Senesh Dissanaike Bandara

=Biography=

Senesh Dissanaike Bandara is one of the most Creative, Successful and Talented young Sri Lankan Film Director. His 1st Movie "Aadaraneeya Wassaanaya" (2004) became a box office Super Hit that ran more than 100 days island wide and recognized as a trend setter of 2000's.He started his career as a television program producer for the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (National television) during the year 1991 and by that time he was just 19 years old school leaver who had the passion for film and television medium. Later on other than being this enthusiastic Television Producer who had his hands on producing ordinary to extraordinary television programs which he successfully became one of the trend setters in TV genres to Sri Lankan Television by bringing his own Style to all his Musicals, Talk Shows, Sports Coverage, Documentaries, Entertainment and Magazine Programs.

He did spread his wings as the most popular Music Video Director of the country with a very Successful musical/magazine program Called Yaathra(Voyage) (1995-1997) that had his own created music videos. He Has won many Awards for his various types of television productions time to time from 1990 to 2000.

Year 2000 opened a new door to this young creator with an offer to direct a television drama series named "Fantasy Avenue" for Sirasa TV. The look and feel treatment it had was totally different to any of the television series's(tele-drama in sri lankan usage)Sri Lanka ever had. It lead him to an opportunity in direction of a tele-film for national television during year 2001 Sulanga Wenna Numba Ethakota. His next set of Tele drama seriels: "Pulina Praasaada"(sand castles) 2003, Arunoda Kalaapaya (Twilight Zone) 2005, Rala Bindena Thena(Breakwater) 2007 all were highly accepted by the mass audience. Rala Bindena Thena went step ahead by winning the maximum number of Awards in two national television based Award festivals that was held in Sri Lanka and also it grabbed him the Best Director Award in each.

Senesh is a Big time believer of Popular Cinema which has all entertaining essence to the audience. He always states that he gets inspire from British popular Cinema. Clan of his good friends who knew how talented he is invested on his First movie "Aadaraneeya Wassaanaya" (Love in Autumn)in 2004 which has his own Screen Play based on a famous Sri Lankan Novel "Wassaana Sihinaya". This Romantic Musical movie became being a Huge commercial Success. It also won Thirteen Awards including for Direction, Music, camera, Editing, Acting and it got nominated for 14 Categories in Presidential, Sarasaviya, OCIC Awards in Sri Lanka.

He got invited for his second movie venture by "EAP" which is considered as the leading film production banner in Sri Lanka on mid 2006 and The Movie Heart FM was released Jan 2008 as a Result. This 35mm Scope Film had the first ever DI (Digital Intermediate), DO (Digital Optical) involvement for Sri Lankan Popular Cinema Movie. Both his movies had 3 common things. Both films had 5 beautiful songs each that Senesh him self wrote the Title Song Lyrics in both movies and these each title song became huge hits which fans embraced so dearly.

Senesh is also a BA holder in Mass Communication and he is also a visiting lecturer to various national universities/institutes on Film and Television. He also had his share to the print medium being the editor of few weekend tabloid papers.

Having a very charming presence and wittiness to him self he has been a television Presenter and a Host since 1998 for many television talk shows, entertaining and musical programs. His enthusiasm, dedication and passion for his work in each medium he has been involved has brought all his success. There is a large number of fans around the country for him that awaits for his next creative execution.

Filmography

Film

*2004: "Aadaraneeya Wassaanaya", director, producer, screenwriter
*2008: "Heart FM", director, screenwriter

Television

*1991: "Daily Morning Show", producer
*1993: "Ayubowan / Sunday Live Talk Show", producer, director
*1994: "9.05", concept, director, producer
*1995: "Yaathra", concept, director, producer, writer
*2000: "Fantasy Avenue", director (26 episodes)
*2001: "Sulanga Wnna Numba Ethakota", director
*2002: "The News Station", concept, design
*2003: "Pulina Praasaada / Sand Castles", director (23 episodes)
*2004: "Arunoda Kalaapaya / Twilight Zone", director (30 episodes)
*2007: "Rala Bindena Thena / Breakwater", director (31 episodes)
*2008: "Innovator '08"

Awards

*1992: UNDA Award, Best Television Musical Program, 'We Will Be Home For Christmas'
*1996: Sri Lankan Nomination and entry for Television Asia Awards, 'Yaathra'
*1997: Felicitation Award for the Lanka Camera
*1997: Suamthi Tele Award, Best Youth Oriented Television Program Award, 'Yaathra'
*2005: Sarasaviya Film Award, Special Jury Award for the Creativity in Debut Direction, 'Aadaraneeya Wassaanaya' (Love in Autumn)
*2008: Raigam Tele Award, Best Director for Television Drama, 'Rala Bindena Thena'
*2008: Sumathi Tele Award, Best Director for Television Drama, 'Rala Bindena Thena'

References

More Links on Senesh and His Movies

[http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/06/24/fea10.asp] [http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2004/06/06/fea15.html] [http://www.sundaytimes.lk/040516/tv/2.html] [http://sundaytimes.lk/080113/TV/tv-times00003.html] [http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/01/14/fea20.asp] [http://sundaytimes.lk/061231/TV/016tv.html] [http://www.etickets.lk/cinema/heartfm.shtml] [http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/02/11/fea21.asp] [http://www.innovator.lk/key_team_members.html] [http://www.lakbimanews.lk/special/spe11.htm]