Ranasinghe Arachchilage Ajantha Sarath Kumara Ranasinghe (30 May 1940 – 27 February 2016), popularly as Ajantha Ranasinghe, was an award winning Sri Lankan journalist, lyricist, poet, and novelist.^[1] Considered one of the most iconic^[2] and prolific lyricists ever produced in the country, over the course of a 40 year career he contributed to nearly 60 films and more than 400 songs.^[3]

Personal life

Ajantha Ranasinghe was born on 30 May 1940^[4] in Thalammahara, a small village in the Kurunegala district. After obtaining his primary education at the Pannala Government School, he moved to Colombo and resumed his studies at St. John's College, Nugegoda.^[5] He left after completing the GCE Ordinary Level Exams.^[6]

Ranasinghe was married to daughter of late singer Kokiladevi Weeratunga, Sarojini Weeratunge.

Journalist career

Ranasinghe's uncle Asoka Pieris was a well known dramatist, and he came under his influence and through that got to showcase his talent over the airwaves. At a very young age, Ranasinghe wrote Buddhist songs to the Lama Mandapaya, a program on Radio Ceylon hosted by Karunaratne Abeysekera.^[3] He participated in another program, Radio Magazine, organised by the filmmaker K. A. W. Perera. His first published work, Thivanka Rekha, a poetry collection, came out in 1964.^[7]

He wrote poetry and short stories for the children's pages of Silumina and Peramuna. His poetry was frequently published in Silumina, Vanitha Viththi, and Lankadeepa.^[8] Eventually he was selected as a staff reporter at Dinamina. He would graduate from and to the posts of Sub Editor, Local News Editor, Additional Chief Sub Editor, Chief Sub Editor, Features Editor, and Chief Editor of Navayugaya.^[9]

Career as a lyricist

After three decades in journalism, Ranasinghe began writing lyrics for popular singers.^[3] His verses became highly popular among the public.^[8] Award after award followed, from the Sarasaviya, OCIC, State Literary, Raigam, Sumathi, and Kumaratunga Munidasa ceremonies.^[5] In addition to being a lyricist, Ranasinghe was also a B Grade Radio Ceylon singer.^[8]

Landmarks

• 25 years as an Editor at Lake House^[10]
• Provincial News Editor and Local News Editor at Dinamina^[10]
• Features Editor of Janatha
• Editor in Chief of Nawayugaya
• Consultant at the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC)^[3]
• President's Award for Best Song Writer of the Year on three occasions^[5]
• Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism Awards for Excellence Programme, organised by the Editor's Guild of Sri Lanka – 2014
• A song festival Ajantha Geethavalokana was held at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute at Independent Square on 9 May 2002^[11]
• A collection of his songs released in 2002 in a new cassette and CD titled Kalpana Vijithaya^[12]
• A second CD collection released in 2013 titled Ran Kenden^[13]

Death

Ranasinghe died at the Colombo National Hospital on 27 February 2016^[14][15] after a minor accident right opposite his house three days earlier.^[16] His remains were kept at No. 11/4, Ranasinghe Mawatha, Hiripitiya, Pannipitiya at his son's residence.^[8] The funeral was held on 29 February 2016 at the Borella Cemetery.^[17]

Author work

• Landuni Mata Varam Natha (1975)
• Vinkal Bass (1978)
• Kristhuni Karunakara Manawa (1995)
• Sihina Kumara Saha Othamo (2009)^[18]
• Thunpath Rata^[19]
• Thiwanka Rekha^[20]
• Janakanthayinge Manakantha Katha

Filmography

Dr. Ranasinghe contributed over 300 lyrics to Sinhala films since 1976 with his debut, Wasana.^[1]

Notable lyrics

Ajantha Ranasinghe wrote more than 400 lyrics for singers across several generations.^[21][22]

References

External links

• Ajantha Ranasinghe at IMDb
• Funeral of Late Ajantha Ranasinghe
• Filmography as a lyricist
• President Wishes Songwriter Dr Ajantha Ranasinghe
• Popular Lyrics Ajantha Ranasinghe shows
• For Ajantha Ranasinghe
• අජන්තා ගැන තවත් නොකී කතා
• වසර 56කට පෙර කවියට නැඟුණු අජන්තාගේ අප‍‍්‍රකාශිත පේ‍‍්‍රමය