Rohana Beddage
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Kala Suri The Kala Suri (; ) is a Sri Lankan national honour awarded "''for special contributions to the development of the arts''". It is conventionally used as a title or prefix to the awardee's name. Kala Suri ranks lower than Vidya Nidhi. Awardees Awa ...
Rohana Beddage (; born 27 October 1935) is a singer and actor in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television. He is also a musician, dancer, teacher, lyricist, lecturer, theater director, choreographer and an author. In February 2020, Beddage was appointed as the Sri Lankan Ambassador to the Maldives. In July 2021, he resigned from his post. In 2020, he was appointed as the chairmen of Sri Lanka Arts Council.


Early career

He was born on 27 October 1935 as Beddage Rohana, in Mahauduwa, Horana as the fourth child of the family with five siblings. His father Baddage Nomis Singho was a farmer. His mother Hapuachchige Elisahami from Meewalapalane was a housewife. He has two elder sisters - Subalin, Magilin and one elder brother, Davith, one younger brother Punchi Singho (aka Jayantha Aravinda). His father died, when he was 7 years old. Aravinda's son Waradaththa is also a singer, who sang the popular song ''Maṭa Arādhanāvak Kaḷādō''. He started education from village school Uduwa Primary School and later in 1948, entered to Taxila Central College, Horana and completed education from English medium. When he was in his pre-senior year at Taxila, he studied dancing from Subanchi Lal. In 1954, he passed S.S.C. exam.


