{"id":50409,"date":"2016-12-30T05:07:41","date_gmt":"2016-12-30T10:07:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=50409"},"modified":"2016-12-30T05:10:57","modified_gmt":"2016-12-30T10:10:57","slug":"action-hero-gamini-fonseka-was-the-first-super-star-of-sinhala-cinema","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=50409","title":{"rendered":"Action Hero Gamini Fonseka Was The First Super Star Of Sinhala Cinema"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By
\nD.B.S.Jeyaraj<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Spotlight” beams this week on Gamini Fonseka the first super star of Sinhala cinema. I had begun preparing this article many months ago to mark the 80th birth anniversary of Sembuge Gamini Shelton Fonseka who was born on March 21st 1936. My old schoolmate and journalistic colleague Prasad Gunewardene had been extremely keen that I should write about his Gamini “Mama”. Prasad’s paternal grandmother was Gamini’s father Willie Fonseka’s eldest sister. Prasad has regaled me over the years with several anecdotes and tit-bits about Gamini.<\/p>\n

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Gamini Fonseka (March 21, 1936 – Sep 30, 2004)<\/p><\/div>\n

Due to unavoidable reasons the planned article on Gamini Fonseka was not written then as intended. Furthermore Prasad himself passed away suddenly at the end of march this year. It was a terrible blow as the late Ajith Samaranayake, Prasad and I formed a “friendship triangle” when we worked together at “The Island”. Now only I am left of that trio.
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\nThis week while searching for an old mail, I came across the final e-mail sent by Prasad to me dated March 30th 2016.I never replied that e-mail as by the time I read that mail I had come to know of Prasad’s demise.Now I re-read his last mail.It was short; “Machan did u write on my uncle Gamini? When did it appear?- Prasad. Obviousy Prasad had eagerly awaited the article on Gamini and was disappointed. It is against this backdrop therefore that I write about Gamini to honour his memory as well as that of his nephew and my friend Prasad. “No Machan, I didn’t write it in March but I will do so now in December”.<\/p>\n

Writing about Gamini Fonseka is always a pleasant and delightful exercise for me. I have often done so before and will be -revisiting some of my earlier writings to enhance this article. Gamini Fonseka was a man whom I loved as an actor, appreciated as a director, admired as a politician and above all respected as a decent human being. Gamini the actor on the Sinhala silver screen became an important part of life in childhood.This is the kind of relationship one has with actors, singers, writers and sportsmen. The impact of films and film stars in the South Asian region is Phenomenal. Childhood impressions in that sense are indelible.<\/p>\n

Sole Superstar of Sinhala Cinema<\/strong><\/p>\n

My formative years as a Sinhala film fan were heavily influenced and shaped by Gamini Fonseka. To me and millions of other like minded people, Sinhala cinema was personified by Gamini Fonseka for a long, long time.Notwithstanding the brilliant creators of our times who have elevated the standards of Sinhala films, one is unable to imagine or visualise Sinhala cinema without thinking of Gamini Fonseka. Sinhala cinema was certainly not Gamini Fonseka but without Gamini Fonseka there was no Sinhala cinema either. He was the first and arguably the sole Super star of Sinhala cinema.<\/p>\n

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Gamini Fonseka in Nidhanaya<\/p><\/div>\n

Gamini Fonseka entered my life when I was about eight years old. The place he did so was a movie theatre in Maradana bearing his own name Gamini. \u201cRan Muthu Duwa \u201d was my first Sinhala Movie.The family went to see it for two reasons. One because it was the first Sinhala technicolour film. Two to see the famed underwater scenes made possible by Mike Wilson.Gamini along with Jeevarani, Shane Gooneratne and Joe Abeywickrema starred in it. Gamini\u2019s acting, dancing and fighting captivated me. The song and dance sequence \u201cPipee pipee Renu Natana\u201d remains fresh in memory even now. I still remember the melody and some of the poetic lines like \u201cApey watte mal pipila meemassen wikvela\u201d and \u201cRana giraw Kumbura udin mal mal gamanak giya\u201d etc. I later learnt that the lyrics were written by Sri Chandraratne Manawasinghe whose sons Prabath and Udaya were working as press officers during the period I worked as a journalist in Colombo.Maestro WD Amaradeva composed the music.<\/p>\n

I was well and truly hooked after seeing Gamini for the first time on screen. I never ever recovered. There was hardly a Gamini Fonseka film that I missed in the sixties of the last century. This was due to a woman Mary Caroline who was then a domestic helper at our home. She stayed with the family for about seven years.Mary was an avid Gamini fan. So I would accompany her every month to see Sinhala films in general and Gamini Fonseka films in particular.This was how I managed to see so many of his films in my childhood. \u201cChandiya\u201d, \u201cSoora Chowraya\u201d and \u201cSorungeth Soru\u201d were some of my favourites then.<\/p>\n

