Gamini Fonseka

Gamini Fonseka
ගාමිනි ෆොන්සේකා
Born Sembuge Gamini Shelton Fonseka
(1936-03-21)21 March 1936
Dehiwala, Sri Lanka
Died 30 September 2004(2004-09-30) (aged 68)
Ja-Ela, Sri Lanka
Nationality Sri Lankan
Occupation Actor, Film Director, Politician
Years active 1959-1998
Known for Crowned king of Sri Lankan cinema
Notable work Character acting in the movie Nidhnaya
Office Governor of North and East
Spouse(s) Dorothy Margaret Valancia-Fonseka (1962 until death)
Children 6

Sembuge Gamini Shelton Fonseka (Sinhala:සෙම්බුගේ ගාමිනි ශෙල්ටන් ෆොන්සේකා) (born 21 March 1936, died 30 September 2004) was a Sri Lankan film actor, film director and politician. He is widely regarded as the King of Sri Lankan cinema history and first Crowned King out of three (Joe Abeywickrama and Tony Ranasinghe are others) to die.[1]

Fonseka was born on 21 March 1936 in Dehiwela the third child of William and Daisy Fonseka. Starting school at a Presbyterian institution, Gamini moved on to S. Thomas' College, Mt. Lavinia. As a youngster, he gained repute for imitating administrative figures at school. Gamini also prospered in the study of the Sinhala language and literature (under the guidance of Mr D.S. Jayasekera who is also reputed to have introduced him to acting in stage plays)[2] and placed in the upper fourth for a Sinhala literature prize. The award for this achievement was presented to him by S. Thomas' graduate and Sri Lankan Prime Minister D. S. Senanayake. Gamini was also an accomplished cricket player. Gamini Fonseka married his longtime girlfriend Dorothy Margaret Valencia also known as Tina in 1962 and had four children Chamila, Thanuja, Dammith and Ishara. Many years later he also fathered Kaushalya and Poornima. He remained married to Tina until his death in September 2004.

Film career

Entrance to film and the 1960s

Fonseka abruptly ended his secondary education and dove into the film industry. He originally wanted to be a cameraman and in this line worked as the second Assistant Director on David Lean's Bridge on the River Kwai and Lester James Peries's Rekava (1956). Fonseka was first on-screen in Rekava as part of a crowd. He also did some work on an English television series filmed in Sri Lanka.

Fonseka's first credited acting role was in Daiwa Yogaya (1959) in which he played a small role. Lester James Peries Sandesaya (1960) first established him in a leading role. With films like Adata Wediya Heta Hondai, Ranmuthu Duwa, Getawarayo and Dheevarayo Fonseka achieved popularity and became a box-office draw.

Seeking to not play just commercial roles, Fonseka appeared as Jinadasa in the groundbreaking Gamperaliya (1964) working again with Peries. In Titus Thotawatte's Chandiya, Fonseka played the first anti-hero role in Sri Lankan cinema and in Mike Wilson's Sorungeth Soru (1968), he played the role of Jamis Banda, the Sinhala James Bond.

Fonseka also tried out directing many accolades. His debut directorial work Parasathu Mal was warmly received. He directed a political satire Sagarayak Meda.[3] The other films that were directed by him include Kotiwaligaya and Nomiyana Minissu.He entered telecinema as well and became the best teledrama actor for the role he played in Kalu Saha Sudu.

He has also has written some songs for the movies Sarungale (1979)(Bambarindu) and Mayurige Kathawa (1980)(Nethiwunu Aadarayak Wenuwen)

1970s and 1980s

Fonseka's role as Willie Abeynayake in Nidhanaya (1970) and as ASP Wicrema Randeniya in "Welikathara" are considered his crowning achievement. Both films have been recognised with Presidential awards among the 10 best Sri Lankan film.

In 1980 Fonseka played Jaffna Tamil clerk Nadarajah in Sunil Ariyaratne's Sarungale.

Films Directed[4]

  • Parasathu Mal (1966)
  • Uthumaneni (1980)
  • Mayurige Kathawa (1980)
  • Sagarayak Mada (1981)
  • Ra Manamali (1981)
  • Sakwithi Suwaya (1982)
  • Koti Waligaya (1986)
  • Nomiyena Minisun (1994)
  • Anthima Raya (1998)

Awards[4]

YearAwardFilm
1964Best ActorGamperaliya
1965Sarasaviya Best Actor AwardDeewarayo
1966Popular Actor (Swarna Sanka)–
1967Sarasaviya Best Actor AwardParasathu Mal
1967Sarasaviya Most Popular Actor Award–
1968Sarasaviya Best Actor AwardSorungeth Soru
1968Sarasaviya Most Popular Actor Award–
1969Sarasaviya Most Popular Actor Award–
1972Popular Actor (Deepashika Award)–
1976Popular ActorKasthuri Suwanda (Sarasaviya Peoples Award)(He rejected this award)[5]
1980Sarasaviya Best Actor AwardSarungale (The Best Lyricist award is being awarded to Prof. Sunil Ariyaratne for the song "Bambarindu" by mistake. But he corrected it and handed it over to Gamini Fonseka))[5]
1980Sarasaviya Most Popular Actor Award–
1981Sarasaviya Best Actor AwardUthumaneni
1981Sarasaviya Most Popular Actor Award–
1982Sarasaviya Best Director AwardSagarayak Mada
1982Sarasaviya Most Popular Actor Award–
1986Sarasaviya Best Actor AwardYuganthaya
1986Sarasawiya Rana Thisara Award–
1986Best Actor (President Awards)Yuganthaya
1987Reviewers Award–
1995Sarasaviya Best Actor AwardNomiyena Minisun
1997U.W Sumathipala Commemorating Award–

Political career

In 1989, Fonseka entered politics after he joined the United National Party. He was elected to Parliament in 1989 as a representative of the Matara District with the highest number of preferential votes and was appointed Deputy Speaker of Parliament of Sri Lanka. He was later appointed by President Chandrika Kumaratunga as Governor of the former North-East Province.

