Rohana Beddage

Rohana Beddage (රෝහණ බැද්දගේ; born 27 October 1935) is a singer and actor in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television. He is also a musician, dancer, teacher, lyricist, lecturer, theater director, choreographer and an author.

In February 2020, Beddage was appointed as the Sri Lankan Ambassador to the Maldives. In July 2021, he resigned from his post. In 2020, he was appointed as the chairmen of Sri Lanka Arts Council.

Early career
He was born on 27 October 1935 as Beddage Rohana, in Mahauduwa, Horana as the fourth child of the family with five siblings. His father Baddage Nomis Singho was a farmer. His mother Hapuachchige Elisahami from Meewalapalane was a housewife. He has two elder sisters - Subalin, Magilin and one elder brother, Davith, one younger brother Punchi Singho (aka Jayantha Aravinda). His father died, when he was 7 years old. Aravinda's son Waradaththa is also a singer, who sang the popular song Maṭa Arādhanāvak Kaḷādō.

He started education from village school Uduwa Primary School and later in 1948, entered to Taxila Central College, Horana and completed education from English medium. When he was in his pre-senior year at Taxila, he studied dancing from Subanchi Lal. In 1954, he passed S.S.C. exam.

Music career
During school life, Beddage was interested in music, where he started to play violin, flute and tabla, without any guidance. In 1983, he won the first place in the All-Ceylon school singing and dancing competition held by UNESCO for his song Malsarā Bælma Heḷā, compiled by himself with the melodies from hand tambourine, shanthi karma, and kavi Nadagam. Meanwhile, he learned music from Sumitra Nerangama. In the meantime in 1956, Beddage met Prof. Ediriweera Sarachchandra and asked to join as a flutist for his stage drama Maname. He accepted the offer and became the first flutist of Maname.

Later, he entered Heywood Institute of Art (currently known as University of the Visual and Performing Arts). Even though he needed to study dancing at Heywood, he later moved to study music under the guidance of Lionel Edirisinghe and S.B. Kapukotuwa. Thus, Beddage learned violin from Gunasena master and music from Lionel Edirisinghe. After completing his Haywood life, he joined Horana Kulupana College as a dance teacher on 3 March 1959. In the school, he compiled the performance called Vichitra Ranga where "The net pulling" act won the first place from a competition organized by UNESCO.

Meanwhile, Beddage made songs on Radio Ceylon, they did not get popular. After the career in Kulupana College, he entered his own school Taxila College as the dancing teacher with the help of W. B. Makuloluwa, who was appointed as Director of the Ministry of Education. In the school, he produced two stage plays: Alakalanchiya, Gal Væhi. For his third stage play, he compiled a folk song Mage Raththaran Helena. In 1972, Beddage entered Giragama Music Teachers College as a member of the first batch. His apprentice Sarath Kulanga is a renowned dramatist. However, after the drama started, Beddage got transferred to another school. Then he joined with Makuloluwa's drama troupe. During this period, Beddage sang the folk song he made for the stage drama during a break. There the part 'Kawuda?' was sung by T. M. Jayaratne. However, in 1974, he recorded the song on Radio Ceylon, which later became his first solo hit. The song was first featured in the program "Sandella" made by Lucien Bulathsinhala and C. D. S. Kulathilaka and Sena Gunasekara's program "Paryeshana Gee". From 1953 to 1985, he worked as a dance and music teacher. From 1986 to 1989, he worked as a lecturer at the Institute of Aesthetic Education affiliated to University of Kelaniya. He later established the art school "Sandagiri Paya" with music, dancing, drama and video technology courses.

After that, Beddage made several folk-mixed songs such as: Kandē Landē Gangulællē, Kos Vathu Kandē, Onna Nokivvayi Kiyannepā Hāminē, Kammalē Yakaḍa Thæḷennē, Apa Sēma Ipadī Mærenā Urumē, Rā Bī Veri Vū, Nagē Numbaṭa Dæna, Tin Tin Hanḍadī, Goma Riṭi Gilī Thiruvānā, Hā Yaman Putā Hemin Hemin, Apaṭa Samāvenna Hāmu, ''Kukku Kū.. Kū, Mē Gammānē Kandu Væṭi Sīmāvē, Rājā ō Mangaliyā and Sassanda Sasanda''. Apart from that, he made the music and lyrics for Edward Jayakody's song Gan Wathura Galā Uthurā Yayi and Baddage sang two songs composed by Jayakody: Nagē Numbaṭa Dæna Gannayi, and Nænda Māma Dennā. Later in 1982, Beddage joined with fellow singer Bandula Wijeweera and the duo named as "Mamayi Benai". They made several popular hits including: Magē Sudu Bǣṇanḍiṭa, Kaliyuga Kāleka Upanna, Dannā Tharam Pada Kasthiram and Doḷos Mahak Gathavī Yana Mohothē. As a result, the "Mamayi Benai" show was performed in both local and international arena more than five hundred times. After twelve years, the duo performed at the Lionel Wendt theatre at 3.30 pm and 7.00 pm on July 11, 2008.

