Remembering Gamini Fonseka:

Has Sri Lankan Cinema derived the inspiration from the colossus?

by Ranga Chandrarathne

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Although Gamini Fonseka's larger than life image is absent on the silver screen, Sri Lankan cinema still felt the void created by his demise, especially at a time the film industry faces an image crisis.

Gamini's powerful role both as an outstanding actor on the screen and a person with a strong-willed character in real life should be measured against the milieu he was born into and he grew up in.

It was the hay day of Sri Lankan cinema. Gamini Fonseka's larger than life image in the form of diverse characters was a recurrent scene on the boarding displayed predominantly in and around Maradana.

It was a time that Sinhala cinema enjoyed an envious monopoly without ever being compelled to compete with foreign films, especially with culturally similar Hindi films.

Even though foreign films were shown, they were not great in number and by no means, posed a serious threat to the industry.

Most of the Sinhala films irrespective of whether they were commercial or artistic in nature, were able to pull a crowd primarily owing to strong story elements and play-back songs in them, though economic conditions of the day played an important role in keeping the audience intact.

A fruitful engagement with Dr. Lester James Peries.

Gamini Shelton Fonseka's trail blazing career in Sri Lankan cinema was intrinsically laced with Dr. Lester James Peries' entry into cinema.

Although it could not have been predicted in which way Gamini Fonseka's course of career and also of his life, would have been altered if Dr. Lester James Peries had not stepped into Sinhala cinema remaining in his preferred profession of journalism, the fact remained that Gamini commenced his career as a technician in the early films of Dr. Lester James Peries.

It is also a logical succession that Gamini Fonseka commenced acting in the late 1950?s with the film Daiva Yogaya (1959). Perhaps, one of the enduring roles that etched Gamini Fonseka's name in the annals of Sinhala cinema and also brought him universal fame is the role he played as the bachelor Willie Abeynaike in Dr. Lester James Peries' 'Nidhanaya' (The Treasure - 1970).

Dr. Lester Peries states in 'Lester by Lester as told to Kumar de Silva'. "Outside of Gamini I cannot think of anybody else who would have played it with the same concentration. He was such a serious player. When given a good role he put so much into it. He reminded me of somebody like Marlon Brando who almost gets bit too involved with the role."

It was obvious that Gamini dominated the film with his extra involvement with the character, thus making it not only one of the memorable roles that Gamini played but also one which is perhaps, the best portrayal of character in Sri Lankan cinema.

Apart from his brilliant portrayal of characters on silver screen, lasting contribution that he made to Sri Lankan cinema was to establish acting as a profession. With his charisma as an actor, he set professional standards and ensured that actors and even technicians have best working environments.

Gamini's encounter with Dr. Lester James Peries was as interesting as his subsequent involvement with him as a technician. Having followed a course in Journalism and photography in 1955, Gamini used to meet his friends including Tissa Abeysekara and had long arguments on cinema at his Uncle Seymour's house in Dehiwala.

It was at his uncle's house that Premanth Moraes, a regular attendant to the discussions, who mooed the idea that Gamini, should make use of his knowledge of photography and sketching for the benefit of the medium of cinema. Though Gamini's response was positive, Premanth insisted that Gamini should commence with a 8 mm camera with a view to graduating to directing films.

Though Premanth sent Gamini to several cinema Managing Directors including K. Gunaratnam, T.R. Sundaram and Sirisena Wimalaweera of Nava Jeevana Studios, the attempt was not successful until Gamini met Dr. Lester James Peries.

Gamini went to Dr. Lester James Peries who was busy at the time making 'Rekawa', with a letter from Premnath. Dr. Lester James Peries employed him as a Camera Assistant to Willie Blake in 'Rekawa'. Although Gamini had differences with Willie Blake in 'Rekawa', 'Rekawa' led his to acting.

Perhaps, one of the greatest career opportunities that Gamini had was to be the third assistant director of the film 'Bridge on the River Kwai' by David Lean in 1957. Chandran Rutnam who had worked with George Lucas and Steven Spielberg was of great help to him.

His success in his career was legendary and by the time he reached the fifty year mark in cinema, he had played lead roles in over 113 films and several stage plays. He was baptised as the 'Emperor of the Silver Screen' on completion of fifty years in cinema. Gamini Fonseka married Sumithra Fonseka, an actress who played in the film 'Sri 296' and was blessed with five daughters and a son, Dammith who acted with him in several films.

Gamini the politician

Gamini Fonseka joined politics on the invitation extended to him by former President Ranasinghe Premadasa who was a friend of his, at a time, the country was gripped by a wave of violence.

Having won the election, Gamini Fonseka was appointed the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of 1989.

As a politician, he was known for impartiality in treatment and candid criticism of shortcomings in the government. In 1994, President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga appointed him as the Governor of the North East Provinces. In the office, he tirelessly worked towards ethnic harmony and national unity.

However, following his relinquishing politics, Gamini Fonseka led rather a secluded life at his Je Ela residence. Gamini, who was born in Dehiwela, on March 21st 1936 as the third child of William and Daisy Fonseka, breathed his last at the age of 68.

In retrospect, it is worthwhile to ponder whether Sri Lankan cinema was inspired by his rich legacy and whether there was any serious attempt to study the finer points of the actor Gamini Fonseka and the lessons that can be learnt from his trailblazing career.