‘Eda Re’ A movie on memorable Milton
View(s):By Susitha R. Fernando
A movie on one of Sri Lanka’s legendary singers, Milton Mallawarachchi is being made based on true to life incidents relating to the yesteryear vocalist who won the hearts of millions of music lovers.
Named after his landmark song “Eda Re”, the film is made based on research done on his life and the story is written by Dhammika Salvathura and screenplay is written by Suneth Malinga Lokuhewa and Priyanath Vidanapathirana. ‘Eda Re’ is directed by award winning filmmaker Aruna Jayawardena.
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- Ranil Mallawarachchi
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- Milton in his early days
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- Roshan Ravindra
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- At the Muhurath Ceremony
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- Milton’s wife Swarna
Presenting an inspiring cinematic journey into the life and legacy of the legendary Sri Lankan vocalist Milton Mallawarachchi, who is famously and fondly revered as the “Prince of Love Songs,” and the film is to feature 23 songs out of over 850 sang by Milton.
Some of these include “Kandu Para Etha Aiyne’, ‘Ma nisa oba’, ‘Madu Mala’, ‘Upul Nuwan Vidaha’, ‘Oruwaka Pavena’, ‘Sulange Paavi’, ‘Yawwana Uyane’, ‘Me Mai Gaha Yata’, ‘Awasara Netha Mata’, ‘Sundarathwayen’, ‘Maga thoadi’, ‘Sihinen Oba Mata’, ‘Pem Raja Dahane’, ‘Hadannepa Den’, ‘Oruwaka Pawena’, ‘Sinahawa Atharin’, ‘Kese Kiyannada’ and his iconic song ‘Eda re’.
The biopic is to explore Milton’s formative years, his rise to fame, his creative collaborations, and the intimate struggles behind his public
success. The film is to portray not only the triumphs of this musical legend but also the tender moments of a husband, father, and dreamer who lived for his art.
With the gradual
revival of
Sri Lanka cinema last year, a movie on Milton follows the successful screening of ‘Clarence; the Rhythm of Guitar’, a cinematic version of Clarence Wijewardene’s musical journey. Interestingly Suresh Maaliyadda whose music direction was partly behind the success of the film on Clarence, is writing the musical score for ‘Eda Re’ as well. Continuing Mallawarachchi’s legacy, Milton’s elder son Ranil and grandson Pavan Mallawarachchi are to do the playback singing in the film while the female duets are by Uresha Ravihari and Samitha Mudunkotuwa.
For One Line Production and Entertainment pvt Limited, the film is produced by Ranil Mallawarachchi, Dr. Arosha Fernando and Chamaka Manjula.
The Muhurath ceremony to start the film was held at Nawaloka building where Milton started his professional career as billing clerk for Nawaloka Group and also where he breathed last at Nawaloka hosptial. Milton was close to the owners of Nawaloka Group, Dharmadasa family for whom he work for and there was a deep rooted friendship with Jayantha Dharmadasa.
“My father had a demigod or ‘Deiya’ and it was Jayantha Dharmadasa and if he didn’t get a call from Mr. Dharmadasa at least once in two days he used to be worried,” said Milton’s son Ranil Mallawarachchi.
“It is a matter of destiny that my father started his life as a billing clerk at Nawaloka group and died at the same premises at Nawaloka hospital and now that we are having the opening for his film at the same venue,” Ranil reminded his father’s longstanding connection to Nawaloka group and the family.
Affirming his close friendship with Milton, businessman and Nawaloka Hospital Chairman, Jayantha Dharmadasa narrated how he used to cover Milton’s work as a billing clerk when he gets absent from work after attending to musical shows in outstations. He also described how mad Milton was for cricket and in case if he missed a match how the following day Dharmadasa had to described the entire match ball to ball in details.
‘Eda Re’ the musical movie, a massive production is to have a main cast with nearly 50 artistes and over 1150 supporting characters. The film is scheduled to have about 180 scenes at nearly 100 locations and the shooting is to be covered within 40 days.
While the role of Milton is to be played by young talented actor Roshan Ravindra, other main roles are to be played by Nethmi Roshel, Senali Fonseka, Sheshadri Priyasad, Dineth de Silva, Prasanna Dekumpitiya, Dulanjana Dilshan, Dileepa Abeysekara, Suran Dissanayake,
Kasun Gammana, Ishan Mendis, Janith Wickremage, Vishwa Kodikara, Anuruddhdhika Padukkage, Himali Siriwardena, Udith Abeyratne, Dharmapriya Dias, Mayura Kanchana, Shashirana Wickremasekara, Dinth Walgama, Kalana Gunasekara, Amiththa Weerasinge, Dhanushka Dias, Jehan Appujamy, Firny Roshani, Chinthaka Kulatunga, Hiran Yattovita, Jayanath Bandara, Ishara Pramuditha, Shenesh Bandara and Tharanga Dissanayake.
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