Sujatha Aththanayaka

Mudunkotuwa Munasinghe Arachchige Sujatha Perera (born 12 May 1942: as සුජාතා අත්තනායක), colloquially known as Sujatha Aththanayaka, is a Sri Lankan singer. She is a playback singer in Sinhala cinema and also in Sri Lankan and Indian Tamil cinema. Considered the golden bell of Sinhala music, she holds the record for the most number of cassettes produced by a Sri Lankan woman singer with more than 115 cassettes in a career spanning more than seven decades. She is the first female music director in Sri Lanka. She contributed for nearly 400 Sinhala films and 20 Sri Lankan-Indian Tamil Films as a playback singer. She sang more than 6000 Sinhala songs and more than 1000 songs in 9 different languages.

Personal life

She was born on 12 May 1942 in Kelaniya as the third of five siblings. Her father Mudunkotuwa Munasinghe Arachchige Dharmadasa Perera was a police sergeant. Her mother Gertrude Margaret Wolboff Vimala Kantha was a tower hall actress and singer. She started education in 1947 from Wedamulla Maha Vidyalaya, Kelaniya. She has two sisters and two brothers.

She is married to Navaratne Aththanayaka. She met Navaratne at the State College of Music. The couple has three sons - Hely Sajeewa, Chanaka, Samin. Her second son Captain Chanaka Sanjeewa died on September 25, 1992, in Pooneryn during Eelam War II. Since his death, Aththanayaka quit singing and start to wear white sarees.

After his son's death, she left Sri Lanka for America in 1992. Due to the huge fan demand, she performed a series of successful concerts titled Jeevana Vila Meda in 2012.

Music career In 1950, she sang Malse Dileva for a feature program in SLBC. After school life at the age of 18, she studied at the State College of Aesthetic and then at State College of Music in 1960. At first she was a lecturer at the Kalutara Teachers Training College and then became a Director of Education (Music) at Ministry of Education, Sri Lanka. In 1967 she went to India to complete a master's degree and "Visharadha" Exams from Lucknow College of Music in singing and playing sitar. After returning, she started to work at Radio Ceylon becoming the only female singer to perform classical music programs on Sri Lanka Radio.

She is the only singer to perform in India where she sang in different languages such as Hindi, Tamil, Urdu, Telugu, Malayalam, Marathi, English and Nepali.

Sarasaviya Awards

Swarna Sankha Award

Defence Awards

Miscellaneous Awards

2009 - Vidhyalankara Honorary Award

2011 - Dheemathi Award

2015- Susara Pranama Award

2017 - ADTF Honorary Award

2017 - Prathibha Pranama Award

2017 - OSCAR Pooja Pranama Award

2018 - Kalabhushana Award

2019 - Honorary Award - Hansa Kalaashram

2019 - Honorary Doctorate - University of the Visual and Performing Arts

2020 - Kalabhimani Award

2020 - Jeevana Prashansa Honorary Award

In 2017, Amila Lokumannage wrote her biopic Sujatha Deshaye Madurathama Swaraya.

Attanayake's Book Launch ceremony entitled "Sujatha Attanayake Abhinandana" was held on 11 November 2017, at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute where she launched her biography, "Sujatha Deshaye Madhurathama Swaraya" and a Catalogue of her songs titled "Sujatha Attanayake Geethawaliya", written by Amila Lokumannage.

In 2019, Aththanayake was honored as a heroic mother who was gifted a heroic son who sacrificed his life for the country. In the same year, she was awarded honorary doctorate from University of the Visual and Performing Arts.

