He says so much in a few words

Much has been written in recent weeks of the superb portrayal of a blind man refusing to accept the death of his son in battle conveyed poignantly by Joe Abeywickrema in 'Purahanda Kaluwara' which brought him the coveted award for the Best Actor at the recent 12th Singapore International Film Festival.

In Vasantha Obeysekera's latest creation, 'Theertha Yatra' , Joe turns out another unforgettable performance - this time as a simple villager who is looking for his son taken away in the night, a common happening not so long ago.

In a sneak preview of the film, we saw Joe in another perfect rendering of a mature actor who, with each new role, strives to give of his best. That has been the secret of his success. For Joe it's not just another role but a conscious effort to live the character he portrays. And doing it so well he often steals the show.

At the Singapore festival Joe was chosen best actor "for the simplicity and maturity of his performance in the role of a blind man whose nobility and honour transcends the depth of his personal sorrow". That is what the citation said. But there was more.

The members of the jury (the six member panel was a mixed lot from Singapore, India, Philippines, Indonesia and South Korea) told Prasanna Vithanage, the young film maker who made 'Purahanda Kaluwara' that Joe was "simply amazing".

He has very little to say in the film. Though the dialogue is minimal, Joe says so much with his face. (Incidentally, the film was among the four nominees for the Best Screenplay at the Singapore Festival too).

It's amazing how Joe has become our finest character actor having begun his career with humorous roles. He got his first break in 1957 in T. Somasekeran's 'Saradam'', in an era when there was hardly anything 'Sinhala' in Sinhala films. The South Indian influence dominated.The directors were keen to get Joe for their films merely to raise a laugh. Luckily Joe did not fall into their trap. At the right time, he managed to get out of the rut.

Mike Wilson picked Joe for 'Ranmuthuduwa' in 1962. By that time he had acted in eight films. When Tissa Liyanasuriya decided on Joe for the leading role in 'Saravita' (1965), Saraiya, the betel seller became a household word. Joe grabbed his first award as Best Actor in that year's Sarasaviya Awards. Gamini Haththotuwegama in his review of the 50 years of Sinhala cinema refers to 'Saravita' as a film carving out the role of the betel seller, "servicing the skills of Joe Abeywickrema - disciplined in magic, disciplined in realism, making of the romance of the small man an everyday classic".

Haththottuwegama further wrote: "In film after film Joe made all a performer's art those days. In the narrative of the Sinhala film, the lights hold on a long time for Mr. Joe. I was thrilled to see Joe back in form after some rather demeaning appearances in failed comics of recent times (a sad reflection on the decline of the film itself) with his cylinders in full blast - a disarming and mischievous wit illuminating an impassive and stubbornly amoral face (in 'Bithu Sithuwam')". The last named film directed by Milton Jayawardena brought him the Sarasaviya Best Actor award two years back.

A man from the village, unlike many, Joe has not forgotten his past. He loves to be a simple villager. His deep roots in the village have helped him in his acting. That's how he turned out a superb performance in Mahagama Sekera's 'Tung Mang Handiya' (1970) winning the Critics Award for Best Actor. Few will remember that before that, the critics hailed him as 'the most outstanding performer of the year' for his portrayal of a dumb servant in 'Sadol Kandulu' (1967) directed by Senator Reggie Perera.

To me, the turning point in Joe's career was 'Weli Katara' (1971), D.B. Nihalsingha's maiden film which was also the first full length cinemascope film in Sinhala. Both Joe (tough and ruthless Goring Mudalali) and Gamini Fonseka (Assistant Superintendent of Police Wickrema Randeniya) battled it out in two of their most memorable performances. "The most challenging role I have played to date," Joe confessed. "At a time when I was branded as an actor who could only play certain types of characters, Nihalsingha's decision to get me to play Goring Mudalali, a totally different type of character amazed me." His was a twin personality - a merciless racketeer when it came to making money and escaping the law and a very humane and kind human being with a big heart. Joe brought out this character perfectly. Later, he also acted in Nihalsingha's 'Maldeniye Simeon' (1986) which won him the Sarasaviya Best Actor award.

Joe's is an impressive record. His tally of films is well over 150. In fact, researcher Sunil Mihindukula listed out the 150 films he had played up to the end of 1997 in the special publication brought out for the last Sarasaviya Film Festival.

There is hardly a director who has not picked Joe. Having chosen him for 'Desa Nisa' ((1975), master film-maker Lester James Peries used Joe in his later films too - 'Madol Duwa' (1976), 'Veera Puran Appu' (1978), 'Baddegama' (1981 - it brought Joe the President's, Sarasaviya & OCIC awards for Best Actor), God King and 'Awaragira' (1995).

D C Ranatunga

More Plus

Return to the Plus Contents