Music career

During school life, Beddage was interested in music, where he started to play violin, flute and tabla, without any guidance. In 1983, he won the first place in the All-Ceylon school singing and dancing competition held by UNESCO for his song ''Malsarā Bælma Heḷā'', compiled by himself with the melodies from hand tambourine, shanthi karma, and kavi Nadagam. Meanwhile, he learned music from Sumitra Nerangama. In the meantime in 1956, Beddage met Prof.
Ediriweera Sarachchandra Veditantirige Ediriweera Ranjitha Sarachchandra (born Veditantirige Eustace Reginold de Silva; 3 June 1914 – 16 August 1996), popularly known as Ediriweera Sarachchandra ), was a Sri Lankan playwright, novelist, poet, literary critic, essayist ...
and asked to join as a flutist for his stage drama ''Maname''. He accepted the offer and became the first flutist of ''Maname''. Later, he entered Heywood Institute of Art (currently known as
University of the Visual and Performing Arts University of the Visual and Performing Arts (UVPA) (; ) is a public university located primarily in Colombo, Sri Lanka, specialising in art, design, fashion and the performing arts. It was formerly known as the Government College of Fine Art ...
). Even though he needed to study dancing at Heywood, he later moved to study music under the guidance of Lionel Edirisinghe and S.B. Kapukotuwa. Thus, Beddage learned violin from Gunasena master and music from Lionel Edirisinghe. After completing his Haywood life, he joined Horana Kulupana College as a dance teacher on 3 March 1959. In the school, he compiled the performance called ''Vichitra Ranga'' where "The net pulling" act won the first place from a competition organized by UNESCO. Meanwhile, Beddage made songs on
Radio Ceylon Radio Ceylon ( ''Lanka Guwan Viduli Sevaya'', , ''ilankai vanoli'') is a radio station based in Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) and the first radio station in Asia. Broadcasting was started on an experimental basis by the colonial Telegraph Departme ...
, they did not get popular. After the career in Kulupana College, he entered his own school Taxila College as the dancing teacher with the help of W. B. Makuloluwa, who was appointed as Director of the Ministry of Education. In the school, he produced two stage plays: ''Alakalanchiya'', ''Gal Væhi''. For his third stage play, he compiled a folk song ''Mage Raththaran Helena''. In 1972, Beddage entered Giragama Music Teachers College as a member of the first batch. His apprentice Sarath Kulanga is a renowned dramatist. However, after the drama started, Beddage got transferred to another school. Then he joined with Makuloluwa's drama troupe. During this period, Beddage sang the folk song he made for the stage drama during a break. There the part 'Kawuda?' was sung by T. M. Jayaratne. However, in 1974, he recorded the song on Radio Ceylon, which later became his first solo hit. The song was first featured in the program "Sandella" made by Lucien Bulathsinhala and C. D. S. Kulathilaka and Sena Gunasekara's program "Paryeshana Gee". From 1953 to 1985, he worked as a dance and music teacher. From 1986 to 1989, he worked as a lecturer at the Institute of Aesthetic Education affiliated to
University of Kelaniya The University of Kelaniya (UoK; , ) is a public university in Sri Lanka. Just outside the municipal limits of Colombo, in the city of Kelaniya, the university has two major institutions and seven faculties. History The University of Kelaniy ...
. He later established the art school "Sandagiri Paya" with music, dancing, drama and video technology courses. After that, Beddage made several folk-mixed songs such as: ''Kandē Landē Gangulællē'', ''Kos Vathu Kandē'', ''Onna Nokivvayi Kiyannepā Hāminē'', ''Kammalē Yakaḍa Thæḷennē'', ''Apa Sēma Ipadī Mærenā Urumē'', ''Rā Bī Veri Vū'', ''Nagē Numbaṭa Dæna'', ''Tin Tin Hanḍadī'', ''Goma Riṭi Gilī Thiruvānā'', ''Hā Yaman Putā Hemin Hemin'', ''Apaṭa Samāvenna Hāmu'', ''Kukku Kū.. Kū'', ''Mē Gammānē Kandu Væṭi Sīmāvē'', ''Rājā ō Mangaliyā'' and ''Sassanda Sasanda''. Apart from that, he made the music and lyrics for
Edward Jayakody Jayakody Arachchige Don Edward Timothy Jayakody (; born 6 April 1952), popularly known as Edward Jayakody, is a Sri Lankan musician, singer, composer, and occasional actor. He has directed the music for hundreds of Sinhala films and television ser ...
's song ''Gan Wathura Galā Uthurā Yayi'' and Baddage sang two songs composed by Jayakody: ''Nagē Numbaṭa Dæna Gannayi'', and ''Nænda Māma Dennā''. Later in 1982, Beddage joined with fellow singer Bandula Wijeweera and the duo named as "Mamayi Benai". They made several popular hits including: ''Magē Sudu Bǣṇanḍiṭa'', ''Kaliyuga Kāleka Upanna'', ''Dannā Tharam Pada Kasthiram'' and ''Doḷos Mahak Gathavī Yana Mohothē''. As a result, the "Mamayi Benai" show was performed in both local and international arena more than five hundred times. After twelve years, the duo performed at the Lionel Wendt theatre at 3.30 pm and 7.00 pm on July 11, 2008. From 1989 to 1991, Beddage worked as an assistant director of education related to aesthetic education in the Ministry of Education. In 1996, his song ''Sasanda Sasanda'' was featured on top 20 Los Angeles World Chart Show and was the only Asian song. As a music director, Beddage composed music for several stage dramas such as: Dayananda Gunawardena's ''Jasaya Ha Lenchina'', ''Ananda Javanika'', ''Madhura Javanika'', ''Gajaman Puvatha'', Rohana Dandeniya's ''Rassa Saha Parassa'',
Jayalath Manoratne Keselgaspe Manatunga Jayalath Manoratne (; 12 June 1948 – 12 January 2020) was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television. He was a lecturer by profession as well as a director and producer. A highly versatile actor from drama ...
's ''Thala Mala Pipila'', and Tilak Gunawardena's ''Kontha Nona''. Beddage retired from government teaching service in 1992. From 2000 to 2007, he worked as an external lecturer on folk music at the University of Fine Arts. Along with Jananath Warakagoda, and Jitendra Vidyapathi, he sang the song ''Mihikata Heḷa Rū Varuṇā'', a song about elephants.


