The Impact of Commercial Helawood Cinema on Audience Social Awareness: A Case Study of Passport 2024 from a Social Work Perspective

This study examines whether and how a commercially successful Sinhala film can raise social awareness among its audience. Using the 2024 film Passport (directed by Chris Antony) as a single case study, the research employed a mixed-methods design: a structured questionnaire with 80 viewers immediately after screenings in Negombo and semi-structured interviews with five key stakeholders (director, lead actor, renowned film critic, theatre manager, and a senior government minister). Findings reveal that 71.3% of respondents reported a significant increase in awareness about illegal migration risks, 75% gained new insight into bureaucratic corruption, and 68.8% felt the film changed their perspective on gender-based vulnerabilities faced by female migrants. Qualitative data confirmed that the film’s documentary-style realism, authentic location shooting, and strong character development were the primary vehicles for these effects. Although the sample size is modest and limited to one geographic area, the convergence of quantitative and qualitative evidence supports the conclusion that carefully crafted commercial Helawood cinema can function as an effective public-education tool when viewed through a social-work lens. The paper concludes with practical recommendations for social workers, filmmakers, and policy makers.