J. A. Milton Perera

Jayasinghe Arachchige Milton Perera (; 5 May 1938 – 24 October 1991), 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.

Personal life

Milton was born on May 5, 1938, the son of J. A. Edwin Perera, also known as Tabla Podi Appuhamy, an accomplished tabla player. His mother was Prema Wickramarachchi. Later Mala left Milton and lived with a Muslim man.

Milton was later married to Kalyani Perera, who had been an actress. Their wedding was celebrated on 26 September 1969. They had three sons: Chalaka Chamupathi, Arosha Asanga and Pamoda Piyushan. Milton died on October 24, 1991. In memory of Milton, Priyankara Perera and Chalaka Chamupathi Perera continue to perform J.A Milton Perera's songs.

Eldest son Priyankara Perera is married to renowned actress Dilhani Ekanayake and they have one son Dilmin Perera. His second son Chalaka Chamupathi Perera is married to Padmi Ranasinghe, and they have one daughter Anjana Dasuni Perera and one son Chamath Chamupathi Perera.

Musical career Popular singer H. R. Jothipala introduced Milton to Sripali Wayman to the Velenda Sewaya of Radio Ceylon. In 1940, Milton sang his first song for Radio Ceylon, "Alehi Bendi Jeewitha". It was written by Aloy Gunawardena around a Mohamed Sally melody. However, his father died five days before the song was aired. He subsequently had several popular songs on the radio, "Podi Kale Api Denna," "Oba Wewa Wewa Pahana Mage", "Sikuru liya Komala liya" and "Kalyaniye." Milton was very close with Alloy Gunawardene, Jothipala and Karunaratne Abeysekera. Milton along with Jothipala sang 'Song Debate' which became known as 'Ananga Wadaya' in the music world with the help of Karunaratne Abeysekera and Gunaratne Abeysekera.

At the age of 14, when Raj Kapoor, Nargis Thalada and a group of actors came to Sri Lanka in 1954, he got to play the Tabla for their dancing and singing by Thalad Mohammad. He also played Dholak at special festivals. Milton rose to prominence as a film playback singer in the 1960s. Milton debut to playback singing came with a song on Kurulu Bedda (1961). In his 30-year career in the field, he provided his voice to actors like Gamini Fonseka, Joe Abeywickrama, Tony Ranasinghe, Vijaya Kumaratunga, Ananda Jayaratne, D. R. Nanayakkara, Anthony C. Perera and Stanley Perera in such films as Adata Wediya Heta Hondai, Dheewarayo, Yatagiya Dawasa, Allapu Gedara, Bicycle Hora, Daru Duka, Sarawita, Ataweni Pudumaya, Chandiya and Deiyange Theenduwa. Milton won Award for the Best Singer at the 1966 Sarasavi Awards and was named the Most Popular Singer of the Year at the Golden Sankha Awards sponsored by Vogue Jewelers the same year.

The Sinhala Baila song Pissu Vikare (Dagena Polkatu Male) by H. R. Jothipala, Milton Perera, M. S. Fernando is a cover version of the Tamil song Dingiri Dingale (Meenachi) from the 1958 Tamil film Anbu Engey. And it was covered again in Sinhala as a folk song named Digisi/Digiri Digare (Kussiye Badu).

Filmography Year Film Roles Ref. 1961 Kurulu Bedda Playback singer 1963 Adata Wadiya Heta Hondai Sikuru Tharuwa 1964 Dheewarayo Samaje Api Okkoma Samanai Sujage Rahasa 1965 Sepatha Soya Handapana Chandiya Sudo Sudu Yatagiya Dawasa Saaravita Hathra Maha Nidhanaya Hithata Hitha Allapu Gedara Satha Panaha Sekaya 1966 Senasuma Kothanada Seethala Wathura Sihina Hathak Seyawak Pasupasa 1967 Hathara Kendare Daru Duka Magul Poruwa Saru Bima Vasanthi Iwasana Danaa Rena Giraw Okkoma Hari 1968 Pini Bindu Singithi Surathal Sudusu Daa London Hamu Mathru Bhoomi Bicycle Hora Amathikama Hangi Hora Ataweni Pudumaya 1969 Oba Nathinam Hathara Peraliya Baduth Ekka Horu Binaramalee Pancha 1970 Dan Mathakada Thevetha Ohoma Hondada Suli Sulang 1971 Kathuru Muwath Kesara Sinhayo 1972 Miringuwa 1973 Hathdinnath Tharu 1974 Hadawath Naththo Susee Sahayata Danny Mehema Harida 1975 Kohoma Kiyannada Gijulihiniyo Suraya Surayamai Ranwan Rekha Damayanthi Sikuruliya Hadawathaka Wasanthaya 1976 Vanarayo Hariyata Hari Deviyange Theenduwa 1977 Hithuwakkarayo Niluka Chin Chin Nona Yali Ipade Sikuru Dasawa Tom Pachaya Vanagatha Kella 1978 Sithaka Suwanda Sri Pathula Hitha Mithura Selinage Walawwa Kundalekeshi 1979 Raja Kollo Akke Mata Awasara Subhani Visihathara Peya Hari Pudumai 1980 Sasaraka Pathum Mage Amma Hondin Inna 1981 Kolamkarayo Ranga 1982 Rahasak Nathi Rahasak Thakkita Tharikita 1983 Sandamali Sumithuro Award show viewer Chutte Playback singer Chandi Siriya