Nanda Malini

Mirihana Arachchige Nanda Malini Perera (; 23 August 1943 – 20 August 2026), popularly known as Nanda Malini , 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. Her songs have intricate notional ideas of relationships, life-circumstances, and emotions that stem out of human realities.

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. 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.

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.

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. In 1963, Amaradeva selected Malini for background singing for the film Ranmuthu Duwa, the first Sinhala colour film. In that film, she sang the song Galana Gagaki Jeewithe 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.

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.

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

She produced 25 cassettes such as Malata Renu, Saadu Naada and Sari Podiththak.

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.

Death and legacy Malini died on 20 August 2026, three days before her 83rd birthday.

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

Presidential Film Awards

Nelson Most Popular Award

Derana Film Awards

Other awards Dhashan Soori – University of Visual Arts of Sri Lanka