The King and I
It was in early 1956 that I was introduced to a young man named Gamini Fonseka.
I was one of the first to be hired to work on the production of “Bridge on the River Kwai”, that was to be filmed on location in Ceylon. Since I had no experience in films, except that I was a serious enthusiast and the fact that I was ready to work for no pay at all or a pittance, I was hired on a weekly basis to be an assistant to Eddie Fowlie, the Property Master of the film, until the real official Assistant arrived from London.
I worked in Colombo for over a month and then had to go to the location where the bridge was being built in Kitulgala. There I was introduced to a group of ‘experienced’ filmmakers who had just finished work on Lester James Peries’s maiden full-length motion picture, ‘Rekawa’. They were Dan Durairaj, Sesha Palihakkara, Vijay Abeydewa and Gamini Fonseka. Dan was assigned to the Transport Department, Sesha to the Make-up 
Department and Vijaya and Gamini to the local Assistant Directors Department. They were provided with transport, food and accommodation.
Mr. Rajakaruna’s large house in Kitulgala had been converted to a temporary hotel, with grand accommodation for the actors William Holden, Alec Guinness, Sessue Hayakawa, Jack Hawkins and director David Lean. The others, the crew from England and the four locals were accommodated in chalet styled rooms built around the vast lawn of the Rajakaruna mansion. The ‘British kitchen’ served wonderful cuisine both French and English, and they even had a cosy bar where the crew would congregate and imbibe after a hard day’s work. This was a focal point for evening conviviality. William Holden and Jack Hawkins, kept everyone enthralled with hilarious stories.
I was left to find my own accommodation. I found a nice village hut not too far from the Bridge, the home of a very nice couple in their thirties who gave me a mat in their son’s room and a hearty local breakfast.
I was introduced to Gamini by John Ericson, the English Second Assistant Director on the film. We hit it off immediately. We were both Thomians, Gamini from Mount and me from Gurutalawa. The intrinsic thread that binds Thomians together was evident during the first week of our meeting.
Gamini and I developed a close friendship during the making of “Kwai” which we both relished until his death. He was one of the local assistant directors on Kwai. One day after work Gamini invited me for a drink at the bar. At that time I was an affluent young boy who always had more than sufficient money on me and in the bar, after my second visit, I was able to pay for my drinks and buy a round or two. Dinner was served in the house for the crew that lived there. Now here I was, an odd ball. Gamini would invite me to sit with him and dine. I was an outside crew member dining in the inside crew facility. They did not know how to handle this, since I agreed to pay for my meal. Since the dinner cost more than my weekly wage, this unusual situation was cause for examination. This situation continued for a while, but not to the approval of the production department. They liked me, but I had created a situation which they were finding hard to resolve.
Once after a night of revelry, when Gamini and I had had a drink too many, Gamini accommodated me in his chalet. This was reported to the production office. I must say that during this time, my hard work and enthusiasm was appreciated by one and all. Gamini was called and
Chandran Rutnam: Recalling a longstanding friendship
questioned and he stated how ridiculous it was for me to stay in a hut while they lived in the luxury of the chalets. This was referred to Eddie Fowlie, who also endorsed his approval for a change in my scale of employment. I was given a raise and a chalet of my own for the rest of the duration of our stay in Kitulgala. I left for Hollywood via London soon after the Kwai shoot had ended.
On a visit to Colombo a few years later, I was having a drink on the verandah of the Galle Face Hotel, when I heard a commotion. A crowd including numerous cameramen had surrounded someone at the entrance to the ballroom. I was informed that Gamini Fonseka, the actor, had won a Best Actor Award. Gamini Fonseka? The Gamini Fonseka whom I knew? On his way out, Gamini saw me, came up and greeted me warmly. He placed his award on the table and smiled. I asked, “You are an actor?” He seemed somewhat embarrassed. He suggested we move away from the crowd and we reminisced. From that day onwards we never lost touch.
I have spent many an evening sitting on the floor of Gamini’s house around a table full of bites, discussing many things that good men discuss over a drink.
On one such evening, I had just returned from Los Angeles and we were catching up, into our second drink and in deep conversation when the phone rang. It was Gamini Dissanayake, who informed Gamini that the President D.B. Wijetunga would like to see him at Temple Trees. Gamini politely informed Mr. Dissanayake that he would not be able to make it. A few minutes later the President himself called. I overheard the conversation when Gamini with respect, informed him that he was about to have dinner with his friend who he had not seen for while and was not in a position to desert him, and therefore declined the President’s summons.
Less than an hour later Mr. Dissanayake had sent an emissary, a lawyer, to Gamini’s house to persuade him to come over to Temple Trees immediately. The emissary ended up having dinner with us. We had to tear ourselves away from Gamini after enjoying his wonderful company and generous hospitality. It certainly was a night to remember.
Gamini did not suffer ‘fools’. He was very selective as to who would enter his space, his home or his dinner table. Although his fan base was enormous, his real and true friends was a small group. That exclusive group, know who they are and loved him dearly and enjoyed his company. They admired his style and forthright attitude towards issues. Absolute honesty and integrity were appreciated.