Death

Fonseka died at the age of 68 at his residence in Ja ela.[6] [7][8]

Filmography

Until his death, Fonseka acted on 108 films, where 86 of them as lead actor and 19 more as a supporting actor. He directed 10 films and produced 2 films.[9]

Year Film Role
1959 Daiwayogaya Manamoola
1960 Sandesaya Deputy
1960 Pirimiyek Nisa
1962 Daskon
1962 Ranmuthu Duwa
1963 Gamperaliya Jinadasa
1963 Adata Vediya Heta Hondai
1964 Getawarayo Jayasena Fernando
1964 Dheevarayo Francis
1965 Chandiya Chutte
1965 Sudo Sudu Adiriyan
1965 Adarayai-Karunawai
1965 Satha Panaha
1965 Yatagiya Dawasa
1966 Senasuma Kothanada
1966 Seethala Wathura
1966 Sigiri Kashyapa Kashyapa
1966 Parasathu Mal Bonny
1966 Oba Dutu Da
1966 Sanasili Suvaya
1967 Sorungeth Soru James Banda
1967 Ipadune Aye
1967 Rena Girawu
1967 Okkoma Hari
1967 Sura Chauraya Veera
1968 Dehadaka Duka
1969 Oba Nethi Nam
1969 Baduth Ekka Horu
1969 Surayangeth Suraya
1969 Paara Walalu
1969 Mee Masso
1970 Aathma Puja Dual Acting
1970 Ohoma Hodada
1971 Hathara Denama Surayo
1971 Welikathara ASP Randeniya
1972 Sahanaya
1972 Nidhanaya Willie Abeynayake
1972 Edath Suraya Adath Suraya Gamini
1972 Adare Hithenawa Dakkama Ricky
1972 Miringuva
1973 Hondata Hondai
1973 Sadahatama Oba Mage
1973 Hodama Velava
1973 Hodai Narakai
1974 Kasthuri Suwanda Kamal
1974 Onna Babo Billo Enawa
1974 Sanakeliya Priyantha
1975 Hitha Hoda Minihek
1975 Raththaran Amma Dual Acting
1975 Awa Soya Adare
1975 Rajagedara Paraviyo
1975 Cyril Malli
1975 Suraya Surayamai
1976 Kawda Rajaa Manuel
1976 Hulavali Dhaara
1976 Nilla Soya Dhamme
1976 Nayana
1977 Yakadaya Sumanadasa
1977 Chin Chin Nona
1977 Deviyani Oba Koheda Priest
1977 Chandi Putha
1978 Chandi Shyama
1978 Asha Daasin Nalin
1978 Hitha Mithura
1978 Apsara
1978 Seetha Devi Ravi Ranaraja aka Ravana
1979 Amal Biso Bayisa
1979 Minisun Athara Minihek Maithree
1979 Sarungale Tamil clerk Nadarajah
1980 Mal Kekulu Manjula
1980 Uthumaneni Siripala
1980 Mayurige Kathawa
1980 Sankapali Sanka
1981 Chanchala Rekha
1981 Thavalama
1981 Bandura Mal Thirakotuwe Arachchi
1981 Ridee Thella
1981 Sagarayak Meda Dual Role Dr.Moladanda & Frederick Ramanayake
1982 Sakvithi Suvaya Bucket Harry
1982 Miss Mallika
1982 Hello Shyama
1985 Yuganthaya Simon Kabalana
1986 Yali Hamuvennai
1986 Koti Waligaya Police officer Sarath Ranasinghe
1986 Puja
1987 Sathyagrahanaya
1987 Ahinsa
1989 Shakthiya Obai Amme
1991 Uthura Dakuna Ramanayake
1993 Sajant Nallathambi
1994 Nomiyena Minisun Colonel Ranabahu
1994 Shakthi
1994 Pavana Raluviya
1995 Mama Baya Ne Shyama
1995 Demodara Palama Chutte
1996 Loku Duwa
1997 Apaye Thathpara Asu Haradahak
1998 Anthima Reya

As Film Producer

Year Film Director
1967 Sorungeth Soru Mike Wilson
1972 Sahanaya J. Selvarathnam

References

  1. ↑ "The last of the Trinity". The Nation. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  2. ↑ "D. S. Jayasekera – the consummate educator The Chief Editor, Sunday Observer 6th August 2006". tyretracks.com. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  3. ↑ "Sagarayak Meda". www.imdb.com.
  4. 1 2 Kumara, Nuwan Nayanajith. ගාමිණි – විශ්වීය රූපණවේදයක ආසියානු පුරෝගාමියා. Sarasa Publishing Private Limited. p. 295. ISBN 955-8811-61-0.
  5. 1 2 "Sinhala Cinema Wanshakathaawa" by "A. D. Nuwan Nayanajith Kumara"
  6. ↑ "Tributes to cinema legend Gamini flow in". BBC News. 30 September 2004.
  7. ↑ "Nation says goodbye to silver screen hero". BBC News. 3 October 2004.
  8. ↑ "Sinhala film legend Gamini dies". BBC News. 30 September 2004.
  9. ↑ "Gamini Fonseka filmography". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 20 October 2017.

Further reading

Political offices
Preceded by
Lionel Fernando		 Governor of North Eastern Province
1995–1998		 Succeeded by
Asoka Jayawardena
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