Somaratne Dissanayake | |
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සෝමරත්න දිසානායක | |
Pronunciation | Somarathna Disānāyaka |
Born | Giriulla | November 15, 1946
Nationality | Sri Lankan |
Other names | Some |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1997–present |
Notable work | |
Spouse | Renuka Balasooriya |
Children | Two sons and one daughter |
Somaratne Dissanayake is a Sri Lankan film director, screenwriter and producer. [1] [2] He was the Chairman of Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation and the president of the Film Makers Guild of Sri Lanka (FMG). He is the winner of the most number of international awards for cinema in Sri Lanka. In 2007, he received Presidential award for directing Samanala Thatu (2006). [3]
Somaratne abandoned his life in Australia to pursue a film career in his motherland Sri Lanka. He started the stage play, Mee Pura Wesio in 1984 and then a television drama, Iti Pahan in mid 1990s. [4] He did not come to the cinema industry at once. He studied cinema for another 10 years. He earned his MA in performing arts from the University of Sydney, Australia. He also obtained his PhD in cinema from the University of Colombo.
He made his debut in the Sinhala film in 2000 with a controversial but blockbuster film Saroja (2000 film). He is also well known for other films he directed and screened such as Punchi Suranganavi, Sooriya Arana, Samanala Thatu, Siri Raja Siri, Bindu and Siri Parakum. In 2016, Dissanayake directed and screened the film Sarigama which was a sinhala remake of the world famous film The Sound of Music.In year 2020 he completed "Tsunami" the blockbuster film, and won many international awards for it. All of his films have been well-received, and almost every film has been a record success. [5] He still holds the box-office record of films in the history of Sri Lankan cinema.
He is married to producer and television host Renuka Balasooriya. [6]
In January 2015, he was appointed as the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC), [7] only to resign later, for personal reasons. [8]
Awards | ||||
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Year and Film | Award | Category | Result | |
2000 Saroja | Chicago International Children's Film Festival | Liv Ullmann Peace Award | Won | |
Dhaka International Film Festival | NETPAC Award for Best Asian Film | Won | ||
Pyongyang International Film Festival | Special Award of the Festival | Won | ||
Iran International Film Festival | Award for the Best Director | Won | ||
Kerala International Film Festival | Golden Crow Pheasant Prize | Nominated | ||
Singapore International Film Festival | Silver Screen Award for Best Asian Feature Film | Nominated | ||
Vesoul Asian Film Festival | Audience Award | Won | ||
WorldFest Houston | Bronze Award for First Feature | Won | ||
Awards | ||||
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Year and Film | Award | Category | Result | |
2003 Punchi Suranganavi | Dhaka International Film Festival | Jury Mention Award | Won | |
Kerala International Film Festival | Golden Crow Pheasant Prize | Nominated | ||
Awards | ||||
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Year and Film | Award | Category | Result | |
2005 Sooriya Arana | Houston International Film Festival | Silver Remi Award for the Best Feature | Won | |
Presidential Awards | Award for The Most Popular Film of the Year | Won | ||
Presidential Awards | Award for The Best Lyrics | Won | ||
Presidential Awards | Award for The Best Script (Somaratne Dissanayake) | Won |
Awards | ||||
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Year and Film | Award | Category | Result | |
2005 Samanala Thatu | Mexico International Film Festival | Best Film Award | Won | |
Carrousel international du film de Rimouski | HumanitasCamerio Award | Won | ||
Carrousel international du film de Rimouski | Jury Mention | Won | ||
Golden Elephant International Children Film Festival | Silver Elephant Award | Won |
Awards | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Year and Film | Award | Category | Result | |
