Somaratne Dissanayake

Kalasuri Somaratne Dissanayake is a Sri Lankan film director, screenwriter and producer.[1] He is the Chairman of ITN Sri Lanka and the president of the Film Makers Guild of Sri Lanka (FMG). He won the Peace prize of Chicago International Children's Film Festival and bronze award for Independent Theatrical Feature Films at Worldfest Houston for his debut film, Saroja (2000). In 2007, he received Presidential award for directing Samanala Thatu (2006).[2]

Somaratne Dissanayake
NationalitySri Lanka
OccupationFilm director
Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation Chairman
Years active1997–Present
Spouse(s)Renuka Balasuriya
Websitesomadissa.com

Biography

Somaratne abandoned his family in Australia to pursue a career in television. He started the stage play, Mee Pura Wesio in 1984 and then a television drama, Iti Pahan in mid 1990s.[3] He did not come to the cinema 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. In 2002, he produced his second directorial venture, Punchi Suranganavi, followed by Sooriya Arana in 2004 and Samanala Thatu in 2005. his next film was released in 2008, Siri Raja Siri. He then directed and screened the film Bindu in 2009. His next film Siri Parakum was released in 2013 and was a huge success. In 2016, Dissanayake directed and screened the film Sarigama which was a part of the world famous film The Sound of Music. In 2017, he made another film called Underpants Thief or Jungi Hora but it has not been screened yet. The screening of his latest film, Tsunami, began in 2020. All these films have been well-received, and almost every film has been a record success.[4]

He is married to producer and television host Renuka Balasuriya.[5]

In January 2015, he was appointed as the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC),[6] only to resign later that year in August, due to personal reasons.[7]

Awards and nominations

.[8][9][10][11]

Awards
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
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
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
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

Filmography

.

YearFilmRole
2000SarojaDirector, screenwriter, lyricist
2002Punchi SuranganaviDirector, screenwriter
2004Sooriya AranaDirector, screenwriter, lyricist
2005Samanala ThatuDirector, screenwriter, lyricist
2008Siri Raja SiriDirector, screenwriter
2009BinduDirector, screenwriter, lyricist
2013Siri ParakumDirector, screenwriter, lyricist
2016SarigamaDirector, lyricist
upcomingUnderpants ThiefDirector, screenwriter
2020TsunamiDirector, screenwriter

References
  1. "Somaratne Dissanayake". National Film Corporation of Sri lanka. Retrieved July 6, 2008.
  2. "President honours Lankan Cinema". The Sunday Times. February 4, 2007. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
  3. Medis, Darshana (13 October 2000). "Saroja: a distortion of the racist war in Sri Lanka". World Socialist Website. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
  4. යුද ගිනි මැද ගෙදරට ආ අමුත්තිය
  5. "Film: Coronation of 'King Siri'". Sri Lanka Guardian. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  6. "Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation gets a new chairman - Sri Lanka News". News 1st, MTV Channel. 13 January 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  7. "Somaratne Dissanayake resigns as Rupavahini Chairman". Ada Derana. 30 July 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  8. "Achievements of Somaratne Dissanaynake". Somaratne Dissanaynake. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  9. "Cinematic acclaim for Semage, Dissanayake". The Sunday Times Mirror Magazine Section. 6 February 2000. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  10. Fernando, Susitha R. (2001). "Dissanayake attempts another Saroja". Sunday Times. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  11. Edirisinghe, E.M.G. (5 August 2002). "Punchi Suranganavi (Little Angel)". Daily News archives. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
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