User:Nilendra Deshapriya/sandbox

Nilendra Deshapriya
Nilendra Deshapriya, studied drama and theatre at school and at the age of fourteen he wrote his first stage play “The Horse Carriage” inspired by the film "Rashoman" by the legendary Akira Kurosawa which became a huge success. He was an active member of the “group 78” at the Lionel Wendt Theater, a community where the creative elite gathered and produced many theatre productions.

Nilendra Deshapriya embarked on his journey of film making as an assistant director with highly reputed film directors’ in both local and international productions.

Later he rose to become one of Sri Lanka’s most sought after television personalities who introduced the genre Reality TV to Sri Lankan audiences, producing many successful television formats such as Super Star based on singing talent all over the nation which garnered the highest ever television ratings in the history of Sri Lankan television and also the franchised version of “Who Wants To be A Millionaire.”

“Between Yesterday and Tomorrow” is his directorial debut as a filmmaker.

Category:Films

Director’s Filmography 35 mm - Feature films, First Assistant Director

1980 - Regina

1981- Doringe Sayanaya

1981 - Asipatha Mamai

1982 - Podi Wijey

1983 - Siri Medura( The Mansion) 1983- Dolos Mahe Pahana

1984- Keli Madala 1989- Sisila Gini Gani 1990 -Guru Gedara

1990- Surabidena

1991- Maruthaya

1991- Ayoma

1992- Elivena Dawasa

1993- Juliette Ge Bhoomikawa

1993- Anthima Reya [Night of Destiny]

Manika!! Manika!! The Girl Who Lived Twice When Mother Comes Home for Christmas  INDIA, GREECE, GERMANY / 1995 After eight years of absence, a Sri Lankan woman working in Greece returns home for Christmas. Her three children await her. Directed by Nilita Vachani

Worked as the Sri-Lankan Production Manager

35 mm –Short films, Assistant Director

Samawatha

Palamuveniya Saha Anthimaya

Cinderellage Sereppuwa

TELEVISION CAREER

Television Features/Series - Assistant Director Irata Handana Mal

Yashorawaya-2

Sulanga

Veda Haamine

Wes Muhunu

Maamage Duwa

Isuru Soya

Television Documentaries

Corridors of Silence Destitute Children

Noh and Kabuki [Great traditions in a high tech society]

[02 TV documentary films entirely shot in Japan with the financial support of the Hoso -Bunka Foundation in Collaboration with NHK-Japan] Nonimena Pahan Producer[s] Filmography Nilendra Deshapriya Producer/Executive Producer Seda Pahara [Tidal Wave] 12 Episode documentary series on social issues directed by 6 leading Directors of Sri-Lanka

Vanaspathi 19 Episode television drama series, unfolding the commercial history of Sri-Lanka in the 19th century.

Damini (459 Episodes) First ever Sri Lankan daily soap series in collaboration with Sirasa TV & Sri Adhikaari Brothers India

Nonawaruni Mahathwaruni- Slapstick Comedy Series

Nidi Kumari- 60 episodes

Fantasy Avenue- 25 episodes

Millennium Day Broadcast The 27 hour long live broadcast connecting the 5 continents, produced by BBC London and WGBH Boston

Sirasa Super Star-Reality Television Programme

Season 1 Season 2 First ever reality television show in Sri Lanka based on singing talent all over the nation which garnered the highest ever television ratings in the history of Sri Lankan television. The Grand Finale of Sirasa Super Star achieved higher ratings than the Cricket World Cup Finals between Sri Lanka and Australia in 1996 and when Susanthika Jayasinghe won the Olympic Bronze medal for Sri Lanka.

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire Obada Lakshapathi Mamada Lakshapathi Executive Director/Producer

The first ever franchised International TV format in Sri-Lanka

Director -Documentary

1996 - Tidal Wave      (Old Age-1)

1996 - Tidal Wave     (Old Age-2)

1989 - Vijaya [Video documentary on assassinated politician and actor Vijaya Kumaratunga]

1997- Visammuthiya [Video documentary on then proposed devolution package to end the ethnic crisis in Sri-Lanka]

Joined Maharaja Organisation to launch its flagship channel Sirasa TV in 1998

Director Entertainment 1998

Director Broadcasting of Maharaja Television- 1999

Director Programmes of Channel One MTV-2003

Director International Television and Satellite TV -2003

Channel Head of Sirasa TV-2003-2006

Creative Director Sirasa TV-2006-2010

Director/Head Of the Channel-FM Derana 2011

35MM Feature Films as Director/Writer Script-Project Development

Thanha, Rathi, Ranga-2012- Directorial Debut

Mother, Daughter, Sister This is a story about love-love that lives and grows in the least likely places. It is a story about soul mates joined in the soulless business of terror.

They Dance Alone A feature film based on the abducted and assassinated journalist Richard de Zoysa

Sri Lankan Star - The Movie A feature film based on Reality Television in Sri-Lanka