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J. A. Milton Perera

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J. A. Milton Perera
ජේ. ඒ. මිල්ටන් පෙරේරා
Born
Jayasinghe Arachchige Milton Perera

(1938-05-05)5 May 1938
Died24 October 1991(1991-10-24) (aged 53)
Colombo, Sri Lanka
NationalitySri Lankan
Occupation(s)Singer, composer
Spouses
  • Hemalatha,
Kalyani Perera
(m. 1969)
Children4 Including Priyankara Perera, Chalaka Chamupathi
FatherEdwin Perera
RelativesDilhani Ekanayake (daughter-in-law)
Musical career
Genres
Instrument(s)Vocals, Harmonium, Tabla
Years active1961-1990
Labels
  • HMV
  • Columbia
  • Vijitha

Jayasinghe Arachchige Milton Perera (Sinhala: මිල්ටන් පෙරේරා; 5 May 1938 – 24 October 1991), popularly known as Milton Perera, was a singer, composer and playback singer of Sri Lankan cinema.[1] 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.[2]

Personal life

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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.[2] Inspired by his father, Milton became proficient on the Tabla at a young age. Perera was a skinny, innocent young man of Podi Appuhamy. They lived in Sangamitta Mawata, Kotahena, known as Green Street. His father was a proud owner of series of small houses in a land along the street. Father and Milton lived in one of those houses. All other houses were rented. The first house of Podi Appuhamay was rented and that man had a beautiful daughter, named Hemalatha. She was so beautiful, sexy looking, and studied at the nearby school at the Green Street, known as Kotahena Madhya Maha Vidyalaya.

Milton has been trying to express his love to Mala Hemalatha. She was popularly known as Mala. He sent love letters to Mala through other students at the Schools and they were in love in no time. So Milton sang, 'Aranna Adare Mala', dedicated to his girl friend. They married and had Priyankara as only child.[3] 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.[4] 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.[5] 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.[6]

Musical career

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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.[7] 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.[1][8][9]

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.[2] Milton rose to prominence as a film playback singer in the 1960s.[1] 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.[2]

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

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

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Twenty-five years since the song spring dried up". Dinamina. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d "The tear drop of music: Milton Perera". Deshaya. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  3. ^ "Piyarayankara for the New Year: A collection of folk songs sung by Milton Perera". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  4. ^ "Kalyaniy remembers his husband". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  5. ^ "Priyanka with father's legacy". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  6. ^ "Chalaka Chamupathi into screen". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  7. ^ "Milton - Karu remembers the harmony". Divaina. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  8. ^ "How Jothi and Milton got angry with Anangaya song". Lankadeepa. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  9. ^ "What happened to our singing world due to the Jothi-Milton clash". lifie. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
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