Dharmasiri Bandaranayake
Encyclopedia
Dharmasiri Bandaranayake (born 06th of October 1949) is a Sri Lanka
n Film director
and playwright
.
Bandaranyake's debut Hansa Vilak in 1980 dealt with facets of a society at odds with itself. His other films like Thunveni Yamaya (1983), Suddilage Kathawa (1984), Bawa Duka and Bawa Karma (1997) followed similar themes.
Bawa Duka and Bawa Karma challenged the repressive dogma of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.
Common arcs in Bandaranayake's films follow the conflicted lives of men and women, transformation of private lives into public affairs, the unpleasant reality of marriage and society and the dark side of human desire.
Dharmasiri Bandaranayake is an acclaimed dramatist and his plays are the best that Sri Lankan theatre has seen. ['Eka Adhipathi'], ['Makarakshaya'], 'Dhawala Bheeshana', 'Yakshagamanaya' and 'Trojan Kanthavo' have all dealt with current issues of national and political importance.
He is an artist who attempts to connect the sociopolitical environent with the civil society through art.
' Greek drama The Trojan Women
for a Sinhala and Tamil audience. It is meant as an anti-war statement and proved to be controversial with the Sri Lankan government despite critical acclaim.
Bandaranayake received several death threats in 2001 after he made plans to stage the play in predominantly Tamil areas.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
n Film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
and playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
.
Bandaranyake's debut Hansa Vilak in 1980 dealt with facets of a society at odds with itself. His other films like Thunveni Yamaya (1983), Suddilage Kathawa (1984), Bawa Duka and Bawa Karma (1997) followed similar themes.
Bawa Duka and Bawa Karma challenged the repressive dogma of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.
Common arcs in Bandaranayake's films follow the conflicted lives of men and women, transformation of private lives into public affairs, the unpleasant reality of marriage and society and the dark side of human desire.
Dharmasiri Bandaranayake is an acclaimed dramatist and his plays are the best that Sri Lankan theatre has seen. ['Eka Adhipathi'], ['Makarakshaya'], 'Dhawala Bheeshana', 'Yakshagamanaya' and 'Trojan Kanthavo' have all dealt with current issues of national and political importance.
He is an artist who attempts to connect the sociopolitical environent with the civil society through art.
"Trojan Kanthawo"
In 1999, Bandaranyake first staged the play Trojan Kanthawo which adapted EuripidesEuripides
Euripides was one of the three great tragedians of classical Athens, the other two being Aeschylus and Sophocles. Some ancient scholars attributed ninety-five plays to him but according to the Suda it was ninety-two at most...
' Greek drama The Trojan Women
The Trojan Women
The Trojan Women is a tragedy by the Greek playwright Euripides. Produced during the Peloponnesian War, it is often considered a commentary on the capture of the Aegean island of Melos and the subsequent slaughter and subjugation of its populace by the Athenians earlier in 415 BC , the same year...
for a Sinhala and Tamil audience. It is meant as an anti-war statement and proved to be controversial with the Sri Lankan government despite critical acclaim.
Bandaranayake received several death threats in 2001 after he made plans to stage the play in predominantly Tamil areas.
Awards and honors
- Honorary citizenship by the city of New Orleans, LouisianaNew Orleans, LouisianaNew Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
in 1990 for his achievements in the field of art - Appointment to Film Critics Society as one of the ten best directors of Sri Lankan Cinema (1947–1987)
- Bunka Prize in 1996 for special achievement in theatre and cinema from the Japan-Sri Lanka Friendship Cultural Fund
- The Prasada Pranama award in 1996 from the University of Sri LankaUniversity of Sri LankaThe University of Sri Lanka was the only university in Sri Lanka from 1972 until 1978. It had several constituent campuses at various locations around Sri Lanka. The University of Ceylon Act No. 1 of 1972, replaced the University of Ceylon with the University of Sri Lanka. In 1978 it was separated...
in ColomboColomboColombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
for his contribution to Sri Lankan Theatre and Cinema. - Kala Bhooshana from Chandrika Bandaranayake Government.
- Kala Keerthi from Chandrika Bandaranayake Government.