Dinesh Subasinghe (born 10 July 1979) is a Sri Lankan composer, violinist, and music producer. He composed Karuna Nadee, a Buddhist oratorio, and re-introduced a lost, ancient musical instrument known as the ravanahatha to Sri Lanka.Jayawaranda, Ruwini (25 June 2012). "Going places along a tuneful path". Daily News. Retrieved 5 May 2013.Sir Ondaatje, Christopher (2 June 2013). "Sri Lanka's Ravanahatha is the world's first violin".The Sunday Times Retrieved 1 August 2013.Devapriya, Uditha (19 January 2014)."A musical missionary".Ceylon Today. Retrieved 15 March 2014. He is also a film and television composer whose works integrate western and eastern classical music with electronic music, Buddhist music, folk music, traditional orchestral arrangements, and world music genres.The Nation (6 February 2011). "Music therapy for the mind". Retrieved 5 May 2013 From 2002 to 2009 he led the pop classical band, Dee R Cee Members.The Sunday Times (13 January 2008). "Creative tunes". Retrieved 5 May 2013
In 2015-2016 Dinesh received Sri Lankan attention for the film score of Ho Gaana Pokuna children movie. He has nominated for 10 film awards & won six awards out of that including Derana Film Awards, Presidential Film Awards, Hiru Golden Film Award & Signis Awards, in 2016-2017 . he became the most youngest composer to score music for 100 Tele-dramas for Sri Lankan TV.
Subasinghe received the Toyp Award Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World (TOYP) in 2016 for his contribution to Sri Lankan arts. In 2018 he received the 'Asia Inspiration Award' at the 2nd south Asian youth summit. In 2019 he received the 'India Peace Prize' at the 3rd south Asian Youth summit in New Delhi India.
He did the music score for Sudu Andagena Kalu Awidin teledrama and directed music of 'Tone Poem'/Baila sade & Imorich tunes musical series.http://mirrorcitizen.dailymirror.lk/2018/07/30/charitha-and-ridma-on-tone-poem/
Early life Subasinghe was born in Colombo, Sri Lanka in 1979. He studied at St Peter's College, Colombo and Maris Stella College in Negombo. He began playing music at a very young age. He studied music under Samantha Amarajeewa, Janaki Disanayaka, Christal Luduwike, and Patrick Master at his school and in the city. He also studied with B. Victor Perera, Mahinda Senivirathan, Kalani Perera, V.Hemapala Perera and Ananda Perera.Daily Mirror (28 November 2005). "Dee R Cee in tune with the times"
In 2001 Subasinghe started learning western classical music under Ashoka Jayawardhana, Hasini Helpe (daughter of Briget and Ashly Helpe) and Annada Dabare. Later they assisted Subasinghe in joining the Sri Lankan Symphony Orchestra.Perera, Suharshi (13 February 2008)."New Chord"Daily News.Retrieved 27 January 2015.
He became a member of composer Stanley Peiris's orchestra. (in Sinhalese) Subasinghe worked under the Sri Lankan composer Premasiri Khemadasa for eight years and led the orchestra for Khemdasa's opera Agni (2007–2008). From 2001 to 2005 he was a member of Sri Lankan musical groups led by Dumindu Kadigamuwa, Harsha Bulathsinghala, Janananth Warakagoda, and Dilup Gabadamudalige.Samarasinghe, Sarashi (20 January 2008). "Dee R Cee – A different dream". The Nation. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
He began composing for television and film in 2004 when cinema director Chandrathna Mapitigama selected him to compose music for his television series Hummane.Jayawardana, Ruwini (30 December 2009). "Lankan musician catches India's eye". Daily News. Retrieved 5 May 2013. In 2009 he received a scholarship from Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to study music under A. R. Rahman at the KM Music Conservatory in India.Sarathchandra, Abeeth (10 May 2009). "A New Sound – Music for the mind". The Nation. Retrieved 5 May 2013. At the conservatory, he won the Best Student Award in the instrumental section for violin. (in Sinhalese) (in Sinhalese)Anupama Subramanian (11 August 2013)."Mukesh Ambani 'Whenever I think of innovation, I think of A.R. Rahman'" . Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
Career
Classical music Subasinghe has composed a Buddhist oratorio, Karuna Nadee,The Daily Mirror (27 January 2011). "Dinesh launches first ever Buddhist oratorio" . Retrieved 1 May 2013. as well as a symphony, trio, sonata, two a cappella pieces, a string quartet, a concerto for trumpet, and a piece for viola, The Dance of Salome. His string quartet, Night Before The Battle, was selected by Joel Thome's Orchestra of Our Time from 100 compositions from the world.Orchestra of Our Time (official website). "Call for Scores". Retrieved 5 May 2013. He has composed music for 75 Sri Lankan television series, 13 films, and 16 stage plays(8 March 2015),'highest sale for an instrumental'.The Sunday Times. Retrieved 8 February 2015.Balachandran, PK (7 February 2011). "A musical instrument played by Ravana Himself!" . The New Indian Express. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
Subasinghe was the first Sri Lankan to write a cappella pieces with Sri Lankan national themes for SATB choirs, including "The Princes of the Lost Tribe" for Menaka De Shabandu's choirThe Island (Sri Lanka).(25 September 2010) "Menaka singers - ‘September Song’ - Satisfies!" and "Ancient Queen of Somawathee" for Bridget Helpe's choir. The style of these compositions uses harmonies and a sound which is different from Western classical music traditions.
Alternative rock music Subasinghe led the alternative rock music band Dee R Cee and introduced rock music into several Sri Lankan television series.The Nation (10 March 2013). "Hitting all the high notes" , p. 53. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
He performed at the 2011 Share the Love concert and on Rupavahini TV in February 2013 with the song "Ra Roo".