Gamini’s fame and reputation had spread across the Palk Strait. He was an icon. I remember one occasion when the Tamil film ,”Thee” was being made in Colombo with the help of Kili Rajamahendran, the producers had asked me whether I could suggest a large beautiful house with a spiral staircase. I suggested my Uncle Donald’s home in Barnes Place. In the scene, actor Rajinikanth had to appear at the top of the stairs and walk down. My Uncle Donald and family were having lunch as we watched the shoot. Ranjinikanth smokes a cigarette, takes a few steps down, inhales, flicks it down and steps on it. Uncle Donald’s family were astounded and looked at me, the ‘film man’ who suggested we allow the filming.
Take two. It happened again. Eyes turned to me again. I now had to do something. I walked over to the actor and told him that he mustn’t defuse the cigarette on the floor. I was suddenly surrounded by the producer, director and others involved in the production. Looking back at my family, I insisted that Rajinikanth must not squash the cigarette on my uncle’s staircase. After much discussion the scene was altered. However I was no longer popular with the Indians.
After the scene Rajinikanth came over and said that he had a request. Could I please take him to meet our legend, Gamini Fonseka. That evening Rajanikanth, in a black sarong and a black shirt, along with another older actress of that time and I went over to Gamini’s home in Ratmalana. Gamini came out to meet us and was greeted in the traditional Indian gesture of respect and honour. After an hour and a half of entertaining conversation I took Rajinikanth back to his hotel. He thanked me profusely saying that it was the greatest moment of his trip to Colombo, meeting our Gamini.
Gamini was a good film director. He watched many movies and would discuss techniques and unusual scenes from American films. I know that he had made serious contributions to most of the films he acted in. He had the knack of helping others and making them feel that they did it on their own. This is an uncommon trait that should be commended and admired. He had favourite actors whom he spoke of: Tony Ranasinghe, Joe Abeywickrema, Lucky Dias, Malini Fonseka, Veena Jayakody, Swarna Mallawarachchi and a very few others. He admired President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s talent and always spoke of him fondly, having given the President a part in his film. He would talk for hours with his favourite cinematographer S. Vamadevan and the Special Effects Expert and director Dinesh Priyasad.
In 1993, Gamini initiated a project with the approval of the late President R. Premadasa to build a Film Complex at the Digana Village Resort called, Taprobane Studios Ranch (Pvt) Limited. This was solely Gamini’s idea. An MOU was signed between Film Location Services, Mahaweli Authority and National Film Corporation and we went forward. The idea at that time, was to obtain foreign investment to establish this Film Studio Complex.
The MOU referred to, was never honoured. The land was never legally transferred to the Joint Venture, Taprobane Studios Ranch (Pvt) Limited. Foreign investors were discouraged. Vested interests of every government placed another spin to it and stalled its implementation for their own agendas. The plans and concepts were later hijacked and produced elsewhere inadequately. So be it. Another dream . . . unfulfilled. This was another of Gamini Fonseka’s pioneering projects for the advancement of the local film industry.
At the Taprobane Studios Ranch, we established the Taprobane Studios Film School. We presented a programme titled, “Vision, Concept and Practice” which was inaugurated in June 1996 by Gamini Fonseka. Master classes in film production were presented to aspiring filmmakers.
Gamini had a small part in a Swiss film, that Film Location Services was handling. The location was in the Bentota area. I had the pleasure of spending some time with Gamini – we would have dinner and discuss projects. We realised we had never done a film together, with me as the director and Gamini in the lead role. At this time I was having discussions about making a film on Father Matthew Pieries. I asked Gamini if he would play Father Matthew. He agreed and we discussed the film, scene by scene.
However, it was not to be at that time. Some of those ideas that we discussed were incorporated in the Matthew film that I finally directed this year.
We had plans to rebuild the “Bridge” on the River Kwai. We went to Kitulgala and examined the area where the bridge for the film was built. We planned to, in addition to rebuilding the bridge have a museum with the proper elements. It would have and still could be a major tourist attraction. I have presented this plan to every Tourist Board from the time the film won the Academy Awards and became the classic of all time.
On June 12, 1999, the Sri Lankans in America honoured Gamini Fonseka with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to the film industry. This event was organised by the Lanka America Cultural Council and held at the Queen Mary Hotel on the former British liner that was and is still docked as a permanent Hotel in Long Beach, California. This was followed by a short video presentation depicting on the cinematic life of Gamini. I had the honour of bestowing the statuette to my dear friend who accepted the award with a gracious speech that thanked those who had supported him in his forty years in the cinema.
We had the good fortune of having him as our guest in our home, in the lowly hills of Thousand Oaks and Westlake Village, just outside Los Angeles. He spent two weeks with us and we – my former wife Judy, my son Daniel and I enjoyed that time where we had long conversations on various subjects. Gamini took to Judy and my family with great affection and warmth.
…. He promised to come back.
On his return to Sri Lanka, Gamini wrote a beautiful poem with thanks and memories of the two weeks he spent with us. He told us that he would like to spend his twilight years in Thousand Oaks in the salubrious surroundings, observing the animals and nature unfold.
Alas, it was not to be. I was away in Delhi on business when he made three calls to my office and asked for me since he was unable to get me on my phone.
When I returned to the country, I was told that he had passed away.
I know one thing for sure. My life would not have been the same if he had lived.
We had plans…..not just for us but for all our brothers and sisters in the film industry.
It has been a swift ten years that have gone by since Gamini left us, but the memories are vivid within us and will never fade out.
I salute my friend…the King of Sri Lankan Cinema!