Kala Keerthi Sembuge Gamini Shelton Fonseka (Sinhala: සෙම්බුගේ ගාමිණි ශෙල්ටන් ෆොන්සේකා; 21 March 1936 – 30 September 2004) was a Sri Lankan film actor, film director and politician.[1] Often considered as the greatest actor in Sinhala cinema,[2] Fonseka dominated the industry in 1960s and 1970s and won several Best Actor and Popular Actor awards throughout his career.[3] Apart from acting, he also served as the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka from 1989 to 1994 and the Governor of the North Eastern Province from 1995 to 1998.
Gamini Fonseka MP | |
|---|---|
 Gamini Fonseka | |
| 3rd Governor of the North Eastern Province | |
| In office 13 January 1995 – 20 October 1998 | |
| President | Chandrika Kumaratunga |
| Preceded by | Lionel Fernando |
| Succeeded by | Asoka Jayawardena |
| Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka | |
| In office 9 March 1989 – 24 June 1994 | |
| President | Ranasinghe Premadasa D. B. Wijetunga |
| Prime Minister | D. B. Wijetunga Ranil Wickremesinghe |
| Preceded by | Norman Waidyaratne |
| Succeeded by | Anil Moonesinghe |
| Member of Parliament for Matara District | |
| In office 9 March 1989 – 24 June 1994 | |
| Majority | 19,618 preferential votes |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Sembuge Gamini Shelton Fonseka 21 March 1936 Dehiwala, British Ceylon |
| Died | 30 September 2004 (aged 68) Ja-Ela, Sri Lanka |
| Political party | United National Party |
| Spouse |
Dorothy Margaret Valancia
(m. 1962) |
| Domestic partner | Angela Seneviratne |
| Children | 6 |
| Parent(s) | William Fonseka Daisy Fonseka |
| Education | S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia |
| Occupation | Actor, film director, politician |
| Known for | Cinema Sakwithi |
He is widely regarded as one of the Kings of Sri Lankan cinema, and was the first of the three crowned kings (the other two being Joe Abeywickrama and Tony Ranasinghe) to pass away.[4]
Personal life
editFonseka was born on 21 March 1936 in Dehiwela as the third child of William and Daisy Fonseka. Starting school at a Presbyterian institution, he later transferred to S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia. As a child, he gained a reputation for imitating administrative figures at school. Foneska also prospered in the study of the Sinhala language and literature (under the guidance of D. S. Jayasekera, who is also reputed to have introduced him to acting in stage plays)[5] 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. Foneska was also an accomplished cricket player.
Fonseka married his longtime girlfriend Dorothy Margaret Valencia also known as "Tina" in 1962, and the couple had four children: Chamila, Thanuja, Dammith and Ishara. Many years later he fathered Kaushalya and Poornima with his partner Angela Seneviratne.
Through his 6 children, Fonseka has 10 grandchildren: Yasara, Vivek, Indula,Daniel, Tarik, Janik, Hrithik, Ruveka and Tiasha. Fonseka remained married to Tina until his death in September 2004.
His son Damith was a popular film actor in 1990s. He acted in many commercially successful films such as Chandi Rejina, Ira Handa Illa, Chandiyage Putha, Cheriyo Darling, and Raththaran Malli.
Fonseka died on 30 September 2004 at the age of 68 at his residence in Ja-Ela.[6][7][8]
Film career
editFonseka 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 The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) and Lester James Peries' 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 minor role. Lester James Peries' Sandesaya (1960) first established Fonseka 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.[9]
Seeking to not play in only commercial roles, Fonseka appeared as Jinadasa in the groundbreaking Gamperaliya (1964), working again with Peries. In Titus Thotawatte's Chandiya, Fonseka played his first anti-heroic role in Sri Lankan cinema and in Mike Wilson's Sorungeth Soru (1968), he played the role of Jamis Banda, the Sinhalese James Bond.[10] In 1964, at the first awards ceremony of the United Ceylon Fan Club held on 12 January at the Royal College Hall, Colombo, Gamini won the Best Actor award in 1963 for his role as Jinadasa in the film Gamperaliya. This was Fonseka's first acting award.[11]
Fonseka also tried out directing many accolades. His debut directorial work Parasathu Mal was warmly received. He directed a political satire Sagarayak Meda.[12] Other films directed by Fonseka include Koti Waligaya and Nomiyana Minissu. He entered television as well and became the best teledrama actor for the role he played in Kalu Saha Sudu.[10]
Fonseka's role as Willie Abeynayake in Nidhanaya (1972) and as ASP Wicrema Randeniya in Welikathara (1971) are widely considered to be his crowning achievements. Both films have been recognised by Presidential Awards as amongst the 10 Best Sri Lankan films of all time. In 1979, Fonseka played Jaffna Tamil clerk Nadarajah in Sunil Ariyaratne's Sarungale. He has also has written some songs for the movies Sarungale (1979) and Mayurige Kathawa (1980).
Political career
editIn 1989, Fonseka entered politics after joining 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 the Parliament of Sri Lanka. He was later appointed by President Chandrika Kumaratunga as Governor of the now-defunct Northeastern Province.