Playback film tracks

Year Film Song Duet Ref.1970 Geetha Pena Pena Ena Masitha Vil Thera Chanchala We with H. R. Jothipala 1970 Suli Sulang Kohedo Kohedo Aetha with H. R. Jothipala 1971 Kesara Sinhayo Heeneki Jeewithe 1972 Sujeewa Atha Wana Petha Sarasala 1972 Singapore Charlie Wasanthaye Jeewana Liya Gomuwe with Tony Hassan Tamil song 1972 Hathara Wate Sakwala Gala Mepita Upan with Sanath Nandasiri, Narada Disasekara, K. Sena 1973 Thushara Ran Tharu Se with Harun Lanthra Tharuna Sithaka Arume Kaansiye Mahansiye with R. Muttusamy Mandire Pem Sendelle with Harun Lanthra 1974 Surekha Oba Mage Nam Mama Obe Nam with H. R. Jothipala 1974 Hadawath Naththo Udagirin Paaya Dinapathida 1974 Susee Dan Dan Awile Gini Pudumai Hari Pudumai 1974 Senakeliya Sithuvili Yahanaka Sethapena with Milton Mallawarachchi Bol Pini Meda 1975 Hitha Honda Minihek Ma Gee Gayana Mohothakado Mage Ahinsaka Podi Duwe with H. R. Jothipala 1975 Aese Idiripita Laye Miyagiya Mage Sihine Anuraga Otunu Peladi with H. R. Jothipala Kuludul Wanamal Malwara with H. R. Jothipala 1975 Kaliyuga Kale Hemin Hemin Depa Thiya 1976 Duhulu Malak Bonda Meedum Kandurelle 1976 Loka Horu Randola Gebaki with Milton Perera 1976 Mangala Selena Hadawathe Kuludul Adare Rahasa Denuna with Milton Mallawarachchi1977 Neela Sondure Hadamal Hee Wedila with H. R. Jothipala Aradhana Sansaraye 1977 Sakunthala Athmayen Athmayata with H. R. Jothipala 1977 Deviyani Oba Kohida Adara Poojasane with Victor Rathnayake 1977 Yali Ipade Sansare Vindi Sahane with Milton Perera Puruwe Athmayaka Bedi 1977 Aege Adara Kathawa Oba Mage Neth Deka Wage with H. R. Jothipala, Siri Perera Oba Mage Neth Deka Wage 1977 Tom Pachaya Hade Prema Asha with H. R. Jothipala Asha Reli Dese Weli with H. R. Jothipala1978 Chandi Shyama Karumeki Upanne Lowe 1978 Deepanjali Sanda Paane Madahase with H. R. Jothipala 1978 Apeksha Sonduru Lowata Mal Wehela with H. R. Jothipala Mage Mathake Obe Ruwa Aede with H. R. Jothipala 1979 Palagetiyo Mal Pipunata Lowa with Victor Rathnayake 1979 Anusha Saman Sugande Wimasanna with H. R. Jothipala, Indrani Perera Kumareki Inne Kumariye with Roy de Silva 1979 Subhani Neela Nayana Sele with H. R. Jothipala 1980 Kanchana Jeewana Hada Ambare with Milton Mallawarachchi 1980 Silva Piyum Vile Pini Kandule with H. R. Jothipala 1980 Mage Amma Natala Gayala Weda Keruwa with Harun Lanthra 1980 Hondin Inna Balaporoththuwe Sihina Malu Diwa Re Deke with Harun Lanthra 1980 Miyurige Kathawa Sudo Mama Adarei 1981 Ek Dawasak Ra Edath Mage Adath Mage 1981 Senasuma Adaraye Mal Pipila with H. R. Jothipala 1982 Re Manamali Muthulelle Me Ahunado 1982 Pradeepa Malsara Hee Dahare with Asoka Ponnamperuma Ambiliya Gena 1982 Situ Diyaniyo Paabedi Noopura Minigigiri 1982 Mihidum Sihina Seetha Hima Relle with H. R. Jothipala 1982 Miss Mallika Ai Oba Mata Metharam with H. R. Jothipala 1982 Kadawunu Poronduwa Is Issara Wela with Eddie Jayamanne 1983 Chandira Man Romeo with Gratien Ananda, Gunadasa Kapuge, Indra Liyanage 1984 Kokila Aloke Jeewithe Mage Jeewithe Mage Adare with H. R. Jothipala, Harun Lanthra Aho Kimado Mese Une 1984 Namal Renu Kuludul Noyidul Senehasa with H. R. Jothipala Gimhana Yamaye Hadaka Mahima Dehadak Ekvila with H. R. Jothipala 1986 Mal Warusa Mal Wesse Themi Themi with H. R. Jothipala 1989 Okkoma Rajawaru Madhura Prema Nimnaye with Gratien Ananda 1989 Shakthiya Obai Amme Akasa Nadee There with Tony Hassan Podi Puthu Ipadunu Dine with Tony Hassan, Uresha Ravihari1990 Veera Udara Wasanawa Pedi Nisha Yame Hima Wala Theere with Gratien Ananda Kurullaneni Kirilli Kohe with Gratien Ananda, Maya Damayanthi, Victor Vijayantha