Indrani Perera

{{short description|Sri Lankan singer}} {{Infobox person | name = Indrani Perera <br> ඉන්ද්‍රානි පෙරේරා | other_names = | image_size = | image = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = 15 February | birth_place = Borella, Sri Lanka | death_date = | death_place = | death_cause = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates =  | alma_mater = | education = Presbyterian School | father = Abeypala Perera | mother = Muriel Perera | spouse = James Sri Nivasan (m. 1979) | children = 2 | awards = | signature = | website = | footnotes = | occupation = Singer | module = {{Infobox musical artist | embed = yes | instrument = Vocals | genre = {{hlist|Pop|soul|{{nowrap|rhythm and blues}}|Indian classical music}} | years_active = 1969–present | label = {{hlist|Tharanga|Torana|Sooriya|Phillips}} | associated_acts = Three Sisters, The Moonstones, Super Golden Chimes }} }}

'''Indrani Perera''' (Sinhala:ඉන්ද්‍රානි පෙරේරා: born 15 February), is a Sri Lankan singer and playback singer.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/3414868-Indrani-Perera |title=Indrani Perera discography |publisher=discogs |access-date=2 August 2020}}</ref> Indrani along with Clarence Wijewardena and Annesley Malewana are known as "The Original Sinhala Pop Trio".<ref name= sooriya>{{cite web |url=https://www.sooriya.lk/artist/indrani-perera-sinhala/ |title=Indrani Perera biography |publisher=sooriya |access-date=2 August 2020 |archive-date=27 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927173743/https://www.sooriya.lk/artist/indrani-perera-sinhala/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Early life == She was born on 15 February in Borella, and is the second of three girls in the family.<ref name= life>{{cite web |url=http://www.deshaya.lk/article/52/හදසර/9403/පුංචි-කාලේ-මම-කොල්ලෙක් |title=I was a boy when I was little |publisher=Deshaya |access-date=2 August 2020}}</ref> Her father, Abeypala Perera was a Buddhist and mother, Muriel Perera was a Christian. She has one elder sister, Mallika and one younger sister, Iranganie. Indrani studied at Presbyterian Girls School in Regent Street.<ref name= pereindra>{{cite web |url=https://divaina.com/sunday/index.php/visheshanga1/8656-03-110 |title=I have been on stage as One Sister since the day Mallika passed away ... and now many people feel our appreciation |publisher=Divaina |access-date=2 August 2020 |archive-date=2019-09-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190907213905/http://divaina.com/sunday/index.php/visheshanga1/8656-03-110 |url-status=dead }}</ref> She studied Kandyan Dancing in the school.<ref name= indra>{{cite web |url=http://www.dailynews.lk/2017/08/29/entertainment/126519/one-three |title=One of the three!|work=Daily News |access-date=2 August 2020}}</ref> Her sister Mallika has been singing since 1965 where she was the playback singer for the film ''Sama''.<ref name= sanda>{{cite web |url=http://www.silumina.lk/2018/02/10/%E0%B6%BB%E0%B7%83%E0%B6%B3%E0%B7%94%E0%B6%B1/%E0%B7%83%E0%B6%B3%C2%AD%E0%B7%80%E0%B6%A7-%E0%B6%BB%E0%B6%B1%E0%B7%8A%E0%B6%AD%E0%B6%BB%E0%B7%94 |title=Sandawata Rantharu |publisher=Silumina |access-date=2 August 2020 |archive-date=17 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181217000541/http://www.silumina.lk/2018/02/10/%E0%B6%BB%E0%B7%83%E0%B6%B3%E0%B7%94%E0%B6%B1/%E0%B7%83%E0%B6%B3%C2%AD%E0%B7%80%E0%B6%A7-%E0%B6%BB%E0%B6%B1%E0%B7%8A%E0%B6%AD%E0%B6%BB%E0%B7%94 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

