Gratien Ananda


Gratien Ananda, also as Gration Ananda or Greshan Ananda, was a Sri Lankan singer, composer, songwriter and a lyricist. Considered as the best Sinhalese film score musician to have emerged in the country since the veteran artist the Late H.R. Jothipala, Ananda sang for more than 400 films with a musical career that spanned nearly three decades.
He died at the age of 52 while receiving treatments at National Hospital of Sri Lanka, Colombo.

Personal life

He was born on 11 March 1957 to a family immersed in music. His grand father Brigadier Charley Jayawardena Amador is a renowned musician served in Royal Army. His mother was a pianist. He spent his early childhood in Kandy, after he moved to hometown Tangalle for primary education. He attended to as many as 10 schools. He first went to Little Flower Convent in Tangalle and then to St.Mathew College Dematagoda. Then he completed Advanced Level Examination from Saint Joseph's College, Colombo.
He was a devoted Catholic, where he never missed a Tuesday mass at St Anthony's Church, Kochchikade in Colombo. He polished his music ability as a chorister of All Saints’ Church in Borella by Reverend Father John Herath OMI.
He was married to Srima Abeykoon and has one daughter, Dulanjalee Chathurya Ananda and one son, Mario Angelo Ananda. His son Mario Ananda was born on 12 May 1991 and completed education from father's school, St.Joseph College. He started music career after Gratien's death to continue his legacy.

Singing career

Ananda started to play mouth organ since the age of 3. His music ability was first identified by school music teacher Rev.Father John Herath, where Ananda started to play trumpet and then keyboard. He practiced piano under Lal Perera and Claud Fernando. Then he graduated from Royal College of Music, London with a Diploma in Western Music.
In 1976, Ananda started to play under different bands most notably Stanley Perera's Fortunes, which became his turning point. During that time, he met musician Sarath Dassanayake and joined his orchestra to play guitar. Within the orchestra, his first played the guitar for H.R. Jothipala's Taj Mahalak song. With his extreme musical talent, he was elevated to the position of Assistant Music Director in the orchestra. Under Sarath Dasanayake and Mervin Perera, he started to learn classical Eastern Music.
Later, he worked as the Lead guitarist for many bands including Dreamers, Earnest and the Combo, Superset and Seac for many years. He was also invited to play as a guitarist for Victor Rathnayake's SA Concert.
He released his first cassette in 1978. Ananda was able to sing together with Neela Wickramasinghe for a disc in 1978. His first LP Record contained four songs and all songs had been composed musically by Gration himself. With that song Atha Duraka Detha Pawela, Ananda was invited to sing as a playback singer for films. His maiden playback singing came through Sena Samarasinghe's film Mal Kekulu through the duet Bindu Bindu Kandulu Gala with Shyami Fonseka. After the film, he continued his enormous contribution to Sinhala cinema, where he sang for more than 400 films.
In 2004, he celebrated 25 years in music with a concert Ananda Rathriya at the BMICH on 25 September at 6.00 pm. The DVD of the concert was released in 2005 with the brand Torana Music Box. The DVD comprises 20 popular songs sung by Ananda.
His final song album was Desithaka Gee produced in year 2007 with 12 new songs. In 2009, he launched a CD at the Namel Malini Punchi Theatre on 14 February at 9 am. The CD comprises 23 songs sung at Ananda Rathriya and his son Mario also launched Gayana Gayum made up of 16 tracks on the same day.

Music direction

He started to compose music for songs Etha Duraka Etha Pawela by himself and Neela Wickramasinghe and Tedini Viraja by Edward Jayakody. Both songs became popular hits, where K.A.W Perera invited Ananda to direct music for his film Durga. With that film, he directed music for about 16 films such as Dhawala Pushpaya, Randenigala Singhaya, Sinha Patawu, Hai Master and Hitha Honda Gaheniyak.
He also composed music for television serials. His first tele-drama music came through Gamana and Premada Weadi, both by K.A.W Perera.

