Nanda Malini, iconic voice of Sri Lankan music, dies at 82
COLOMBO – Veteran Sri Lankan singer Nanda Malini, one of the country’s most celebrated voices whose career spanned more than six decades, has died at the age of 82, family sources said.
Malini died at her home in Nawala on Thursday (20), the sources said.
Born on August 23, 1943, in Lewanduwa, Aluthgama, Malini demonstrated her vocal talent from an early age. She later moved to Kotahena, Colombo, and attended Sri Gunananda Vidyalaya, where her talent was recognized by her teachers.
Her breakthrough came after she won a poetry competition. Her teacher, T.N. Margaret Perera, introduced her to Radio Ceylon, where she performed the song ‘Budu Sadhu’ on the popular program ‘Lama Mandapaya’, hosted by renowned broadcaster and lyricist Karunaratne Abeysekera.
The performance marked a turning point in her career, while the guidance of Radio Ceylon producer Sarath Wimalaweera further helped shape her early musical journey.
Malini made her film singing debut with ‘Galana Gangaki Jeewithe’ in ‘Ran Muthu Doova’, produced in 1961 and widely regarded as Sri Lanka’s first colour film. The film’s music was composed by Pandit W. D. Amaradeva, and Malini performed the song with Narada Disasekara.
She subsequently appeared in several acclaimed musical programs, including Amaradeva’s ‘Madhuvanthi’, where she performed songs such as ‘Sannaliyane’ and ‘Ran Dahadiya Bindu Bindu’.
Malini continued her formal musical education after establishing herself as a singer. She trained under B. Victor Perera, studied at the Heywood Institute and later pursued further studies at the Bhatkhande Music Institute in Lucknow, India, in 1963. She eventually obtained a Visharada degree in 1984.
Over the course of her career, Malini released a large body of work, including ‘Perada Maha Re’, ‘Pahan Kanda’, ‘Sathyaye Geethaya’, ‘Hemanthayedi’, ‘Tharuka Es’, ‘Pawana’, ‘Sindhu Hodiya’, ‘Kinduriyage Vilapaya’, ‘Madhu Bandun’, ‘Tharu’, ‘Malmada Bisau’, ‘Cinema Geethavalokana’, ‘Kirimadu Wel’, ‘Londonyedi Geyu Gee’, ‘Yathra’, ‘Handahami’, ‘Sanka Padma’, ‘Pembara Lanka’, ‘Kunkuma Pottu’, ‘Gramophone Gee’, ‘Araliya Landata’, ‘Malata Renu’, ‘Nilambare’, ‘Sari Podittak’ and ‘Pirith Pen’.
Her repertoire extended beyond romantic music to include spiritual, children’s and socially conscious songs, with her choice of lyrics often reflecting human relationships, emotions and everyday social realities.
Songs such as ‘Pipunu Male Ruwa’, ‘Sudu Hamine’ and ‘Kada Mandiye’ reflected her ability to portray women’s experiences and emotions, while songs such as ‘Manda Nawa Karanawa’ combined humour with sensitive observations of loneliness and relationships.
Her 1990 collection ‘Sindhu Hodiya’ was particularly distinctive, using music to introduce the Sinhala alphabet to young children.
Malini also earned widespread recognition for her rendition of ‘Danno Budunge’, among many other songs that became part of Sri Lanka’s musical heritage.
She received numerous honours during her career, including 11 Sarasaviya Awards and eight Presidential Awards for Best Singer, in recognition of her contribution to Sri Lankan music.
With her distinctive voice, carefully selected lyrics and diverse repertoire, Nanda Malini became one of the defining figures of modern Sri Lankan music, leaving behind a body of work that influenced generations of singers and listeners.
-ENCL
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