Acting career

His acting credentials started during school days. He produced many stage dramas within the school and later in popular stage. Some of his stage productions are: ''Baḷal Sāstharē'' (1962), ''Alakalanchiya'' (1967), ''Galvæhi'' (1969), and ''Rālahāmi'' (2012). Apart from that, he acted in the stage plays including: Makuloluwa's ''Heḷa Miyæsiya'', ''Depānō'' (1965), Dayānanda Guṇawardhana's ''Gajaman Puvatha'' (1975), ''Madhura Javanikā'' (1978), and Rōhaṇa Dandeniya's ''Rāssa Saha Parāssa'' (2012). As a choreographer, Beddage rendered his skills in the stage plays: ''Sakkāya Diṭṭhi'', ''Ambusæmiyō'', ''Jasayā Saha Lenchinā'', ''Gajaman Puvatha'', ''Madhura Javanikā'', ''Ananda Javanikā'', and ''Mee Pura Wæsiyō''. In 2011, he produced the stage play ''Ralahamy'', where the premier show was held on 17th June 2011 at 6.30 pm at Lumbini Theatre, Colombo. In television, he acted in many television serials such as: ''Paḷingu Mæṇike'', ''Kande Gedara'', ''Ves Taṭṭuva'', ''Niyan Ukussō'', and ''Iraṭa Hanḍana Mal''. His first television acting came through ''Palingu Menike'' in 1982. In 1997, Beddage made his first cinematic appearance with the film ''Bawa Duka''. In the same year, he reprised his role in the sequel ''Bawa Karma''. In 2019, he had a supporting role in the film ''Sama Kumaru Kathawa''. Later he also acted in the drama films: ''Vaishnavee'' and ''Uthuru Sulanga''.


Author work

Beddage has written the books: ''Sinhala Sangeetha Sailiya'', ''Andara Væṭiya'', ''Loku Ayaṭa Punchi Kathandara'', ''Alakalanchiya'', ''Gamē Rāḷahāmi'', and ''Gammānē Upan Geetha''.


Personal life

Rohana Beddage is married to his longtime partner, Padmathilaka, who is a music teacher. The couple have one daughter and one son. His daughter Thushara Beddage, is a radio music producer and his son Tharaka Beddage is the owner of the video production company "Wild House".


Television


Notable television serials

* ''Eliya Aran'' * ''Kande Gedara'' as retired teacher * ''Palingu Menike'' as Gurunnanse * ''Irata Handana Mal'' as Appachchi


Awards and honors

He won the award for the Best Music Director for the stage plays ''Kontha Nēnā'' (1976), ''Rassa Saha Parāssa'' (1980), ''Ananda Javanikā'' (1986), and ''Andarēlā'' (1995). For his contribution to the field of arts, he was honored with the Best Musician Award in 1986 in Rajya Sangeeth Festival, Kalasuri Award in 2003, and Desha Nethru Award in National Literary Kala Prasadini Festival in 2012. On 1 January 2010, the 'Gammanen Sidadiyata' concert was held at the Elphinstone Theater in Colombo at 6.00 pm to celebrate 75 years of singing and acting career. On 18 January 2024, a tribute ceremony titled "Rōhaṇa Bæddagē Perahuru Karaḷiya" was held at Sudarshee Cultural Center in Colombo. Along with the tribute ceremony, an open-air theater was named after him at Sudarshee Cultural Center in Colombo on 8 February 2024.


Track listing


Sasanda Album


Malsara Album


Filmography


References


External links


ලංකාවටම ආවේනික වූ නාදරටා ලොවට ගෙන ගිය රෝහණ බැද්දගේ අසනීපයෙන්, ඔබට ඉක්මන් සුවය ලැබේවා..!!!


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මම නිහඩ වෙන්නේ කවුරුත් මගේ හඩ අවදි නොකරන නිසා

රැඟුමට එක් වූ ගායන ප්‍රතිභා ප්‍රභා...

අද ඉන්න පරම්පරාව අවුරුදු සමරන්නේ මාධ්‍ය තුලින්

මාමා නැතුව බෑණාට මොන ෂෝද?

The aura of rural village, Buddhism and folk life – By Rohana Baddage

History of melody (Part III)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Beddage, Rohana Sri Lankan male film actors Sri Lankan male television actors Living people 1935 births Sri Lankan dancers Sri Lankan male dancers People from Kalutara District 20th-century Sri Lankan male singers Sinhalese singers Sri Lankan teachers Sri Lankan educators Sinhalese people