Guruge Premasiri Khemadasa Perera, born on January 25 in 1937 in Wadduwa, had his education at Sri Sumangala College and St. John's College, Panadura. He did not hail from an affluent family. Challenges and obstacles that he had to wade through are innumerable. When Premasiri khemadasa was seven, his father passed away. It was his mother who looked after the household. Premasiri Kemadasa was enamoured with his cheap flute and garnered the popularity as a flutist among others. As time passed, his curiosity of the field of music intensified. In his family he did not have a musical atmosphere at all.
He had only a god-given talent. On the day he was due to sit his Senior School Examination, he was asked to come to Radio Ceylon for an audition. Khemadasa finished his examination much ahead of the due time and travelled to Radio Ceylon with the idea of attending the audition. Not surprisingly, he passed the interview and became a member of Radio Ceylon.
A renowned musician
Already you know that Dr. Premasiri Khemadasa broke away from the long - established musical styles and swam against the tide. The unique identity he established in the Sri Lankan musical industry is indelible. Dr. Khemadasa broke away from the commonest musical styles and explored many styles around the world. What is remarkable in his music composed for cinema is the fact that the theme of the film and his music had been bound inseparably in such a way that we feel the theme of cinematic creations.
As noted by veteran musician Dr. Rohana Weerasinghe, Maestro Khemadasa created a new musical style without adherence to the long - established streams.
“Maestro Khemadasa created a new style by combining different styles. His music for films such as Nidhanaya , Bambaru Avith , Golu Hadawatha ,Thunweni Yamaya, Sanasuma Kothanada and Yasa Isuru bear testimony to his brilliance. There are many lessons for musicians to learn from Maestro Khemadasa. I could join one of his symphonies as a Sitar player.
I could widen my capabilities and improve my knowledge by working with him. Many veteran musicians such as Dr. Victor Rathnayake and Amarasiri Peiris had contributed to music mainly because of its significance.
Maestro Khemadasa ensured the wellbeing of musicians by giving opportunities to them. To add a new dimension to my career as a musician, I followed Dr. Khemadasa, Pandith W.D. Amaradeva and Dr. Victor Rathnayake. When speaking of his music for films, what had been etched in my mind are Bambaru Awith, Golu Hadawatha, Nidhanaya and Sanasuma Kothanada, Dr. Rohana Weerasinghe said.
Speaking of Maestro Khemadasa’s process of composing music, first he murmured the same melody repeatedly until he got the melody right. His musicology can never be confined either to the Eastern music or to the Western music. Dr. Khemadasa’s debut as a film music composer came with Sirisena Wimalaweera's Roddie Kella. Films embellished with Dr. Khemadasa's music such as Janaka Saha Manju, Thunveni Yamaya, Yasa Isuru, Hansa Vila and Nidhanaya are acclaimed as landmarks in the Sri Lankan music industry.
Dr. Khemadasa took a revolutionary step to combine both voices of Jothipala and Clarence Wijewardana to compose music for the film Janaka Saha Manju. As noted by critics, Dr. Khemadasa used to study the script and the theme of the film before starting to compose music for films. One good example is the film Yasa Isuru for which Dr. Khemadasa composed music.
He had used chords in Western music for the song Ammavarune which heightens a mother's love. Another example is the film Hansa Vilak by Dharmasiri Bandaranayake. Dr. Khemadasa broke away from the common styles to compose music for Hemin Sere Piya Vida. Significantly, Dr. Khemadasa had won the Sarasaviya Best Music Direction Awards for films such as Golu Hadawatha in 1969, Nari Latha in 1970, Yuganthaya in 1986, Sandakada Pahana in 1990 and Dolosmahe Pahana in 1992. In addition, he won awards for music for the film Nidanaya which went on to win the Silver Lion of St. Mark Award at the Venice International Film Festival.
As noted by veteran musician Indika Upamali, Dr. Khemadasa can be regarded as an extraordinary musician who went beyond the scope of ordinary musicians because he had known the scientific perspective of music.
“We cannot choose one facet of a diamond because every facet is precious. Similarly, we cannot choose between Dr. Khemadasa's creations which remain unique and unparalleled. Dr. Khemadasa is not a mere music composer. He went beyond that scope and had known the scientific perspective of music.
Significantly, his expertise spanned multiple fields such as film music, drama music, operas, symphonies, cantatas, children’s music and teledrama music. In my opinion, what has to be done is to study his philosophy of music and continue it for the betterment of our music industry. Sadly we don't attempt to study Dr. Khemadasa's philosophy of music. We should be able to continue his philosophy and go beyond it," Indika Upamali said. Suffice to say that Dr. Premasiri Kemadasa is a colossus in our music industry. As Nadeeka Guruge said, “ Dr . Khemadasa is a giant of our time.”
Music for teleplays and stage plays
Speaking of teledramas adorned by Maestro Khemadasa's music, we still love Dadubasnamanaya, Weda Hamine, Rajina, Akala Sandya and Bogola Soundiris. Dr. Khemadasa won the Sumathi Teli Award for Dadubasnamanaya and Rajina.
We cannot lose his symphonies and operas , Maestro Khemadasa enthralled us and enriched the Sri Lankan music culture with his symphonies such as Muhuda, Mage Kale Mavni and Sinhala Avurudda and his Cantata namely Pirinivan Mangalya.
Moreover, he took our Sri Lankan opera to new horizons through his operas such as Manasawila, Doramadalawa, Agni and Sondura Varnadasi. Regrettably, on October 24, 2008, the most renowned musician Maestro Khemadasa departed from our midst. The void he left in the field of music can never to be filled.