Olu Pipeela (2nd Version) - Sunil Shantha

Baddaliyanage Don Joseph John was born on 14th of April 1915 at Dehiyagatha, Ja-ela to Catholic parents. His parents died when he was small and was brought up by his close family. He learnt to play harmonium from his uncle M.J. Perera, a music lover. He became the first in the island, in the school leaving certificate exam and won an award. In 1933 he passed teacher's certificate and started teaching at Mt. Calvary school. In 1938 he passed the intermediate Gandarva examination. At this period, he also obtained a certificate in physical training and learned to play the piano accordion and the guitar.

In 1939, he left Sri Lanka for Shanthi Nikethan in India, where he studied Hindustani, Classical and Bengali Orchestral and Vocal music. After a year there, he went to Batkhande Sangeeth Vidyapeeth, in Allahabad.
He became first in the first Division in instrumental (sitar) and first Division in vocal where he obtained the Sangeeth Visarad Degree after a four year course of study.

In 1944 he returned to the Island as Sunil Santha. After returning, he started reading books authored by Munidasa Kumaratunga and Raphiel Thennakoon and realized the necessity of creating our own Sri Lankan music. On the 2nd of March 1946 he sang songs at the Kumaratunga Commemoration ceremony, soon he became a superstar after he recorded Olu Pipila at the Radio Ceylon. That was the first song done on a record. Sunil was against Indian Ragadari music, so his enemies started a battle to expel him from the Radio Ceylon. They damaged his records at the Radio Ceylon. They brought down an Indian national, Mr. Ratnajankar to audition Sinhala artists, with the hope of expelling Sunil Santha from the Radio Ceylon. Sunil boycotted the audition, so he was expelled from the Radio Ceylon.

In 1952, he married a trained teacher Bernadet Leelawathi Jayasekara. Sunil and Leela had three sons and one daughter. In 1953, he started music classes at Maradana. At this period, Albert Perera (W.D. Amaradeva) who played violin for Sunil Santha was having financial difficulties, so Sunil let Amaradeva teach music at his Panadura music classes.

In 1956 Dr. Lester James Pieris invited Sunil to make tunes for the songs of "Rekhawa" and "Sandeshaya". The songs were masterpieces and even today they are very popular. In 1967 Director General Neville Jayaweera invited Sunil Santha to the Radio Ceylon and asked him to do programs in music. He created revolutionary music and created songs in one note and four notes and five notes. Mr. Jayaweera asked Sunil to audition the artistes too. Mr. H.W. Rupasinghe and W.D.Amaradeva assisted him.

In the 70s Sunil was having financial difficulties and moved to his uncle's house in Dehiyagatha, Ja-Ela. He did many jobs. He repaired radios, worked as a photographer. In 1977 Mr. H.M. Gunasekara who was the Director of Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation produced a record named "Sunil Gee." His last record was 'Sigiri Gee', where he recorded Sigiri Kurutu Gees on a 45rpm produced by the SLBC.

28th of February of 1981 was the saddest day in Sunil Santhas life. His third son Jagath Santha was drowned in the Blue Oceanic Hotel Negombo. That death is still a mystery. Sunil suffered a heart attack and was admitted to the Colombo General Hospital where died on the 11th April 1981. His eyes were donated to two people after his death. On the 13th April 1981, he was laid to rest at the Dehiyagatha cemetery.

Reference: Google