Senesh Dissanaike Bandara

Senesh Dissanaike Bandara සෙනේෂ් දිසානායක බණ්ඩාර is a Sri Lankan Film Director and Best Director Award Winner for the television drama genre. His first movie Aadaraneeya Wassaanaya (Love in Autumn) in 2004 was screened for more than 100 days island wide.

Aadaraneeya Wassaanaya was released in May 2004 with his own screenplay based on a Sri Lankan Novel "Wassaana Sihinaya". The debutante's film romantic musical was a commercial success and brought the youth-oriented film audience in Sri Lanka back to film watching, while achieving appreciation from film critics.

"Aadaraneeya Wassaanaya" won 14 awards including for direction, music, camera, editing, acting and film was nominated for 15 Categories in Presidential Awards, Sarasaviya Awards, and SIGNIS Awards Film Festivals in Sri Lanka.

Senesh is a student of OCIC (Sri Lanka), Sri Lanka Television Training Institute, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Deusche-Welle, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, University of Kelaniya and New York Film Academy.

Senesh started his career as a television program producer at Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (National television) in 1991 as a 19 years old school leaver from Nalanda College Colombo who had a passion for filmmaking and television media.

He produced musicals, talk shows, sports coverage, documentaries, entertainment and television magazine programs such as The News Station, Udaa Vikashaya, Rasa Kalasa, Visi Ekveni Peya and a current affairs magazine program called 9.05.

Senesh was one of the pioneer music video directors in Sri Lanka, with his musical/magazine program called Yaathra(Voyage)(1995–1997). Senesh has also been a television presenter and a host since 1997 for television talk shows, entertainment and musical programs such as Gee Hatha, Ayubowan, Rividina Sithumina, Rhythm Chat, Watts 33000.

In 2000, Senesh directed a television drama series named Fantasy Avenue by Sirasa TV. It led him to direct a made-for-TV or telefilm for national television during 2001 called Sulanga Wenna Numba Ethakota for the World Habitat Day 2001.

His next set of television drama serials are Pulina Praasaada(Sand Castles) 2003, Arunoda Kalaapaya (Twilight Zone) 2005, Rala Bindena Thena(Breakwater) 2007, Wehi Pabalu Seala(Raindrop Satin) 2010. Rala Bindena Thena won the maximum number of awards in all three national television based award festivals that was held in Sri Lanka in 2008 and also Rala Bindena Thena awarded him the Best Director Award in the festivals.

Senesh was invited for his second movie venture by EAP Films and Theaters in mid-2006 and the movie Heart FM (Sihina Mandaakini) was released in January 2008. This 35mm Cinemascope / DTS film had the first ever DI (Digital Intermediate), DO (Digital Optical) involvement for a Sri Lankan popular cinema movie.

Senesh is a MA and BA Hons. (Special) holder in Mass communication also Diploma Holder in Journalism and Creative Writing Writer-ship and began his teaching career as a lecturer in Performing Arts Department of University of Colombo. He is a visiting lecturer to national universities and national institutes on Film Studies and Television Studies

Senesh has published a handbook on Single Camera Television Techniques Roopalekha - Aadhunika Television Nishpaadakawarayage Athpotha the sinhala translation of Prof. Wayne Levy (Australia) and Asian Mass Communication and Information Center (Singapore) publication in 1994 and he is the initiative editor of Mawbima - Sandaeliya the Sunday tabloid since 2006.