Striking desperado

Channa Bandara WIJEKOON

The golden era of Sinhala cinema was indeed the decade of 1970. Film stars who played the hero on screen were role-models of the youth an even school children. Ceylon Daily News used to carry every day a full page of the currently screening films in the country with pictures and cast lists.

Alexander Fernando was a name appeared in these casts lists very often. The tall dark actor with dashingly handsome physique and sharp looks were loved by many even though he played villain in most of the films. ‘Alex’ as he was loveably called by fans eventually became a hero on screen.

The 70s decade action star Alexander Fernando at the age of 71. Picture by Lalith C Gamage

Films like ‘Saradiyelge Putha’, ‘Sahayata Danee’, ‘Harima Badu Thunak’, ‘Batti’ and ‘Pasamithuro’ brought to limelight the real actor in Alex.

Now living a quiet life with his family, Alex still fit as a fiddle was more than willing to go down memory lane on a pleasant evening. Film songs like ‘Usi Usi None…’ and ‘Yanawita Paare…Ukula Natana Thaale…’ which came in the films ‘Hithamithura’ and ‘Yakadaya’ are still very much popular even among the present youth, after many decades gone by. The actor who induced life to these songs on screen was none other than Alexander Fernando.

Street fighter

Either he wore a body hugging gleaming trendy attire of 1970s which highlighted his tall and robust physique or a sarong to suit a particular character, his mere appearance on screen enthralled the filmgoers.

“I was branded a street-fighter in my youth”, says Alex. He had been an outspoken individual right throughout his career who had always fought against injustice inside and outside the screen. Actors who played villains at the time were real fighters who have mastered some form of self defence. Alex was no exception. This gladiator type action star’s passion was wrestling.

Alex was a wrestling instructor at ‘Amstrong wrestling club’ in Kotehena who became the national champion in 1961.

A knee injury had deprived him from representing the country at the Olympics. However, he had represented the country in ‘Empire and Commonwealth Games’ in 1962, held in Perth, Western Australia.

Lenin Moraeus had introduced Alex to the celluloid world in his budding young age. The fight scene with Robin Fernando in ‘Ruhunu Kumari’ paved way for Alex to excel as an action hero and direct fight sequences in vast number of Sinhala films. His role in ‘Haralakse’ too was reckoned by many.

Alex shared memories of his teaching finer-points in fighting in front of a cine-camera, to actors who had not had any sparring lessons in prior. We were very careful when teaching a layman how to fight. I have several experiences where a miss-shot had ended up in blood-shed. This happened in the sets of ‘Senakeliya’, says he. “Some sissies in the sphere exaggerated these unfortunate incidents to create rifts between actors. The film industry was flourishing at the time and some were greedy to grab opportunities”, he says.

Horse riding

He mentions with gratitude names of a former sports minister V A Sugathadasa, Lenin Moraeus, W M S Thampo, Robin Fernando, Sathischandra Edirisinghe and Abeysekera of the ‘mounted-police’ who had taught him horse-riding.

Box office films like, Soorayangeth Sooraya, Edath Sooraya Adath Sooraya, Hatharadenama Soorayo and Kawda Raja to name a few, featured Alex with Gamini Fonseka. However Alex lost the opportunity to become the main villain opposite Gamini in ‘Chandi-Putha.’ Late Mervin Jayathunga was eventually casted in the role and given the opportunity to consolidate himself as a villain. “Mervin wore the costumes made for me”, says Alex with a smile.

Later Alex and Mervin acted together in ‘Pasamithuro’. It was the Sinhala version of the Hollywood film ‘The defiance ones’ which featured the black actor Sydney Poitier and Tony Curtis. Alex shared with Mervin the best actor Presidential award for Pasamithuro. The film directed by late Ananda Hewage carried one of the best performances of Alex. The facial expressions he created to do justice for the character of ‘Welu’ in the film were par excellence.

Though he entered the celluloid world as an action star, Alex had had an inborn acting talent. Cameramen loved to give close-ups of his face even in fight scenes since his face was always full of expressions.

The song ‘Kaudo Minisage…Daiwe Peralanne’ in ‘Saradiyelge Putha’ carried close-up shots of Alex’s emotional facial expressions. Volley Nanayakkara had dubbed for Alex in the film. Alex did the main role opposite Malani Fonseka. Nihal Jayawardena was another artiste who had dubbed for Alex in films.

“We must respect the producer who invests a huge amount of money towards making a film. Also, we must always bear in mind the contribution of technicians, light boys, cameraman and makeup artist, casting director, director and various other people. Thus the actor being the person who communicates the message to the audience has the greatest responsibility do justice to the character he performs. He or she must have the ability to keep the audience intact”, says Alex with a serious face.

Fancy costumes

Alex recalled how attires for the actors were made in good old days. “I remember going to ‘Seelat tailors’ at the Kollopitiya junction to give measurements. Fancy costumes made for films were not worn in the public. They were exclusive ones strictly meant for a particular film”, he said.

Alex has closely associated with Anthony C Perera who had leftist political views. His most respected actor is Vijeya Kumarathunga. “We can find actors among people although it is very difficult to find a good human being among actors…and Vijeya was one of them”, says Alex.

Among the actresses his favorites are Clarice De Silva, Rukmani Devi and Malani Fonseka. He had the courtesy to mention Sonia Disa’s name as a person who has helped him in the sphere.

Performances of Clint Eastwood, Franco Nero and Sydney Poitier had inspired Alex to a great extent to develop his acting prowess. Rajesh Khanna and Shivaji Ganesan had impressed him as Asian actors.

“1983 communal riots was a severe blow to Sinhala cinema. Many film halls were burnt with film reels and after 1977, the cinema went haywire. Now the time has come for the authorities to rejuvenate the industry once again”, says Alex. He still has the vigor at the age of 71 to stage a fight scene or direct fight sequence in a film.

Alex’s contribution for many decades to Sinhala cinema is not recognized yet. Also, it is pathetic that Alex’s face cannot even be seen in today’s glamorous film festivals and filmy occasions.

Yet the ever handsome walking-tall could be seen once in a blue moon at Borella junction or at Kiribathgoda.

A guy would call him aloud “Alex aiya…” from the other side of the road and Alex would stop for a while wearing his trade-mark smile to have a chit chat with the fellow who happens to be an ardent fan of his. Alex still lives with dignity no one can rob from him.

[email protected]