Gamini Fonseka’s seventh death anniversary:

Sinhala cinema’s Sakvithi on Jothi

Prasad GUNEWARDENE

This is an unpublished interview done seven years ago with the rebellious prodigy who stormed into the film scene and permanently transformed the art of acting on the screen.

He has stood unequalled to all generations in the field of method acting which he introduced to Asia. To reflect on the life and times of that man called Gamini Fonseka would be to reflect on an epoch. He himself was a ‘Treasure’ to the film industry when memories are refreshed on the historic film Nidhanaya (Treasure) directed by his Guru, Dr. Lester James Peries in which Gamini displayed his masterful acting.

Gamini Fonseka was no staid pillar of the traditional order or a crusty believer in orthodoxy. He retained the keenness of mind with an abundant and undimmed zest for life and relished the foibles of human conditions. At a time, the legend of film playback singing, H. R. Jothipala was underestimated by many claiming Jothipala copied Hindi songs, Gamini looked up to Jothipala as a ‘Giant’ in the music world.

Seven years ago, just seven days before Gamini’s sudden demise, that unchallenged influential actor of all times sat with me and my journalist colleague Stanley Samarasinghe at Gamini’s Ja-ela residence which looked an ‘Ashram’ with the surroundings quite calm, tall trees and birds singing at regular intervals in the 90 perched garden. Inside the house his cupboards were surrounded by books and awards. Those books were not only on film literature but also on old masters - Edmund Wilson, Evelyn Waugh, W. A. Auden, William Shakespeare and practically biographies of many figures in the literary note.

As much of his observations on acting legends like Joe Abeywickreme and Tony Ranasinghe have been written in the past, Gamini’s thoughts and views on Jothipala unpublished for seven long years would be unfolded in this tribute to mark Gamini Fonseka’s seventh death anniversary that falls today (September 30). Gamini viewed Joe as the best actor and Tony as the best character based actor yet to be found even in the Indian screen. He saw talents in Jothipala in a different perspective and described Jothipala as a ‘Giant’ with the latter’s inimitable singing talents.

The following views on Jothipala were expressed by Gamini 17 long years after the demise of Jothipala when Stanley Samarasinghe and I met him just a week before his untimely death.

Q: Mr.Fonseka, you have acted to the voice of H. R. Jothipala in many films as Jothipala was the main playback singer for films. Did Jothipala’s voice suit those roles you portrayed?

A: Why not? That was the only voice that really suited not only me but also Vijaya Kumaratunga and even Joe Abeywickreme.

Q: Did you find anything unique in the voice style of Jothipala?

A: Jothipala was the only film playback singer who offered the true vocal expressions to the lyrics with variations that was an incentive to any actor.

Q: Could you elaborate what those expressions and variations were and how they were helpful to you as an actor?

A: You see, Jothipala sensed the lyrics. He would at times imagine the location of shooting and call us to say that he would be exercising some voice variations to suit the location of shooting.

Q: You mean to say that Jothipala was not just a playback singer but also a singer who visualized what he was going to sing?

A: Yes...very few singers are gifted that way with a thorough knowledge of what they were going to offer to the actor in those roles.

Q: Jothipala is now no more. Do you see a void in film playback singing or have others filled it?

A: The void of Jothipala can never be filled by copying him. That void will last till the last day of Sinhala film industry. I am proud to say that I, Vijaya and Joe acted to the vocal expressions and variations in Jothipala’s voice.

Q: But singers like Gratien Ananda have now come into film playback singing...How do you view such entries?

A: Gratien is a good singer. His voice may suit some young actors of today who have no method in acting. But the difference is that Jothipala had a very powerful voice with lot of weight.

Q: Why do you say like that when Gratein too has a very deep voice that suits films?

A: It’s not matter whether the voice is deep or shallow (Gamini displays a mischievous smile). Jothipala’s voice suited the role of the actor and the personality of the actor. It gave the feeling to the audience inside a cinema that the actor himself was truly singing and acting. That is the uniqueness in the voice gifted to Jothipala by nature. I would say that Jothipala was a gift to us in the film industry.

Q: What was so unique in the voice of Jothipala?

A: Unique? I will tell you...Jothipala was the only playback singer who sang to joy, emotion and grief, the three essential areas in film songs.

Q: But, today we see many trying and copying Jothipala. How do you view that?

A: No one can do it. Those who try will fail miserably and fade away in no time.

Q: So you say though Jothipala is no more, Jothipala has come to live forever in the singing scene?

A: Yes...Actors will be remembered after their deaths only when one of their films is shown again. Singers are different. Their voices continue to be heard. Jothipala died 17 years ago but his voice is being heard daily. In contrast, you will not see Gamini Fonseka on the screen daily after his death. Of all singers, H.R. Jothipala is exclusive. He has come to stay. As long as the island-Sri Lanka-exists in the world map, Jothipala will never die.

I may die today or tomorrow and be forgotten. But that will not happen to Jothipala till the end of this country and the world. You would realize that my words are true even after my death. Nature has made Jothipala live another day that is why he is unique.

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