As a lyricist

Ananda composed melodies for his fellow artistes, some of them became very popular. Some of his lyrics include Mage Punchi Kumari and Mage Athita Diviya for Milton Mallawarachchi, Aradhana Nethu Chaya and Sudu Rosa Mal for Priya Suriyasena, Mangalle Mal for Chandralekha Perera, Sandalatha for Sanath Nandasiri.

Legacy

On 22 December 2010, Ananda was hospitalized to receive treatments for a number of illnesses including liver failure.
In December 2010, Ananda died at the age of 52 while taking medical assistance at the Colombo National Hospital. He was cremated at the Borella Cemetery. Hospital confirmed that, he died at 6.45 am while receiving treatment at the Intensive Care Unit.

Playback singing filmography

Track listing

Solo tracks

  1. Adara Seenuwa
  2. Adari Sagari Ma Hade Mandire
  3. Akasha Gangawe Pawee Gena
  4. Anupama Senehe
  5. Bale Punchi Kale Wage
  6. Bindu Bindu Kandulu Gala
  7. Chandana Allen Nala
  8. Datha Dilena Bandi Walalu
  9. Dathe Ran Muthu
  10. Dawadi Thilina Ran Mini Muthu
  11. Deege Bara Bage
  12. Didulana Podi Ran Tharuwak
  13. Dilidune Daruwane
  14. Ea Geetha Rawe
  15. Ea Kale Wage Na Adare
  16. Eeye Men Oba
  17. Ganga Nadiye Hamuwu
  18. Gangule Iwure
  19. Gata Pichcha Suwandata
  20. Geetha Gaya
  21. Hama Hawasaka Ma
  22. Hawasata Paya
  23. Hima Kandu Yahane
  24. His Veedo Bandun
  25. Hithumathe Jeewithe
  26. Jayasri We Kumariye
  27. Jeewithayata Maga Penwa
  28. Kalaya Galana Me Nadiye
  29. Kawadada Hitha Hinahenne
  30. Kowula Kohedo
  31. Kreedakayo Tharagaye Yedena
  32. Kumariye Oba Langa Ma
  33. Lassana Midule
  34. Ma Awe Pawasannai
  35. Ma Dayabara Priyawiye
  36. Ma Ha Ae Suratha Dara
  37. Ma Upanna Deshayai
  38. Mage Jeewithaye Pa Sandu Se
  39. Mage Loke Sihine Oba We
  40. Mahada Sanasu Preme
  41. Mal Sinaha Pawe
  42. Mama Raga Thala
  43. Mangalle Mal Mala Dala
  44. Maranaye Dora Aree
  45. Mayawa Randawu Sinawe
  46. Me Punchi Hithakata
  47. Me Seetha Ra Yamaye
  48. Mee Bindu Gala Gala Thibunu
  49. Minisiyawe Mahima Thawa
  50. Mulu Lowa Mawitha Kalo
  51. Muwa Hasaral Mawuye
  52. Nawa Aare As Bandum Enne
  53. Nethu Piya Wasa
  54. Pata Pata Suwanda Hamana
  55. Pera Wasanthaya
  56. Pin Pata Pipi Mala
  57. Punchi Punchi Punchi Patawune Ma
  58. Ra Thun Yame Palu
  59. Raja Madure Ipadeela
  60. Rallen Ralla Wellen Wella
  61. Ranin Mala
  62. Rayak Dawalak Nopeni Nodani
  63. Sammani Duwani
  64. Sanda Langa Danga Kala
  65. Sanda Se Nisha Thalawe
  66. Sanda Seethalada
  67. Sanda Yame Paya Tharu Uyane
  68. Sandu Sagawela
  69. Sangawee Yannata Bari Wu
  70. Sara Sande Sina Sele
  71. Sathutin Nidalle
  72. Senehasa Pibidi
  73. Senehe Irak Patha
  74. Sihina Ahase Wasanthe
  75. Sihinayaki Jeewithe
  76. Sihiniga Nalawenna
  77. Sithata Ganna Wera Wadanna
  78. Sithehi Yamak Nam
  79. Sithumi Duwe Visura Puthe
  80. Snehaye Handa Jesuni
  81. Sonduru Rayaka Yame
  82. Suhada Madura Preme
  83. Sunil Wala Salu Pili Patala
  84. Sura Anganawo Ra Ahase Paya
  85. Sura Lowa Madale Geetha Gayanne
  86. Tharu Yaye Athin Athata
  87. Tharuwak Pipi Ra
  88. Vil Jale Pipena Nelumata
  89. Wareka Sada Sulagak Wagei

