Udara Palliyaguruge
Udara Palliyaguruge is a Sri Lankan film director who has established himself in Sinhala cinema with his groundbreaking performance as the director of Super Six – a movie based on the trials and tribulations of a group of friends who dream of playing in a six-a-side cricket tournament. Shot on breathtaking locations spanning Sri Lanka, India, Malaysia and the Andaman Nicobar Islands, it is the Sri Lankan film shot on the largest budget to date.
U A Palliyaguru(Udara Palliyaguruge) | |
|---|---|
 Filmmaker | |
| Born | 7 April 1981 Borella, Sri Lanka |
| Occupation | Advertising Strategist and Creative Director /marketing lecturer/ Film director |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Spouse(s) | Uththara Palliyaguruge (2008–present) |
| Website | www |
Taking the box office by storm, Super Six which premiered on 17 May 2012, achieved one of the best tickets sales to date in Sinhala commercial cinema, during its first week of screening. A Hindi version of Super Six also premiered simultaneously in Mumbai, India.
Early life and career
He was born to a family of two being the younger child of the family. Udara's sister; Ana Sto. Domingo is also country recognised for being a beautician.
Udara was actively involved in stage drama since his school days at Gurukula College, Kelaniya and acted in popular dramas such as 'Oedipus' (Sinhalese translation), 'Ratnawali', 'No Kabuki' plays (Sinhala translation), to name few. Later he was involved in the National Theatre as a stage manager, costume designer and actor in popular productions such as 'Bansi Marila Nehe', 'Ape Panthi Kamare' and 'Queenie'. After his schooling, Udara joined the National Film Institute in Pune, India, where he completed his BA in Film Making.
Udara gained valuable experience and insights into the workings of the industry during his highly productive stints at Sirasa TV and MTV in Sri Lanka, where he produced and directed popular TV programmes such as Hindi Top Ten, Lasama, Subasiri, Eye-to-Eye, and Style.
Career
Udara has produced 4 full-length films: Super Six in 2012, 'Pani Makuluwo' in 2017, 'Sama Kumaru Kathawa' in 2019 and 'Soosthi' (yet to be released in 2019). He has also worked on 2 Teledramas as the producer: 'Thuthiri' (2018) and 'Crime Scenes' (2018). As managing director of Aristo Films, Udara has produced over 180 TV commercials (brands), 400 TV commercials (non-brands, 40 documentaries and profiles. He is currently working as CEO of Guththila Strategic Solutions (Pvt) Ltd. He is a marketing lecturer and marketing strategist and Creative Director with more than 18 years advertising experience.
Filmography
| YEAR | MOVIE | ROLE |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Super Six | Director |
| 2017 | Pani Makuluwo | Director, Lyricist |
| 2019 | Sama Kumaru Kathawa | Producer, Lyricist |
| 2019 | Soosthi | Producer (release late 2019) |
| YEAR | TELEDRAMA' | ROLE |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Thuthiri | Producer, Writer |
| 2018 | Crime Scene | Director, Writer |
Training
Udara has also widened his knowledge in various aspects of audio-visual communications by following specialised training programmes overseas:
- Brand Management & Media Planning – TV & Radio – Singapore, 2007
- Digital TV & FM Radio Channel Management – Singapore, 2006
- E-Marketing in TV, Radio, IPTV, Web TV, Digital TV – India, 2006
International exposure
Udara has participated in numerous international advertising and communications programmes and awards ceremonies over the years, including:
- AD Asia 2005 to 08 – Singapore
- Broadcast Asia & Communic Asia 2005 – 2007 – Singapore
- Team Tech TV and Radio conference 2004 – 2007 – India
Udara has been associated with well-known brands
Brands associated
• BANKING & FINANCIAL SERVICES • * National Savings Bank • * Bank of Ceylon • * Central Bank • * HDFC • * Lanka Puthra • * Stage Mortgage Bank • INSURANCE • * Sri Lanka Insurance - MotorPlus • TELECOM • * Sri Lanka Telecom - CDMA • * Zigo • * Micromax • FMCG • * Crysbro - Whole Chicken, Gaana Chicken, Double Chicken • * Samaposha • * Ritzbury Chocolate • * Tiara Cake • * Pabodha • * Lankem Sunny • CONSUMER DURABLES • * Right Comfort • * NEO Electronics
• * Olan • MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT • * Super Six - Movie Launch • * SLT - PEO TV • * CBN SAT • * Kiss FM • ONLINE MEDIA SERVICES • * News of Colombo - WebsiteLaunch • EDUCATION • * NIBM • * University of Colombo - Distance Education Modernisation • * Ministry of Vocation & Training - National VocationalQualification • * University of Kelaniya • AUTOMOTIVE • * Mahindra • * Swedish Trading • * Proton - Gen 2,Savvy • * TVS • * Yamaha • *Exide Batteries • AGRICULTURE & FERTILISER • * Massey Ferguson • * TAFE* Cifang • * Yamasha • * Browns Agriculture • * Baurs - Fertiliser - Kohinoor, Rimon • * Lankem • LOTTERIES • * National Lotteries Board - Vasana Sampatha • * Development Lottery Trust - Sanidha Vasana, SangwardadaWasana, • PHARMACEUTICALS • * Eatmore • * Venusia • * Vingogeno • * Siddhalepa • SERVICES • * SLT - Rainbow Pages • PUBLIC SERVICE CAMPAIGNS • * 2004 - General Election - UPFA • * 2005 - Presidential Election - Mahinda Rajapaksa • * 2010 - Presidential Election - Mahinda Rajapaksa • CORPORATE • * National Savings Bank • * Sri Lanka Telecom - Corporate
Academic career
- Visiting Lecturer – University of Kelaniya, Faculty of Marketing Management
- Director – Sri Lanka Television Training Institute – http://www.slf.lk
- First to conduct film workshop in Jaffna in Association with Tharunayata Hetak, organised by the Government of Sri Lanka
Current positions
- managing director, Mind For Group (Pvt) Ltd – Sri Lanka & India (360 Advertising & PR) 2003–2013
- managing director, Aristo Films (Pvt) Ltd –Sri Lanka (Audio and Video Production House)2007–2013
- managing director, Broomstick (Pvt) Ltd 2010–2013
- Director, Sri Lanka Television Training Institute 2010–2013
- Lecturer, Department of Management, University of Kelaniya
- managing director MFOR TV (Digital TV ) 2012–2013
- Director CEO Guththila Strategic Solutions(pvt) Ltd
ManagementSenior ManagementExperience
18 years' management experience in TV & FM Radio channels,Advertising and PR Companies Production Companies and a Training Institute
Personal life
Udara has been married to Uththara Palliyaguruge since 2008 and has 3 children.