YouTube record Subasinghe released an alternative-rock song "E Kale: The One" with Charmika Sirimanne and Ranushka Fernando in 2013, along with its music video created by Ranushka Fernando.Jayawardana, Ruwini (10 April 2013). "Taking after A R Rahaman?". Daily News. Retrieved 5 May 2013. It became the most viewed Sri Lankan music video on YouTube reaching more than 1.3 million viewers.(15 September 2013). "E kale the x music video breaks records". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 15 September 2013
Musician, music director, actor, tours Subasinghe has played as a musician for local and international music directors and composers, in 2002 Subasinghe recorded violin caprice to portrait Musila in Guthila balade play composed by Diliup Gabadamudalige.Guthila's violin has performed by Subasinghe's Teacher & a veteran violinist Kalani perera. Subasinghe worked for Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka from 2003 to 2005 as a Violinist. He was a member of the South Indian Cinema Musicians Union.Ismail, Adilah (3 January 2010). "Hitting the high notes". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 5 May 2013
He has released four CDs: Rawan Nada, Feel My Heart, Sihina Wasanthayak soundtrack and Karuna Nadee.Subasinghe, Dinesh (10 January 2010). "New sounds for the New Year". The Nation. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
Subasinghe's first professional acting appearance was in Parapura by Cletus Menids in 2012. He performed a leading role on his music video E Kale: The One and played King Herod Antipas in the 2013 Paasku television series by Prem Fernando.Naalir, Mohammed (24 March 2013). "Jeevan plays main role in Paasku" . Sunday Observer. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
He performed a series of concerts with Sri Lankan pop Bands Marians and Gypsies in 2019–2020.
Tours with Sri Lankan Artists Maldives-in 2014, his newly formed string quartet, Ravan, toured and performed at the Four Seasons Resort on Landaa Giraavaru in the Maldives.,Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts (18 November 014). LET US ENTERTAIN YOU!. Retrieved 10 January 015. Australia-Dinesh has toured with Del Studio musicians and performed in Melbourne & Sydney in Del Studio Australia tour in 2016, United Kingdom-Dinesh performed in F.O.C. (Festival of Cricket) UK in 2017 New Zealand & Australia in 2020 Subasinghe performed with famous sri-lankan pop band Marians in 'Thaala' concert series along with Sr Lankan rock star Chitral Somapala. Concerts were held in Auckland, Melbourne and Sydney in month of February and March 2020. Kuwait in 2023 with Commercial Bank, the celebration 20 years of remittance operations in Kuwait
Collaborations with International Music
With South Indian Cine Musicians
in 2009 during the academic stay in India Dinesh was invited to play with the South Indian Cine Musicians Union. He has been selected by late Das Daniel in KM Music conservatory. Dinesh got the temporally Membership of the Union and played for many south Indian & Bollywood movie background music scores as a violinist. In this time he met many veteran string players from Madras String Quartet M. Kalyan, N.S. Narasiman, Shekar.
Rhyme Skool with Katrina Kaif in KM Music Conservatory Chennai
Dinesh worked with his former principal A.R. Rahman and Katrina Kaif on her CD Rhyme Skool with Katrina Kaif produced by Sa Re Ga Ma Productions in India in 2009–2010.
Share the love Concert with Korea (2011)
Subasinghe participated in a joint Sadaham Sevana musical concert with Korea and India on 4 July 2011.GAMGE, YASARATNE (13 July 2011)."Musicians assemble to Share the Love" He composed Mist of a Mountain, a tribute piece for Eastern Asia and has participated in many religious music projects around South Asia. (in Sinhalese) (in Sinhalese)
O'Connor Method in New York (2015/16)
In 2015 and 2016 Dinesh participated in the O'Connor Method Summer Camp in New York which was conducted by violinist Mark O'Connor.Susitha R. Fernando (8 November 2015). "A cultural ambassador of music". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 24 November 2015.Ruwini Jayawardana (3 February 2016)."Dinesh's Global Tempo" Daily News (Sri Lanka). Retrieved 3 February 2016.Uditha Devapriya (7 February 2016). "Dinesh in the USA", The Island (Sri Lanka). Retrieved 7 February 2016.
AGBU in Armenia (2015)
Dinesh participated an Armenian music program in Armenia which was organised by AGBU (Armenian General Benevolent Union) in 2016.,
'T(H)REE'-A Musical Journey From Portugal To Asia (2016/17)'
Dinesh has taken part in an audio album which was a collaboration with Portugal's pop band Cla. The track is part of an album called 'T(H)REE-A Musical Journey From Portugal To Asia'. T(H)REE is a project that has been collaborating with Asian musicians and Portugal. The Portuguese Musicians are Cla, Peixe, Amelia Muge and Old Jerusalem, from Asia there are Indus Creed (India), Mangka (India), Dinesh Subasinghe (Sri Lanka), Sherine Tohamy, Mohammed Haddad (Bahrain), Mohichehra (Uzbekistan), Magic of Nomads (Kazakhstan). The album was produced by Portuguese producer David Valentim.
Chan & Tea Concert with Chinese Buddhist musicians (2016)
He composed a ballad theme music for Sri Lankan act in the 'Chan and Tea' concert at Nelumpokuna in 2016, Choreography part has been created by Ravibandu Vidyapathi, the program was a presidential event to enhance spiritual development between China and Sri Lanka.
2nd South Asian Youth Summit (2018) He has participated and performed with his Tone poem team in the South Asian Youth Summit held in Colombo with a participation of 35 countries. He has been invited by the president of the International Youth Service society Dr. K K Sing & Dinesh was honored in the ceremony with a token of appreciation for the contribution he has made in the event, also he won the Asia Inspiration award in this ceremony for his contribution to the South Asian youth music & Arts.
Dee R Cee Members