    Duets

  90. Ada Nathuwada Awi Mana – with Anjalin Gunathilaka
  91. Ada Vinode Sapa Soyala – with Anjalin Gunathilaka
  92. Adara Geetha Gayala – with Kalawathee
  93. Adare Nam Pothe – with Champa Kalhari
  94. Adaredo Dasin Pawasa Giye – with Shyami Fonseka
  95. Al Hene Pal Rakiddi – with G.S.B. Rani Perera
  96. Ananda We Jeewithe – with Nathasha Perera
  97. Api Santhosen Inne – with Milton Perera
  98. Asha Nura Sanda Paya – with Mariyasel Gunathilaka
  99. Ashawe Ashawe Paya – with H.R. Jothipala
  100. Atha Duraka Desa Pawela – with Neela Wickramasinghe
  101. Awa Awa Adare Soyala – with Chandraleka Perera
  102. Ayachana Obe Netha Randu Sithuwame
  103. Cheriyo Kiyala Me – with Freddie Silva
  104. Dase Obe Senehe Mawewi – with Uresha Ravihari
  105. Gee Rasa Denna – with Chandrika Siriwardena
  106. Hima Kumariye – with Nathasha Perera
  107. Hima Renu Watena – with Latha Walpola
  108. Hinahedo Jala Rakusa – with H.R. Jothipala
  109. Jeewithe Mal Supipunu Mawathe – with Dayan Witharana
  110. La Neela Akashaye – with Anjalin Gunathilaka
  111. Ma Ha Lanwela – with Milton Mallawarachchi
  112. Ma Mal Kumarayo – with Anjalin Gunathilaka
  113. Madura Prema Nimnaye – with Sujatha Aththanayaka
  114. Mage Adare Vimane – with Uresha Ravihari
  115. Mal Mee Man Math – with Chandrika Siriwardena
  116. Mal Muthulel Hiripoda Warusawaka – with Malani Bulathsinhala
  117. Mala Gira Jodu Sadi – with Chandraleka Perera
  118. Manaliyak Sanda Wage – with Anjalin Gunathilaka
  119. Me Gee Sandawe – with Kumari Munasinghe
  120. Nil Nuwan Sandalle – with Nirosha Virajini
  121. Nilla Madin Yan Adara – with Maya Damayanthi
  122. Nindedi Rathri Sihine – with Chandrika Siriwardena
  123. Obage Denethin Galai Adare – with Latha Walpola
  124. Pawee Pawee Seetha Maruthe – with Anjalin Gunathilaka
  125. Payana Sanda Kirane – with Latha Walpola
  126. Pem Loke Pavi Pavi Yawi – with Milton Mallawarachchi
  127. Pipena Male Suwanda Dane – with Latha Walpola
  128. Punchi Ranpata Samanalayo – with Nathasha Perera
  129. Rosa Mal Wimanaye – with Chandrika Siriwardena
  130. Sagare Wageya Mage – with Uresha Ravihari
  131. Sansara Gee Rawaye – with Latha Walpola
  132. Sihina Lathaviya Sathapena Dase – with Neela Wickramasinghe
  133. Sinaha Kandulu – with H.R. Jothipala
  134. Sudu Muthulal Sihine – with Latha Walpola
  135. Thisara Vile – with Samitha Mudunkotuwa
  136. Udarata Sinhala Porane – with W.D. Amaradewa
  137. Wadath Agei Hadath Penei – with Freddie Silva