2008 Siri Raja Siri | Dhaka International Film Festival | Best Audience Award for Best Film | Won | |
Asia Pacific Screen Awards | Best Children's Feature Film | Nominated | ||
Mexico International Children Film Festival | Jury Mention Award for Best Film | Won | ||
Argentina International Children Film Festival | Signis Jury Award for the Best Film | Won | ||
Carrousel international du film de Rimouski | CamerioHumanitas Award | Won | ||
Carrousel international du film de Rimouski | Cifej Award | Won | ||
Year | Film | Role |
---|---|---|
2000 | Saroja | Director, screenwriter, lyricist |
2002 | Punchi Suranganavi | Director, screenwriter |
2004 | Sooriya Arana | Director, screenwriter, lyricist |
2005 | Samanala Thatu | Director, screenwriter, lyricist |
2008 | Siri Raja Siri | Director, screenwriter |
2009 | Bindu | Director, screenwriter, lyricist |
2013 | Siri Parakum | Director, screenwriter, lyricist |
2016 | Sarigama | Director, lyricist |
2020 | Tsunami | Director, screenwriter |
2021 | Jangi Hora | Director, screenwriter |
2024 | Sinhabahu | Director, screenwriter |
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Wasala Kulathun Wijekoon Mudiyanselage Duleeka Kumari Wijekoon Marapana commonly as Duleeka Marapana, is an actress in Sri Lankan stage, television and cinema as well as a public speaker, director, producer and philanthropist. Marapana is best known for the role "Dingiri Amma" in Malee teledrama. Apart from acting, she is the Founder of 3rdbell Productions and Academy, the Chairperson CO CO productions and founder of Northwest films.
Saroja, is a 2000 Sri Lankan Sinhalese children's drama film directed by Somaratne Dissanayake as maiden feature film and produced by his wife Renuka Balasuriya. It stars two child artists Pramudi Karunarathne and Nithyavani Kandasami in lead roles along with Janaka Kumbukage and Joe Abeywickrama. Music composed by Rohana Weerasinghe. It is the 931st film in Sri Lankan cinema. The film is a hugely successful film that has won awards and critical acclaim worldwide.
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Bindu is a 2009 Sri Lankan Sinhala children's film directed by Somaratne Dissanayake and produced by his wife Renuka Balasooriya for Cine Films Lanka. It stars Sachin Chathuranga and Ruvindika Ishadini in lead roles along with Jayalath Manoratne and Kumara Thirimadura. Music composed by Rohana Weerasinghe. The film revolves around a child boy and girl make an eternal relationship with a baby elephant Bindu and the consequences results from the relationship around them. The film has shot around Sigiriya.
Siri Raja Siri, theatrically as Siri Raja Siri alias Kiri Ibbandeniye Maharajathuma, is a 2008 Sri Lankan Sinhala children's drama film directed by Somaratne Dissanayake and co-produced by himself with his wife Renuka Balasooriya. It stars Kokila Pawan Jayasuriya, Dilhani Ekanayake and Jayalath Manoratne in lead roles along with Mahendra Perera and Jayalath Manoratne. Music composed by Rohana Weerasinghe. The plot of the film received positive reviews. It is the 1102nd Sri Lankan film in the Sinhala cinema.
Samanala Thatu (Butterfly Wings) (Sinhala: සමනල තටු) is a 2005 Sri Lankan Sinhala children's drama film directed by Somaratne Dissanayake and produced by Renuka Balasooriya. It stars Dasun Madushanka, Suminda Sirisena and Duleeka Marapana in lead roles along with Jayalath Manoratne and Vijaya Nandasiri. Music composed by Rohana Weerasinghe. The film received mostly positive reviews. It is the 1054th Sri Lankan film in the Sinhala cinema.
Punchi Suranganavi (Little Angel) (Sinhala: පුංචි සුරංගනාවී) is a 2002 Sri Lankan Sinhala children's film directed by Somaratne Dissanayake and produced by Renuka Balasooriya. It stars two child artistes Tharaka Hettiarachchi and Nithyavani Kandasami in lead roles along with Sriyantha Mendis and Dilani Abeywardana. Music composed by Rohana Weerasinghe. The film has received positive reviews and adjudged many awards as well. It is the 984th film in the Sri Lankan cinema.
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