Awards
edit| Year[13] | Award | Film |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Best Actor | Gamperaliya |
| 1965 | Sarasaviya Best Actor Award | Deewarayo |
| 1966 | Popular Actor (Swarna Sanka) | – |
| 1967 | Sarasaviya Best Actor Award | Parasathu Mal |
| 1967 | Sarasaviya Most Popular Actor Award | – |
| 1968 | Sarasaviya Best Actor Award | Sorungeth Soru |
| 1968 | Sarasaviya Most Popular Actor Award | – |
| 1969 | Sarasaviya Most Popular Actor Award | – |
| 1972 | Popular Actor (Deepashika Award) | – |
| 1976 | Popular Actor | Kasthuri Suwanda (Sarasaviya Peoples Award) (He rejected this award)[14] |
| 1980 | Sarasaviya Best Actor Award | Sarungale (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)[14] |
| 1980 | Sarasaviya Most Popular Actor Award | – |
| 1981 | Sarasaviya Best Actor Award | Uthumaneni |
| 1981 | Sarasaviya Most Popular Actor Award | – |
| 1982 | Sarasaviya Best Director Award | Sagarayak Mada |
| 1982 | Sarasaviya Most Popular Actor Award | – |
| 1986 | Sarasaviya Best Actor Award | Yuganthaya |
| 1986 | Sarasawiya Rana Thisara Award | – |
| 1986 | Best Actor (President Awards) | Yuganthaya |
| 1987 | Reviewers Award | – |
| 1995 | Sarasaviya Best Actor Award | Nomiyena Minisun |
| 1997 | U.W Sumathipala Commemorating Award | – |
Filmography
editUntil his death, Fonseka acted in 108 films, 86 of them as a lead actor and 19 more as a supporting actor. He directed 10 films and produced 2 films.[15][13]
As a director
edit- Parasathu Mal (1966)[16]
- Uthumaneni (1980)[17]
- Mayurige Kathawa (1980)
- Sagarayak Mada (1981)
- Bandura Mal (1981)
- Ra Manamali (1981)
- Sakwithi Suwaya (1982)
- Koti Waligaya (1986)
- Nomiyena Minisun (1994)
- Anthima Reya (1998)
As an actor
editAs a producer
edit| Year | Film | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Sorungeth Soru | Mike Wilson |
| 1972 | Sahanaya | J. Selvarathnam |
References
edit- ^ "Actors of Sinhala cinema - Gamini Fonseka". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
- ^ "The universal symbol of Sinhala cinema: On the occasion of Gamini Fonseka's 85th birthday". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ "In memory of Gamini". sundaytimes. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
- ^ "Trinity of Sinhala cinema". Divaina. Archived from the original on 10 April 2019. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
- ^ "D. S. Jayasekera – the consummate educator The Chief Editor, Sunday Observer 6th August 2006". tyretracks.com. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
- ^ "Tributes to cinema legend Gamini flow in". BBC News. 30 September 2004.
- ^ "Nation says goodbye to silver screen hero". BBC News. 3 October 2004.
- ^ "Sinhala film legend Gamini dies". BBC News. 30 September 2004.
- ^ "The Great Harvest of the Performance of a Film Excellence". Silumina. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
- ^ a b "It's 16 years". Hiru FM. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
- ^ "Gamini: the most prolific stage personality in Hela cinema". Silumina. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
- ^ "Sagarayak Meda". www.imdb.com.
- ^ a b Kumara, Nuwan Nayanajith. ගාමිණි – විශ්වීය රූපණවේදයක ආසියානු පුරෝගාමියා. Sarasa Publishing Private Limited. p. 295. ISBN 955-8811-61-0.
- ^ a b "Sinhala Cinema Wanshakathaawa" by "A. D. Nuwan Nayanajith Kumara"
- ^ "Gamini Fonseka filmography". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
- ^ "All about "Parasathu Mal"". sarasaviya. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
- ^ "All about 'Uthumaneni'". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- ^ "All about the film Ranmuthu Duwa". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
- ^ "All about the blockbuster film "Gamperaliya"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
- ^ "All about the film "Adata Wadiya Heta Hondai"". sarasaviya. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
- ^ "All about "Chandiya"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
- ^ "All about the film "Satha Panaha"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
- ^ "All about Seegiri Kashyapa". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
- ^ "The western sky fades to red paintings". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
- ^ "All about "Rena Giraw"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
- ^ "All about the film "Okkoma Hari"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
- ^ "All about the film "Ohoma Hondada"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
- ^ "Hadata Wadata Hari Soorayo: Hathara Denama Soorayo film". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
- ^ "All about Sahanaya". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
- ^ "40 years for the greatest film ever produced in Sinhala cinema". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
- ^ "Obata Thiyena Adare". sarasaviya. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
- ^ "All about the film "Kasthuri Suwanda"". sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
- ^ "All about Senakeliya". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
- ^ "All about Awa Soya Adare". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
- ^ "All about the film "Suraya Surayamai"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
- ^ "All about the film "Kawuda Raja"". sarasaviya. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
- ^ "All about Nilla Soya". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
- ^ "All about Yakadaya". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
- ^ "Chin Chin Nona, who came before Tom Pachaya". sarasaviya. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
- ^ "Deviyani Oba Koheda". sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
- ^ "All about Chandi Putha". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
- ^ "All about Sarungale". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ "All about the film "Mal Kekulu"". sarasaviya. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
- ^ "All about Sathyagrahanaya". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
- ^ "'Demodara Palama' in memory of Gamini". Sunday Times. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
- ^ "Loku Duwa appears on Rupavahini". Sunday Times. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
External links
edit- Gamini Fonseka at IMDb
- Official Website – Gamini Fonseka Foundation
- Official Website – National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka
- Gamini Fonseka: A Man of the Troops
- Gamini's Film History in Sinhala
- http://www.nfc.gov.lk/artist/gamini-fonseka-132/
- ගාමිණී 13 යි Archived 19 September 2018 at the Wayback Machine
- දැවැන්ත වෘක්ෂයේ සෙවණ ලැබූ අපේ සිනමාවේ සරුඵල