An Action Hero On Screen<\/strong><\/p>\n

Gamini Fonseka was my hero during childhood mainly because he was an action hero on screen.Initially the attraction was mainly the fight scenes. Gamini brought a refreshing naturalness to those scenes as opposed to the artificiality in South Indian ones. It was later that one learned to appreciate the finer points of his acting.A major reason for the naturalism in Gamini\u2019s fighting scenes was due to the nature of the man himself. He was a fighter both orthodox and unorthodox. He often got into brawls but always for a good cause.<\/p>\n

One such incident was at Embilipitiya Circuit bungalow when the caretaker and his cronies in an intoxicated state picked a fight with the film crew on location there. Gamini pitched in with flying fists and proved that his macho image was not confined to celluloid alone. He then moved the entire crew at his own expense to Tissamaharama.<\/p>\n

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pic via: nfc.gov.lk<\/p><\/div>\n

Among the many movies of Gamini was Titus Totawatte\u2019s \u201cChandiya\u201d in 1965.It was a milestone in Sinhala moviedom and Gamini’s career. This was perhaps the first anti-hero role of Sinhala cinema. Gamini breathed and lived the part of a tough guy. Titus had a sequel \u201cChutte\u201d. Titus Thotawatte who made \u201cChandiya\u201d and \u201cChutte\u201d with Gamini was later working at \u201cRupavahini\u201d. I used to run into him often those days at a restaurant in Bambalapitiya. He used to recount many stories concerning Gamini to me as I listened with rapt attention.<\/p>\n

Gamini acting as “Chandiya” – meaning tough guy – was in a way an instance of art imitating life because Gamini was in every way a \u201cChandiya\u201d in real life. Thomians of yesteryear speak volumes about his martial prowess during school days. The benchmark of his fighting feats however was the \u201chistoric\u201d encounter with Dehiwela\u2019s \u201cstrongman\u201d of yore – Karthelis.<\/p>\n

The Fight With Karthelis<\/strong><\/p>\n

I had heard many versions of the Karthelis fight in Dehiwela in my younger days. When I was preparing this article in March I asked Prasad Gunewardene to give me a detailed description of what had exactly happened. Prasad who was a small kid at that time provided some interesting facts.<\/p>\n

The clash with Karthelis had originated with Gamini’s father William Fonseka known as Willie. A friend of Gamini Fonseka was knocked down while crossing the road by Karthelis who used to drive a taxi in those days. Fortunately he sustained no injuries. Karthelis who was notorious for his rash driving had verbally abused the victim in raw filth. The man complained about this incident to Gamini’s father Willie Fonseka who was highly respected in the area. Willie Fonseka had accosted Karthelis and chided the Dehiwela strong man in public over his deplorable conduct.<\/p>\n

Later in the day Karthelis with a gang of ten thugs arrived in two taxis at Willie Fonseka’s house. Willie Fonseka opened the gate and faced the gang alone.Two of the men had swords. Willie’s brothers Nelson and Garmoyle and cousin Fred (Prasad’s father) who were in the house at that time also joined in the fight. Gamini was then eating in the kitchen.Hearing the commotion he came running. Clad in sarong and clogs, Gamini slipped and fell in his haste. Five of the thugs held him down and tried to hack Gamini with the swords.Fortunately Willie and the others came to Gamini’s rescue and seized the swords. Karthelis and his goons fled leaving the swords behind. They were displayed as trophies in the Fonseka household for years.<\/p>\n

Gamini himself was taken to Durdans hospital and treated for his injuries. No complaints were made to the Police.Gamini vowed that he would teach Karthelis a lesson and challenged him to a “man to man”fight.Karthelis never accepted the challenge. Years later Gamini was driving his car on the Galle road when he saw Karthelis standing near the Wellawatte-Dehiwela bridge. Gamini got down from his vehicle and went up to Karthelis. Then began the historic fight reminiscent of ASP Randeniya vs Goring Mudalali in “Weli Kathara”. Gamini thrashed Karthelis mercilessly in the one on 0ne fight duel. The Dehiwela strongman was chased across the Galle Road from one side to another and back by Gamini who pummelled Karthelis blue black and blue. Gamini then went away telling Karthelis that he was ready for a return fight “any day, any where, any time”. Karthelis was hospitalised after the fight. He never took up Gamini Fonseka’s challenge. This was the beginning of the end for the Dehiwela strongman who simply faded away after the incident.<\/p>\n