From 1989 to 1991, Beddage worked as an assistant director of education related to aesthetic education in the Ministry of Education. In 1996, his song Sasanda Sasanda was featured on top 20 Los Angeles World Chart Show and was the only Asian song.

As a music director, Beddage composed music for several stage dramas such as: Dayananda Gunawardena's Jasaya Ha Lenchina, Ananda Javanika, Madhura Javanika, Gajaman Puvatha, Rohana Dandeniya's Rassa Saha Parassa, Jayalath Manoratne's Thala Mala Pipila, and Tilak Gunawardena's Kontha Nona. Beddage retired from government teaching service in 1992. From 2000 to 2007, he worked as an external lecturer on folk music at the University of Fine Arts. Along with Jananath Warakagoda, and Jitendra Vidyapathi, he sang the song Mihikata Heḷa Rū Varuṇā, a song about elephants.

Acting career
His acting credentials started during school days. He produced many stage dramas within the school and later in popular stage. Some of his stage productions are: Baḷal Sāstharē (1962), Alakalanchiya (1967), Galvæhi (1969), and Rālahāmi (2012). Apart from that, he acted in the stage plays including: Makuloluwa's Heḷa Miyæsiya, Depānō (1965), Dayānanda Guṇawardhana's Gajaman Puvatha (1975), Madhura Javanikā (1978), and Rōhaṇa Dandeniya's Rāssa Saha Parāssa (2012). As a choreographer, Beddage rendered his skills in the stage plays: Sakkāya Diṭṭhi, Ambusæmiyō, Jasayā Saha Lenchinā, Gajaman Puvatha, Madhura Javanikā, Ananda Javanikā, and Mee Pura Wæsiyō. In 2011, he produced the stage play Ralahamy, where the premier show was held on 17th June 2011 at 6.30 pm at Lumbini Theatre, Colombo.

In television, he acted in many television serials such as: Paḷingu Mæṇike, Kande Gedara, Ves Taṭṭuva, Niyan Ukussō, and Iraṭa Hanḍana Mal. His first television acting came through Palingu Menike in 1982.

In 1997, Beddage made his first cinematic appearance with the film Bawa Duka. In the same year, he reprised his role in the sequel Bawa Karma. In 2019, he had a supporting role in the film Sama Kumaru Kathawa. Later he also acted in the drama films: Vaishnavee and Uthuru Sulanga.

Author work
Beddage has written the books: Sinhala Sangeetha Sailiya, Andara Væṭiya, Loku Ayaṭa Punchi Kathandara, Alakalanchiya, Gamē Rāḷahāmi, and Gammānē Upan Geetha.

Personal life
Rohana Beddage is married to his longtime partner, Padmathilaka, who is a music teacher. The couple have one daughter and one son. His daughter Thushara Beddage, is a radio music producer and his son Tharaka Beddage is the owner of the video production company "Wild House".

Notable television serials

 * Kande Gedara as retired teacher
 * Palingu Menike as Gurunnanse
 * Irata Handana Mal as Appachchi


 * eliya aran

Awards and honors
He won the award for the Best Music Director for the stage plays Kontha Nēnā (1976), Rassa Saha Parāssa (1980), Ananda Javanikā (1986), and Andarēlā (1995). For his contribution to the field of arts, he was honored with the Best Musician Award in 1986 in Rajya Sangeeth Festival, Kalasuri Award in 2003, and Desha Nethru Award in National Literary Kala Prasadini Festival in 2012.

On 1 January 2010, the 'Gammanen Sidadiyata' concert was held at the Elphinstone Theater in Colombo at 6.00 pm to celebrate 75 years of singing and acting career. On 18 January 2024, a tribute ceremony titled "Rōhaṇa Bæddagē Perahuru Karaḷiya" was held at Sudarshee Cultural Center in Colombo. Along with the tribute ceremony, an open-air theater was named after him at Sudarshee Cultural Center in Colombo on 8 February 2024.