Released2017
GenresClassical, blues, folk
Length49:31
  • "Ruk Aththana Mala Mudune" (Sinhala: රුක් අත්තන මල මුදුනේ)
  • "Surangeeta Duka Hithuna" (Sinhala: සුරංගීට දුක හිතුනා)
  • "Wasanawa Aege Nethai" (Sinhala: වාසනාව ඇගේ නෙතයි)
  • "Miriwadi Sangalak" (Sinhala: මිරිවැඩි සඟලක්)
  • "Sari Podiththak" (Sinhala: සාරි පොඩිත්තක්)
  • "Sakura Mal Pipila" (Sinhala: සකුරා මල් පිපිලා)
  • "Sudu Haamine" (Sinhala: සුදු හාමිනේ)
  • "Ran Giri Giri Gigiri" (Sinhala: රන් ගිරි ගිරි ගිගිරි)
  • "Chandra Mandulu Yata" (Sinhala: චන්ද්‍ර මඬුලු යට)
  • "Mal Kiyanne Kaata Kaata" (Sinhala: මල් කියන්නෙ කාට කාට)
  • "Mihimandale Anduru Kuse" (Sinhala: මිහි මඬලේ අඳුරු කුසේ)
  • "Deega Nogiya Punchi Nanda" (Sinhala: දීග නොගිය පුංචි නැන්දා)
  • "Mage Sina Oba Araganna" (Sinhala: මගේ සිනා ඔබ අරගන්න)
  • "Mal Mal Heenaya" (Sinhala: මල් මල් හීනය)
  • "Wessa Walaahaka" (Sinhala: වැස්ස වළාහක)
  • "Buddhaanubhaawena" (Sinhala: බුද්ධානුභාවේන)

Sansara Sagare

Source:[17]

Sansara Sagare
Soundtrack album by
Nanda Malini
Released1985
GenresClassical, folk
LabelTharanga
  • "Peedena Goyame" (Lyrics by Sunil Ariyaratne; music by Stanley Peries)
  • "Sanda Mala" (Lyrics by Kularatne Ariyawansa; music by Rohana Weerasinghe)
  • "Sansara Sagare" (Lyrics by Sunil Ariyaratne; music by Sarath Dassanayake)
  • "Ma Pidu" (Lyrics by Kularatne Ariyawansa; music by Stanley Peries)
  • "Kothanada Oba" (Lyrics by Sunil Ariyaratne; music by Stanley Peries)
  • "Wata Kotu" (Lyrics by Tilak Kuruwita Bandara; music by Rohana Weerasinghe)
  • "Nil Latha Pura" (Lyrics by Kularatne Ariyawansa; music by Sarath Dassanayake)
  • "Punchi Punchi" (Lyrics by Kularatne Ariyawansa; music by Stanley Peries)
  • "Lowe Sonduru" (Lyrics by Kularatne Ariyawansa; music by Rohana Weerasinghe)
  • "Wasanawan" (Lyrics by Kularatne Ariyawansa; music by Rohana Weerasinghe)
  • "Dura Atha" (Lyrics by Camilus Perera; music by Sarath Dassanayake)
  • "Yowun Wasanthe" (Lyrics by Sunil Ariyaratne; music by Sarath Dasanayake)

Discography

  • 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

Malini won numerous awards in Sri Lanka including National Awards, popular awards and awards in film and television backgrounds singing.

Sarasaviya Awards

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

Presidential Film Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1980Hada Haawan HadeBest Female VocalistWon
1981Siribo AiyaBest Female VocalistWon
1982Sahara PeranimithiBest Female VocalistWon
1983Yasa IsuruBest Female VocalistWon
1984Siwraga SenaBest Female VocalistWon
2020The NewspaperBest Female VocalistWon
Year Nominee / work Award Result
1994PopularMost Popular Female VocalistWon

Derana Film Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2024Contribution to cinemaDerana Film Awards Lifetime AchievementWon


Other awards

  • Dhashan Soori – University of Visual Arts of Sri Lanka

References

  1. ↑ "Sunil Ariyaratne and Nanda Malini: Away from a musical sensibility". Daily Mirror. Archived from the original on 2 March 2020. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  2. 1 2 "Nanada Malani's 'Shrawana Aradhana' in Canada". sundaytimes.lk. Archived from the original on 20 January 2011. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
  3. ↑ "Nanda Malini: Veteran Sri Lankan singer dies at 82". www.bbc.com. 21 August 2026. Archived from the original on 21 August 2026. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "My father is a tailor". Hiru FM. Archived from the original on 30 November 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Nanda Malini: a breeze that empowers". infolanka. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  6. 1 2 "කොටහේනේ කප් ගහපු". Lankadeepa. Archived from the original on 16 December 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  7. ↑ "Tribute to Amaradeva over BBC Sandeshaya". dailynews.lk. Archived from the original on 2 September 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Social crusader for generations". Sunday Observer. Archived from the original on 5 September 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  9. ↑ "Best female singer in first Sarasaviya Awards". Sarasaviya. Archived from the original on 17 May 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  10. ↑ "Our music fans love good music: Nanda Malini". dailymirror.lk.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  11. ↑ "New enrollments for 2020 at Nanda Malini Ashram". Daily News. Archived from the original on 10 December 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  12. ↑ "Nanda's mellifluous voice adorns film songs". Daily News. Archived from the original on 13 April 2025. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  13. ↑ "Yet another 'first' for her". Daily FT. Archived from the original on 14 April 2025. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  14. ↑ "නන්දා මාලිනියට දර්ශනසූරී උපාධිය". www.lankadeepa.lk. Archived from the original on 6 October 2017. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
  15. ↑ "Nanda Malani receives Darshana Soori Sammana". Sri Lanka Foundation. Archived from the original on 10 August 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  16. ↑ "Nanda Malini: The Voice of a Nation Falls Silent At 82". english.newsfirst.lk.
  17. ↑ Nanda Malini – Sansara Sagare, 1985, archived from the original on 7 February 2022, retrieved 7 February 2022
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