Entry Into Cinema<\/strong><\/p>\n

According to Prasad,Gamini had first wanted to be a Policeman.He had applied for a sub-inspector post and was called up for an interview.His mother Daisy pleaded with him not to join the Police.Gamini then turned to what was his second love then – cinema. Interestingly enough the the man who became one of the finest and popular actors on screen, did not want a career in acting then. He wanted to be a cinematographer and a film director. Gamini had tried to get a chance with many film producers but met with little luck. It was at this juncture that Premnath Moraes helped him out<\/p>\n

Recognising Gamini\u2019s innate talent and appreciating his enthusiasm, Premnath recommended him to Lester James Peries. Premnath described Gamini as an old Thomian and the kind of person needed by the film industry. \u201cHe is mad about films and wants to be a cameraman,\u201d wrote Moraes. Responding positively to Premnath\u2019s recommendation, Lester took Gamini on as a camera assistant to ace cinematographer Willie Blake. Lester’s maiden feature film \u2018Rekava\u2019 was being filmed then.<\/p>\n

It was Lester James Peries who gave Gamini his first break in movies as an “actor” through Rekava. Gamini showed his face for the first time on screen in a scene in the film. He was working as a camera cum production assistant for Lester. It was Lester who made Gamini an assistant director for his second film \u2018Sandesaya,\u2019 in which he also played the second lead to Ananda Jayaratne.Three of Gamini Fonseka\u2019s memorable character portrayals on screen were as Jinadasa, Willie Abeynayake and Saviman Kabalana in the films \u2018Gamperaliya,\u2019 \u2018Nidhanaya\u2019 and \u2018Yuganthaya\u2019 respectively. All three were directed by Lester. Gamini\u2019s first attempt at directing was \u2018Parasathumal\u2019 in which Lester played a behind the scenes role as an adviser and guide.<\/p>\n

Gamini’s first big break in acting came with \u201cDaiwa Yogaya\u201d in 1959 where he played a secondary role. Senadheera Kuruppu and Rukmani Devi were in the lead roles.Then came Lester\u2019s \u201cSandesaya\u201d where nominally Gamini played second fiddle to Ananda Jayaratna but stole the show from him with a stellar performance.It was around this time that films like \u201cAdata wediya Heta Hondai\u201d Ranmuthuduwa\u201d \u201cGetawarayo\u201d and \u201cDheevarayo\u201d exploded on the screen and established Gamini as a box office draw.However he proved that he was not a melodramatic actor-singing, dancing and fighting-alone by making his mark as a character actor in Lester\u2019s \u201cGamperaliya\u201d that won the Golden Peacock in New Delhi.Once again Gamini was the \u201cthird\u201d to Henry Jayasena and Punya Heendeniya but gave a performance par excellence as Jinadasa.<\/p>\n

Romantic Action Hero<\/strong><\/p>\n

Gamini reached the peak of his popularity in the late sixties and early seventies as romantic action hero.When Sean Connery won over the western world as Ian Fleming\u2019s James Bond in \u201cDr. No\u201d and \u201cFrom Russia With Love\u201d Mike Wilson cashed in on the \u201cOO7\u201d craze with a Sri Lankan version. Enter our own man with a license to kill-Jamis Banda! Who else other than Gamini could do justice to the role in \u201cSorungeth Soru?\u201d.<\/p>\n

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Gamini Fonseka & Malini Fonseka<\/p><\/div>\n

There were other popular roles too with Sri Lankan versions of the famous Tamil \u201cVallava\u201d film series starring Jaishankar and Manohar produced in Tamil Nadu by Ramasundaram of Modern Studios. Gamini was the mainstay of the \u201cSooraya\u201d film series in Sinhala. \u201cSoorayangath Sooraya\u201d, \u201cEdath Sooraya Adath Sooraya\u201d \u201cSooraya Soorayamai\u201d \u201cHatharadenaama Sooraya\u201d etc. The action films of old had a simple underlying thread that good triumphs over evil. So Gamini like MGR gave us a happy feeling and inspired all to greater heights.This success in action movies did not mean that Gamini was playing stereo -typed roles alone. Far from it! He played a variety of roles and proved his thespian skills in many.<\/p>\n

His Acting Did Not Falter When Directing<\/strong><\/p>\n

There have been several actor-directors who failed when directing themselves. It was a case of either underplaying or overacting. One man who performed this dual role creditably was Hindi cinema\u2019s Raj Kapoor (Awaraa, Barsat, Shri 420 etc) In Sinhala cinema Gamini was one man whose acting did not falter when directing.Starting from \u201cParasathumal\u201d to others like \u201cUthumaneni\u201d \u201cSagarayak Medha\u201d \u201cKoti Waligaya\u201d \u201cNomiyena Minissu\u201d etc Gamini played his roles remarkably in those films. At the same time he stamped his auterial mark as director. One cannot place him in the class of an A plus director in Sinhala cinema. But an A minus director he certainly was.<\/p>\n