J.B.L. Gunasekera :

Forgotten face of Sinhala cinema

Asoka N. Pathirane

CINEMA:He was a great remote genius in his short acting career. It's amazing how an individual can take up to acting in the Sinhala cinema with not so much of an affluent past and climbing his way up to become the perfect father of the celluloid screen.

John Bertram Leslie Gunasekera or most affectionately known to his close kith and kin and friends as 'Bertie' was quite unknown to the Sinhala cinema until he emerged as a key personnel in the cinema by playing a village role in Dr. Lester James Peries' 'Rekawa' a movie highly acclaimed all over the world.

'JBL' as he was famously known in the Sinhala cinema was a charismatic actor with so much of potential even at the ripe age of 50. This remarkable actor 'JBL' was indeed an instant hit within the circles of the upper crust audience since his roles mostly reflected the high society elite with a bourgeois thinking pattern.

In actual fact this man was a villager born in Beddegama (a southerner) and lost his father when he was young. Destiny changed his life and Bertie soon was taken care of by his maternal uncle who lived in the luscious greens of Colombo and soon entered St. Joseph's College, Colombo.

Although not having the privilege of being an academic, this paved the way for young Bertram to qualify as an accountant and immediately joined the Government service.

The acting part was done as a part time exercise. It was his passion. His career with the education department had a lifespan of 40 years until he retired from active service.

Acting career

His acting opportunities came during this time and although he loved his profession so much, the break into acting was a bonus and notably under Lester. Now the man 'JBL' surfaced into limelight with his excellent performances as the natural father in 'Delowak Athara' 'Hanthane Kathawa' and 'Ransalu' where the affluent father truly depicted the man genius.

JBL was so fortunate to associate with the cinema's great contributors in the likes of Regi Siriwardena, William Blake, Sumithra Peries (then Gunawardena) and his other fellow actors.

He had a different tone of expression and that caught the glimpse of the cinema audience by storm. He was not forgotten then. I wonder what will happen to the immortal soul of Gamini Fonseka in another ten years time. Let us hope not.

It's time to remember the sweet talking 'JBL' who had a peaceful death at the age of 73 even after signing a lucrative movie contract. It was not so much a coincidence even the acceptance of the contract came by mail when his body was lying at his home.

Tony Ranasinghe, the versatile actor and scriptwriter had good things to say about 'wonderful man' he refers to JBL during their location periods in 'Hanthane Kathawa and Delowak Athara' where they met and discussed mutual interests specially when travelling in the same van.

"His acting was just simplified by the man's natural behaviour. Humans of his quality are hard to find these days and mind you such calibre of actors are never being heard of these days. JBL was a true father to everyone," says Tony.

Another cinema personality still going strong is lranganie Serasinghe or 'Chandi' (the perfect mother of the silver screen and the box) as she is affectionately called by her friends, who had noble things to say about Bertie Gunasekera.

Iranganie starts off with comparing him to 'The Perfect Gentleman' one could come across in life. Her association with JBL in 'Rekawa', 'Delowak Athara' and 'Ransalu' were great moments of a man whose qualities of fraternity depicted in his social behaviour.

"We had truly great moments of getting on with someone who was a noble Government servant so much different to others," says Iranganie with her usual pleasant expression.

She also treasures the scenes where the father (JBL), mother (Iranganie) and son (Tony) get 'engulfed' in moments of despair in 'Delowak Athara' and recalls when her hurt feelings turn into greater emotions. JBL, she says, was excellent here.

Never will a man of JBL's nature will ever spring out from the Sinhala cinema for a long time.

Lester on JBL

The great Dr. Lester James Peries recollected his memory going back 50 years to the time of 'Rekawa' and it was during the shooting of the movie, the man JBL requested Dr. Peries for a part.

It was a part that did not show any prominence where he confronts Mallika Pilapitiya, then a blooming 19-year-old and the mother of current teledrama actor Roshan Pilapitiya. Mallika in her role eventually marries the dashing Ananda Weerakoon and had an early exit from the film.

According to Dr. Peries when it came to the dubbing of the movie JBL had worried the director for another role. Being nervous in the dubbing act, Bertie came out perfect and Dr. Peries identified him as an upper middle class character and had no hesitation in giving him the role in 'Delowak Athara' where according to the award winning director JBL was 'Dead on'.

He then endorsed JBL amongst a small group of character players and took him on for 'Ransalu'. He was a charming gentleman and easy to work with," says Dr. Peries and goes on to praise him as an exceptionally fine gentleman too.

'JBL' had two illustrious sons, Bertram and Peter. Bertram is popularly known as Dr. W. A. M. Gunasekera, a famous Consultant Physician at the Nawaloka Hospital and Peter, a science graduate now living overseas and following his late father's footsteps in the field of education as a teacher.

'WAM', who is also called Bertie amongst his family and friends relates how his father taught them the etiquettes of behaving and not to react in social conflicts.

He believed that his children should learn Elocution for the correct usage of the language which, in turn, taught the two sons that yelling or talking loud in public or corridors were not accepted by society.

Bertie Jr. too gave his children the gift of Elocution and sent them to St. Bridget's Convent where he says a Bridgeteen can be spotted cut above the rest. Like any father, 'JBL' stood on every opportunity which encouraged his two sons to be professional in true grit. Actively, both his sons achieved the landmark their father wished them to be.

'WAM' brings out memories that how Iranganie Serasinghe and 'JBL', the hen pecked husband, complimented each other so perfectly as husband and wife on the silver screen that most people asked Bertie Jr. whether his mother was still into acting.

How such a perfect gentleman as Iranganie described became a forgotten face in the world of writers, directors and fellow artistes in the past years is sad.

He was another charismatic face together with S. A. Jamis, A. P. Gunaratne and Douglas Wickramasinghe who all played the roles of fathers.

The natural talents of the old father 'hubbard' is still mingling in the hearts of the cinema goers as the perfect father of the celluloid screen and wishes that this wonder of a man should not be forgotten as his contribution to the cinema was far more greater.

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