P.L.A. SOMAPALA
The unforgettable tunesmith
The 97th birth anniversary of one of Sri Lanka’s celebrated music directors – P. L. A. Somapala, falls on September 21. PLA Somapala directed music for a large number of Sinhala movies and was responsible for the original melodies of popular songs. Peragaswatte Liyana Acharige Somapala, born in Colombo on September 21, 1921 studied at St. Lawrence’s College, Maradana. For the first time, the passionate music lover got a chance to be part of an orchestra as a violinist in the stage play titled ‘Carnival’ in 1941. Interestingly former UNP Minister Vincent Perera was its music director while former President Ranasinghe Premadasa played the character of a Tamil boy called Shanmugam. In 1942, Somapala sang his first song for Radio Ceylon and the renowned musician joined the Radio Orchestra in 1943, paving the way for his illustrious music career. He also sang popular songs mostly with Chitra Somapala whom he married in September, 1952. P. L. A. was the music director in films like Asoka, Dingiri Menika, Deiyanne Rate, Sri 296, Deepashika, Hathara Maha Nidhanaya, Sweep Ticket, Ethulweema