She is married to James Sri Nivasan in 1979.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lifie.lk/2020/03/18/sinhala-tamil-marriages/ |title=Famous Sinhalese women married to Tamils |publisher=lifie |access-date=2 August 2020}}</ref> She met him during the production of his song ''Ha Ha Hore Danuna'', where he was the Lotus Disc producer.<ref name= pereindra /> The couple has one daughter, Anjalie Charukeshi and one son, Pastor Nimendra Dhananjaya.<ref name= indra /> Nimendra is married to Roshani. He went to St. Thomas' Preparatory School, Kollupitiya. After that he studied A/L at the Royal Institute. Later in 2009, Nimendra obtained a degree in Business Studies.<ref name= sanda />

==Career== From a young age she preferred going to church all dressed up to sing hymns. She started her singing career with the Fire Flies band of Dalrene Suby.<ref name= pereindra /> In 1969, Indrani sang her first song ''Dilhani Duwani'', which was previously voiced by Annesley Malewana.<ref name= life /> Then she was invited to join the popular musical band The Moonstones led by Clarence Wijewardena and Malewana.<ref name= sanda /> In December 1969, she along with Iranganie and Mallika and formed the female vocal group "Three Sisters".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sangeethaya.lk/search/sp_profile.php?id=676 |title=Indrani Perera career |publisher=sangeethaya |access-date=2 August 2020 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> On 31 December 1969, she made her first appearance at a dance show at the Hotel Taprobane with The Moonstones.<ref name= indra /> The Three Sisters sang together in concerts until Mallika died in 1980.<ref name= life /> After the death of elder sister, younger sister Iranganie and Indrani sang as a duo, but later Iranganie moved away from singing.<ref name= sooriya />

Indrani has sung several popular hits including, ''Thiline Lesin'', ''Wasanthaye Mal Kekulai'', ''Sudu Asu Pita Nagala'', ''Kageda Gon Wassa'', ''Kumudu Mal'' and ''Mathakaya Asurin''.<ref name= sanda /> In 1973, she sung many songs with The Moonstones such as ''Sigiriya'' and ''Ha Ha Hore''.<ref name= life /> Apart from that, she also worked as a playback singer in many films such as ''Podi Malli'', ''Dinum Kanuwa'', ''Lassana Kella'', ''Sadahatama Oba Mage'' and ''Sikuruliya''.<ref name= pereindra /> In 1970s, she recorded Baila duets with Desmond de Silva and Paul Fernando.<ref name= sooriya />

In 2014, Indrani won the Soul Sounds Award for her contribution to the music industry. Then in 2015, she won an award from the National Catholic Literary Association and in 2016 by the Provincial Literary Association.<ref name= indra /> In 2019, The Janabhimani or Hela Maha Rawana Rajabhimani Awards Ceremony was held at the Jasmine Auditorium at the BMICH where Indrani won the Best Service Award.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/news/2019/12/12/12837/ජනාභිමානි-සම්මාන-පිරිනැමෙයි?qt-feedback=0&page=4 |title=Janabhimani Awards presented |publisher=Sarasaviya |access-date=2 August 2020}}</ref>

==In popular culture== Perera is portrayed by Dinakshie Priyasad in Theja Iddamalgoda's 2025 film ''Rhythm of the Guitar: Clarence''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-27 |title=ක්ලැරන්ස් 27 දා සිට දිවයින පුරා|url=https://sarasaviya.lk/ක්ලැරන්ස්-27-දා-සිට-දිවයින-ප/ |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=sarasaviya.lk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-27 |title=අම්මා සින්දුවේ දර්ශනයේදී ඇත්තටම ඇඬුණා|url=https://www.divaina.lk/extras/12931 |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=divaina.lk}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links==

{{DEFAULTSORT:Perera, Indrani}} Category:20th-century Sri Lankan women singers Category:Living people Category:Sri Lankan composers Category:Sri Lankan women composers Category:Sinhalese singers Category:Sri Lankan Roman Catholics Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:21st-century Sri Lankan women singers