R. A. Chandrasena

R. A. Chandrasena
Born	27 August 1924(1924-08-27) Mahanuvara (Kandy), Sri lanka
Died	1 March 1980(1980-03-01) (aged 55) Colombo, Sri Lanka
Occupation	Musician, Singer, Music Director
Nationality	Sri Lankan
Ethnicity	Sri Lankan, Sinhala
Notable work(s)	Chandrasena Sangeethayathanaya , Gramophone Record Venture of RAC and Shrimath labels
Spouse(s)	Sriyani Chandrasena (1925–2009)

R A Chandrasena, was a Sri Lankan musician who earned his reputation as a highly talented and gifted artist and also by his contribution to the Sri Lankan music discipline and the industry during 1940-1980.

He commenced his career when he was twelve years old in late 1930s at his entry to the musical programmes in Radio Ceylon (now known as Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation) with his gifted talents in playing many musical intruments whatever came to his hands. Notably, excelling in keyboard intruments such as Harmonium, Piano accordion, Piano, Organ and also the oriental intruments such as Tabla, Mandolin and Violin.

Chandrasena established his institute of music in December 1951 and titled it as Chandrasena Sangeethaayathanaya (Chandrasena Institute of Music). This institute turned out be the stepping stone for many musicians in that era and in the subsequent generation. R A Chandrasena provided his experties, knowledge and mentorship to many artists in a humble and relentless manner during his lifetime.

In 1969, Chandrasena launched a gramophone record company by which 45 RPM EP records were issued to the Sri Lankan Sinhala songs market under the labels of RAC and Shrimath. All the songs in these records were composed and music directed by R A Chandrasena and he managed to use the talents of many professional singers and lyrics writers effectively in these master pieces.

During his relatively short life, he achieved reputations as a professional composer, a singer, a drama/film music director, a music teacher and more over as a mentor for many musicians and artists at the early stages of their professional path, especially in refining their talents. Among the many, the key personalities who were well coached and mentored by Chandrasena are, Dharmadasa Walpola (1949), Guruge Khemadasa Perera later known as Premasiri Khemadasa (1953), and Victor Ratnayake (1962)".

Life in brief (1924–1980)

Chandrasena was born on August 27, 1924 in Mahanuvara, much known as Kandy, in central Sri Lanka to a Sinhala Buddhist family. At birth, he was named as Ranasinghe Arachchige Chandrasena Perera. His parents were Ranasinghe Arachchige Jeiris Perera and Selesthina Dias Abeysinghe whose generations had been from Mahanuwara. Chandrasena was the third child of the eleven children in the family. His father was not a musician by profession, but a highly talented musician whose exposure could have influenced Chandrasena to admire music since his childhood.

Chandrasena was educated at Sri Rahula college in Kandy, Prince College in Kotahena and Sri Dharmaloka College in Keleniya. He had the previllege of being mentored by Ananda Samarakoon at Prince College, D B Dhanapala and C M Weerartne at Sri Dharmaloka College. D B Dhanapala was the principle at Sri Dharmaloka College who later became a veteran journalist in Sri Lanka and the Editor-in-Chief at DAVASA newspaper founded in 1961 by M. D. Gunasena and Company, Sri Lanka. C. M. Weeraratne was a teacher at Sri Dharmaloka College who later became the Vice Principal of Ananda College. Further, Chandrasena was also mentored and well supported by U A S Perera, well known as Siri Ayya in his children musical programmes at Radio Ceylon.

1946-Sriyani Chandrasena

In 1943, Chandrasena met a young talented singer, named Mohoppu Arachchige Shriyaawathie Perera who was later known as Sriyani Chandrasena, at an audition programme that was conducted at Radio Celyon. They got married on July 26, 1946. Sriyani had a brief career as a singer, but largely, she became the devoted lifetime supporting partner for Chandrasena in his all musical creations and events throughout. They had three children Thilangani, Lalith and Darshani.

R A Chandrasena passed away in the early hours of March 1, 1980, after a brief heart illness. Sriyani continued Chandrasena's vision and the practice at Chandrasena Sangeethaanayathanaya and prepared the youngest daughter Darshani in the music profression. Darshani was graduated in music at the Faculty of Esthetic Studies at University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka and became a teaching professional in music.

Sriyani Chandrasena passed away on August 4, 2009.

As a Singer

Chandrasena's singing voice became much heard and popular by the famous song "Dasabaladhari Budu Raju Pera Kala" in 1948 March. This was the theme song of the stage drama Sanda Kinduri that was produced by Vasantha Kumara, a well reputed oriental dancer. The lyrics of the song was done by S L Kakulawela who later became the vice chancellor of University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. The lyrics was based on the story of a previous life (Chanda Kinnara Jaathakaya) of Gautama Buddha during which he was born as a mermaid species in the Himalayan mountain range in India. This song was composed by R A Chandrasena himself and this was supposed to be his first ever melody. This is still a well known and much respected song in the Sri Lankan music.

External links

• Official web site of R.A. Chandrasena
• R.A. Chandrasena Songs on line

Persondata
Name	Chandrasena, Ranasinghe Arachchige
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	August 27, 1924
Place of birth	Mahanuvara (Kandy), Sri lanka
Date of death	March 1, 1980
Place of death	Colombo, Sri Lanka