Bajjala Walawwe Gretien Ananda Abeykoon, as Gration Ananda or Greshan Ananda, was a Sri Lankan singer, composer, songwriter and a lyricist.
22 Facts About Gratien Ananda
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Jothipala, Gratien Ananda sang for more than 400 films with a musical career that spanned nearly three decades.
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Gratien Ananda died at the age of 53 while receiving treatments at National Hospital of Sri Lanka, Colombo.
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Gratien Ananda was born on 15 March 1957 to a family immersed in music.
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Gratien Ananda's father Bajjala Walawwe Shelton Abeykoon was a police officer and mother Bernadette Bernadine Jayawardena Amadoru, was a music teacher and a pianist.
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Gratien Ananda's grand father Brigadier Charley Jayawardena Amador was a renowned musician who served in the British Army.
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Gratien Ananda spent his early childhood in Kandy, after he moved to hometown Tangalle for primary education.
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Gratien Ananda first went to Little Flower Convent in Tangalle and then to StMathew College Dematagoda.
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Gratien Ananda was a devoted Catholic, where he never missed a Tuesday mass at St Anthony's Church, Kochchikade in Colombo.
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Gratien Ananda's son Mario Ananda was born on 12 May 1991 and completed education from father's school, StJoseph College.
11.
Gratien Ananda started music career after Gratien's death to continue his legacy.
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Gratien Ananda's music education took place in his own home, since his mother was a music teacher, he was able to associate various musical instruments at his home.
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Gratien Ananda started to play mouth organ since the age of 3.
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Gratien Ananda practiced piano under Lal Perera and Claud Fernando.
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In 1976, Gratien Ananda started to play under different bands most notably Stanley Perera's Fortunes, which became his turning point.
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Gratien Ananda was invited to play as a guitarist for Victor Rathnayake's SA Concert.
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Gratien Ananda first rendered his voice to Gunathilaka's acting in Yasapalitha Nanayakkara's Newatha Hamuwemu.
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Gratien Ananda was able to sing together with Neela Wickramasinghe for a disc in 1978.
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Gratien Ananda started to compose music for songs Etha Duraka Etha Pawela by himself and Neela Wickramasinghe and Tedini Viraja by Edward Jayakody.
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Gratien Ananda composed melodies for his fellow artistes, some of them became very popular.
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On 22 December 2010, Gratien Ananda was hospitalized to receive treatments for a number of illnesses including liver failure.
22.
In December 2010, Gratien Ananda died at the age of 53 while taking medical assistance at the Colombo National Hospital.