Film Writer and Director
DEVINDA KONGAHAGE
Devinda Kongahage is an internationally acclaimed Sri Lankan filmmaker, writer, and researcher, recognized for his powerful storytelling rooted in history and society. His latest creation, Neeru Pootha Neruppu, marks a new chapter in Sri Lankan cinema — a bold and thought-provoking film that continues his legacy of meaningful, research-based storytelling. With a career spanning from his early days as an actor to directing award-winning films like Bhavatharana, Girivassipura, and Nattami Army, Devinda brings unmatched depth and cinematic vision to Neeru Pootha Neruppu, setting a new milestone in contemporary Sri Lankan filmmaking.
Devinda Kongahage was introduced to Sri Lankan Cinema as a child actor in 1991, by renowned film director Mr. Dharmasiri Bandaranayeka in his last duo films “Bhavaduka” and “Bhava Karma” portraying a main child role. Ever since then he performed as an actor for several years. Being educated in Trinity College Kandy, and Royal College Colombo, Devinda pursued his studies in the stream of commerce and continued his higher education in the management faculty at the University of Sri Jayawardhanapura. With the deeprooted passion and intention of being a filmmaker, later he bid farewell to the stream of management at the university and pursued his studies in Cinema and filmmaking.
During the period of 2000-2004, Devinda Kongahage joined Maharaja group Sirasa Tv as a program producer, and succeeded to perform as a versatile executive producer mainly in the political stream. After mastering the field of television creations, Devinda bid farewell to the television station carrier and continued to sail along with the passion of filmmaking, cinema studies and as a researcher in sociology, socio-politics and anthropology. In 2004 he created the debut tele film titled “Thuruliya Daruwo” and continued to create a master piece documentary on Sir Arthur C. Clarke, on his 85th birthday for BBC. Devinda Kongahage was the first ever Sri Lankan Director who was granted permission and had the opportunity to create such a feature documentary on this subject.
During this period, as an independent creator, Devinda continued to create many TV production, documentaries and content. Also, he is the pioneer creative director of the first ever musical latent show in Sri Lanka “Music Mega Star” and “Ranaviru Real Star” Worlds first ever musical talent show for Military, done with the involvement of tri forces in Sri Lanka. In 2008 Devinda did his debut Tele series titled “Sadisi Tharanaya “, which later won several national awards including best director, best actor and best supporting actress during the period. Devinda Kongahage did an extensive history, sociopolitical and anthropology research on the Kandyan Kingdom for a period of Six years and wrote a feature film script, which was produced with a budget of 57 million.
This film was written and directed by Devinda Kongahage as his debut film that embarked his journey in cinema. The film became a milestone in the Sri Lankan film industry as the first historically researched film on the subject of Kandyan history.
“Bhavatharana” was created on the cinematic platform of “conceptual cinema”, and unveils many unspoken hidden historical incidents during the period of 1760 that occurred in Sri Lanka, Kandyan Kingdom under the Nayakkar rule.
“Bhavatharana” succeeded to be honored with three acclaimed international awarded including the “Best Film” at “Delhi International Film Festival” in 2015, and this award was brough to Sri Lanka after 53 years. “Bhavatharana” also won “The most outstanding film” award at the “Golden Kites Film Festival” and “Best Film” at “Shanghai Film Festival” held in China in 2018.
Based on the Six year extensive research done on the Kandyan Kingdom, Devinda continued to write and direct his second film “Girivassipura” as a final creation of a duo epic . This film was also based on true historical incidents and events, during the period of concluding Nayakkar rule towards the British period. “Girivassipura” was produced in 2018 with a budget of 95 million, and set a mile stone in Sri Lankan Cinema as the first ever high budget film to focus on such a researched historical topic.
“Nattami Army” is the third film, researched written and directed by Devinda Kongahage, which was produced in 2022. The film was based on the research done about labor community “Nattami s” in Sri Lanka. This film also executed a special social service (CSR) project empowered by the film, titled “Clearing Vision Through Cinema”, eye glass donation project to the labor community in central Colombo. This project was done in collaboration with Sri Lanka Eye Donation Society of Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka Olympic Association. A special sprots workshop and activity was conducted for less privileged children of the labor community , and on this day the film was freely screened to the labor community. “Nattami Army” did erect a historical mile stone in the Sri Lankan film industry as a practical influencer on social service.
“Neeru Pootha Neruppu” is the fourth film of Devinda Kongahage that will embark a novel journey in cinema, and set another unfading mile stone in Sri Lankan Cinema across the globe.