Iraj Weeraratne (born 21 February 1981) is a Sri Lankan Rapper, Music Producer,DJ and Entrepreneur. Weeraratne had a television show on Derana TV called "Iraj Show".[1] He is known as a prominent hip-hop and RnB artist in Sri Lanka. He was the first person to introduce Sinhala rap as well as Tamil rap to Sri Lanka in 2004.[2]
Iraj Weerarathne | |
|---|---|
| Born | 21 February 1981 |
| Nationality | Sri Lankan |
| Education | Royal College, Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| Alma mater | Northumbria University, UK[citation needed] |
| Occupations |
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| Musical career | |
| Genres |
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| Instruments |
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| Years active | 2003-present |
| Labels |
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His first South Indian composition together with Vijay Anthony featured in the 2009 Tamil film, Vettaikaaran, starring Kollywood star Vijay and was ranked number one in the Chennai Charts.[3][citation needed]
During different election periods in Sri Lanka, Iraj actively participated in facebook, twitter and other social media platforms for political sponsoring in solidification with the Rajapaksa camp.[4] He also contributed to content that promoted political campaigns and mobilised his several followers to have a specific type of opinion.[5] Iraj has been accused of being part of propaganda campaigns all with an aim of making the ruling parties he supports gain acceptance from the public.[6] He has been more involved in the media and acts as a public figure that has exacerbated these allegations.[7]
Career
editHe won the best keyboardist title which was awarded by Guildhall Music School at the age of 16. He later teamed up with his schoolmates Ranidu Lankage and Yauwana Wigneswaran to form a band titled ‘’Zealots’’ while still studying at the Royal College, Colombo.[8] He owns the Bongohd firm in Bangladesh.[9] In August 2020, he was appointed as the board member of National Youth Service Council by Namal Rajapaksa and he was supposed to serve in the relevant position for a period of three years.[10] However, a year later after his appointment he resigned from the position citing unavoidable poor work-related commitments.[11][12]
Discography
editAlbums
edit- Iraj - M Entertainments (2010)
- Chapter 02: Aloke - M Entertainments (2013)
- Manamali (2017)
Record labels
edit- Universal Music Group
- Sony BMG Music Entertainment
- M-Entertainment
Popular music videos
edit- Poo Pookum Tharunam
- Vise Kurutta
- Mathinta
- Mage himikari
- Thiruda
- J town story
- Sweety Manika
- Your love
- Just 1 Click
- Dekhechi
- Anuvhuti
- Timi Ra Ma
- Nachna
- Sina mal
- Yayata Payana
- Gemak Deela
- Ahankaara Nagare
- Aloke
- Behuli'
- Mama Sil bindagaththe
- Kathandare
- Giniyam rae
- Ashawari'
- Aaradhana
- Wassana heee
- Yeanadi penne
- Cleaopatra
- Thurule Nidan'
- Danuna
- Innam ma
- Hithumathe
- Mata Sithanna be
- Mr.Koththu[13]
- Bambara Patikka - Hondata Math Una[14]
- Dasa Themila Heena Penguna[15]
- Lion Nation[16]
- Hansiye
- Sewaha
- Warayo
- E Hitha
- Hithumathe
- Mon Janey
References
edit- ^ Iraj Show, September 2021[unreliable source?]
- ^ E!Online (2020-04-28). "10 Reasons IRAJ Became The King Of Sri Lankan Hip-Hop - E! Online". Retrieved 2022-02-01.
- ^ "Iraj detained in Chennai - Breaking News | Daily Mirror". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
- ^ මම මහින්ද රාජපක්ෂ (in Sinhala), 16 September 2024[unreliable source?]
- ^ Iraj ට සහ Peshala Manoj ට මල පණී (in Sinhala), 15 October 2019[unreliable source?]
- ^ Dasatha Open Heart Episode 03 Iraj Weeraratne (in Sinhala), 22 August 2024[unreliable source?]
- ^ ගෝඨාගේ-කුමන්ත්රණය (in Sinhala), 9 March 2022
- ^ "Mirror Magazine". www.sundaytimes.lk. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
- ^ කුඩු ගහන මන්ත්රීලා මම දන්නවා | Talk With Chatura (Full Episode), retrieved 2022-05-07[unreliable source?]
- ^ "Iraj made director at NYSC". Daily News. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
- ^ "Iraj quits NYSC Director Board". The Morning - Sri Lanka News. 2021-08-25. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
- ^ bugsbunny (2021-08-25). "Iraj sends resignation letter to Namal Rajapaksa". Colombo Gazette. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
- ^ "Mr Kothu Iraj Weerarathna Sinhala Song - SARIGAMA.LK". Sarigama. Retrieved 2018-08-07.
- ^ "Bambara Patikka - Hondata Math Una Iraj Weerarathna Sinhala Song - SARIGAMA.LK". Sarigama. Retrieved 2018-08-08.
- ^ "Dasa Themila Heena Penguna Iraj Weerarathna Sinhala Song - SARIGAMA.LK". Sarigama. Retrieved 2018-08-08.
- ^ "Lion Nation Iraj Weerarathna Sinhala Song - SARIGAMA.LK". Sarigama. Retrieved 2018-08-08.
External links
edit- Iraj at IMDb
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