Meaningful creations despite challenges

Queen of Sri Lankan Cinema turns 61 today:

Ruwini Jayawardana

Living legend of the Sinhala silver screen, Malani Fonseka celebrates her 61st birth anniversary today. With a career spanning 40 years in the silver screen and over 150 films to her credit, she remains unchallenged in the number one position even after many new faces have joined the scene.

April 30, 1947, was destined to be an historic date in Sri Lankan cinema. It was the day that Wanniarachchige Malani Senehelatha Fonseka joined the world. She was the third child in a family of 11 and the daughter of Gilbert and Seelawathie Fonseka. Her father was employed at the Government Printers and she had two elder brothers, four sisters and four younger brothers.

Malani's destiny was predicted at an early age as her parents had taken her horoscope to an astrologer who foretold that the fair and chubby babe will some day become queen in the country. The lovely young lass inherited her father's patience and sensitive nature while she was gifted with strength and courage from her mother.

Malani and her family moved from her birth place, Peliyagoda, to Jambugasmulla, Nugegoda, where she joined St. John's College, Nugegoda. The family was on the move again and Malani enroled at Gurukula Maha Vidyalaya when the family took residence in Wedamulla, Kelaniya.

Malani started her acting career with stage dramas. She made her debut to the spotlight with Noratha Ratha in 1963. She played the lead role in around 14 stage dramas and won the award for best actress at the National State Drama Festival for her performance in Akal Wessa in 1965.

She made her entry to films through Tissa Liyanasuriya's Punchi Baba (The Little Baby) in 1968. Joe Abeywickrama noted her exceptional talent and it is he along with Liyanasuriya who introduced her to Sinhala cinema.

A series of films followed after her first film and she breathed life into many memorable roles in films like Abuddassa Kale, Dahasak Sithuwili, Adarawanthayo and later the outstanding masterpieces like Nidhanaya (by Lester James Peries) , Siripala Saha Ranmenika (by Amaranath Jayathilake), Eya Den Loku Lamayek and Bambaru Ewith ( both by Dharmasena Pathiraja).

She had won many awards including the Sarasaviya award for best actress for her movies Hingana Kolla (1980), Aradhana (1982) and Yasa Isuru (1983). She also clinched many most popular supportive actress, most popular actress, special jury awards and once in a life time Rana Thisara award.

Fonseka's significance lay in her ability to maintain her status in both popular and artistic cinema. She was the first Sri Lankan actress to reach international heights when she won awards at the Moscow International Film Festival in 1975 and the New Delhi Film Festival in 1977.

She had also co-starred with popular Indian actor, Sivaji Ganesan in Pilot Premnath (1978) and Pakistani actor, Usman Fiersad.

One cannot ignore her link with two of Sri Lankan cinema's giants of the golden era, Gamini Fonseka and Vijaya Kumaratunge. Malani and Gamini first starred together in the movie Parawalalu in 1969. They co-starred as Irene and Willy Abeynaike in Lester James Peries' internationally acclaimed movie Nidhanaya and since then they have acted together in many productions like Kasthuri Suwanda, Edath Sooraya Adath Sooraya and Awa Soya Adare.

They played roles opposite each other in many acclaimed movies so much so that fans named the early 1970s as the Gamini-Malini decade in Sri Lankan cinema.

She first starred opposite Vijaya Kumaratunga in the movie Me Desa Kumatada in 1972. That was the beginning of a record number of 41 movies starring the couple who have acted in the most number of films together in the history of Sri Lankan cinema.

They achieved the heights of popularity and were adjudged as the most popular actor and actress for five consecutive years. This marked the Vijaya-Malani decade of Sri Lankan cinema.

Malani met a significant milestone in her artistic career when she directed and produced Sasara Chetana in 1984. She also directed two other films: Ahinsa in 1987 and Sthree in 1991.

Later on she turned her attention to the teledrama industry and portrayed roles in many acclaimed teledramas such as Menalada Puthe Kiri Dunne, Pitagamkarayo, Kemmura and Ambu Daruwo.

She won the Sumathi Best Tele Actress Award for her performance in Pitagamkarayo and Kemmura and went on to become Sri Lanka's first female teledrama director with her creation Nirupamala and later Sanasili Suwanda.

The Fonseka family is well known in the cinema industry since 20 members of the family have taken part in its productions. Her brother, Ananda Fonseka, is a popular movie director and producer and her sisters, Damayanthi, Sriyani and Rasadari Fonseka, are gifted actresses.

Throughout the years more and more members of the family have joined in to enrich the world of art. Malani's nieces Samanalee, Sanduni and Tharindi Fonseka have gained popularity among the Sri Lankan audience.

Together with her good looks and ample amount of talent Malani had proven that she is still the Queen of the Sri Lankan silver screen, loved and honoured by her fans. Following are excerpts from an interview with the evergreen star.

What is your view of the present situation of Sri Lankan cinema?

As a person who had dedicated 40 years for the cinema's history of 61 years I have seen many changes in the field.

There are many challenges that the industry went through since many new forms of entertainment such as Hindi and Tamil films, television and other forms of entertainment have joined the scene.

The glamour in such creations have captured the audience and it is difficult to compete with them with a small budget but on the whole meaningful creations have come our way more than those based purely on entertainment.

Tell us about your upcoming movies Aba and Akasha Kusum.

Jackson Anthony's Aba is a creation to be proud of and I am honoured to be given the chance to portray the role of Baddhakachchayana because she was a courageous women in the legendary tale. My role as the bygone film star Sandhya Rani in Prasanna Vithanage's Akasha Kusum (Flowers in the Sky) is a role with a difference.

What do you look for when choosing your characters?

If a character appeals to my mind and I feel that I can present something different to my audience I do not hesitate to take up the role.

You have given life to many memorable characters in your career. Is there any special character you cherish?

(Smiling) You are asking me to choose my favourite among all my children. That is a difficult task but out of around 150 characters I have a fondness for Irene (Nidhanaya), Helen (Bambaru Ewith), Susila (Eya Den Loku Lamyek) Ran Menika (Siripala Saha Ranmenika) and Nisansala (Induta Mal Mitak).

You mentioned the trends in the cinema industry. What is your view of remakes of old hits?

Such an attempt should be made only if the director has a thorough belief that he or she would be able to bring the creation close to the audience again and only if the attempt does justice to the original.

You are a part of two decades of Sri Lankan cinema, the Gamini-Malani era and the Vijaya-Malani era. We do not see such eras in the industry at present.

These decades are something which have taken form in the audience's mind. Neither Gamini, Vijaya nor I planned to launch an era. We acted together in some outstanding creations which became hits and was loved by many.

Is there some role that you love to portray but have not been offered yet? (Laughing) Yes, certainly. As artistes we expect diverse roles but I cannot pinpoint the characteristics of the character that I long to portray.

How do you see the younger generation of artistes?

As I mentioned before there are many challenges for them to overcome. There are some talented youths in the field and it all depends on how they face the situation.

Are there any of your creations on the way?

There is Doni, the teledrama which will go on air soon. I am also planning to a film towards the end of the year.

Do you have any special plans for your birthday?

On my tour of the U.S. at the beginning of the year I was touched by the devotion of the fans. That was one of my most cherishing moments as I was felicitated across six states for my contribution to Sri Lankan cinema. I have decided to help with the funds for the Maharagama Cancer hospital. I also hope to help establish an auditorium for my school, Gurukula Maha Vidyalaya, in the future.

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