NADEEKA GUNASEKERA PHENOMINAL AUTOGRAPHED, ONLY FEMALE GRADUATE ACTRESS HAVING PORTRAYED CINEMATIC ROLES INITIALLY WHILE STILL AN ADVANCED LEVEL STUDENT, CLIMBED TO THE SUMMIT OF CELEBRITY – By Sunil Thenabadu
The decades of the seventies and eighties the Sinhala films were in the said ‘Swarname Ugaya”. In the end of 1970 decade Sandya Darshani Gunasekera had entered the cinema changing her name to be more appropriate to an actress to Nadeeka Gunasekera This had been to camouflage her correct name as she was in the advanced level class with just three months to the university entrance examination. The history teacher Ms Ranatunga had warned her as the Principal Ms Fernando was very strict. for her participation in films as studies had to be given precedence. Nadeeka had told her mother she wants to enter the University to do a degree and will not continue has acting vocation as she was a bright student coming first, in class always. Then famous Sandya Kumari was a close friend of her mother had discussed about her new name change to “Nadeeka ‘, as Sandya was too common. There had been some ‘gana’ issue too .But Nadeeka confesses that still her school friends address her as ‘Sandya”. She had attended many schools initially in Kurunegala “Undugoda” Vidyalaya when father was a post master in Kurunegala.but studied Advanced Level at the Mahamaya Balika Vidyalaya in Kandy after a tenure at the Bandarawela Vishaka College when father was Postmaster there, also at Pushpadana College in Kandy . Unlike many other students she had been boarded in many schools as mother actress Thalatha Gunasekera was domiciled in Dalugama while father Stanley Gunasekera, a Post Master by profession was in a transferable service. They were five siblings all together one younger brother and three younger sisters. Nadeeka and one younger brother and sister were boarded in school while the other two were very young.Only during holidays the three had gone to spend with mother in Dalugama. Lately she had been living with her mother’s younger sister in their ancestral home in Peradeniya. It was during this era Nadeeka had been trained to cook, housekeeping by her Punchi Amma.There had been helping domestic personnel to help in their activities, but strictly she had to be on the dinning table for breakfast sharp at 7 AM and for dinner sharp at 8 PM.She and others had to wash their own plates. There had been strict rules for her, once called had to respond immediately, cannot carry the comb, and walk inside the house, should be confined only ,to be in front of the dressing table, was prohibited to talk while consuming food in the table which were some of the restrictions she had to abide by..
Nadeeka Born on 13th May 1958 reminisced in a television dialog about an interesting story of a ‘pet’ small squirrel when she attending Pushpadana College Kandy,while residing in quarters of her father in the Kandy Post Office.When she was about twelve years the little squirrel had been reared but the cage belonged to her brother.Nadeeka wanted to carry the pet squirrel to Pushpadana College which was at walking distance along Trincomalee street and railway line. As the cage was not given by her brother who owned it. She had engulfed the little squirrel in her uniform pocket, pinned and had walked parallel to the railway line. When a train was approaching the squirrel had jumped off and gone into a nearby scrub. Nadeeka had desperately searched for the squirrel for nearly two hours by that time students had passed the news to the then Principal Ms Saram who awaits close to the gate to observe and punish students who come late.Nadeeka had decided to walk back home in disappointed. Having known the squirrel story a guy working in a tavern in front of their quarters had given Nadeeka a big squirrel who had bitten her hand and vanished. This was the famous squirrel story of hers.
On her mother’s insistence Nadeeka while in her advanced level class had portrayed a role in the film “Kanchana” along with many heavyweights. Nadeeka had lamented that taking up acting as a vocation in her mind. Though she has had a firm intention to enter University not with the intention to find a job.She was more concerned in getting married and to run a family life. But to enter the university had been the wish of her father. She had not been in any stance at all to become an actress. At which time she had seen only a handful of films only ‘Okkomaha Hari’ and shooting of ‘Sikuruliya” where her mother Thalatha Gunasekera had acted in. Nadeeka had surprisingly not even viewed any Sinhala films then. When Nadeeka was around five years her mother had taught in a school “St Andrews” she recollects when she was around three years old, while father was the Post Master at the Nawalapitiya Post Office had lived at ‘Charles Silva Flats’ she reminisced. The director of ‘Kanchana” film M.A Sangadasa in year 1977 had met at Amarasiri Kalansuriya’s shop at Katugodella Vediya had met Thalatha Gunasekera and Nadeeka. There the director had asked for two sisters Nadeeka and her younger sister for the portrayal of a small role ,the role of Kanchana had been portrayed by Nadeeka to fill a wish of her mother to follow her footsteps. The locations were familiar places in Bandarawela and surrounding also having the typical “Sabakolaya”, frieght. The two had been shown to the director at Kalansuriya’s tailor shop. Nadeeka had portrayed a very small role,the cameraman too had been a veteran Donald Karunaratne who had found difficult to capture her as she had been asked to say a couple of words too.For the premiere of the ‘Kanchana’ film Nadeeka too had attended. With time Nadeeka had got used but earlier she had not been able to dub her voice as she was shy and having a soft voice. She had told to get someone else for dubbing which was not possible. It was the assistance she had got from heavyweights Wally Nanayakkara, Vijaya Kumaratunga ,Amarasiri Kalansuriya and Sriyani Amarasena had helped her to pursue a career in films. All had told that she needs to be guided as the daughter of Thalatha Gunasekera. Nadeeka reminisced when she was about eight years mother had taken her to actors association meeting at which for the first time many film stars. She had seen all stalwarts from Gamini Fonseka downwards at which Nadeeka had said to her it was actress Anula Karunatilleke the best to her caught her eye..At her home all had been Vijaya Kumaratunga fans but to Nadeeka it had been Robin Fernando her favourite.
During her initial days there had been popular actresses Sabitha Perera, Vasanthi Chathurani in the forefront as seniors while a few were making their debuts like her.It was mother who had guided along her journey while Father had liked her involvement had been collecting paper articles for posterity. One paper article she reminisced of Sunil Horacious under the heading ‘New Faces”. She also commented how she had first obtained permission from father who had told if you do your role , with dedication , belief in self and faith his permission and blessings were granted . After entering the Kelaniya University she had travelled from Dalugama where Mother was domiciled. This location was convenient to attend for shooting too. She had followed a general degree studying economics, social science, and mass communication. During the same year she had received the Lux award for the best up and coming female actress and also her convocation for the general degree which Nadeeka reminisced also at a television confrontation. In the annals of our Sinhala cinema only veteran actress Iranganie Serasinghe who had come to the cinema after her degree was completed hence are the only duo with university degrees. During this time she recollected that within one week she had signed for three films one been ‘Sagarayak meda’ of Gamini Fonseka to be a sought-after actress in the silver screen During this era she had acted in seven films. She recollected that initially when she entered the Kelaniya university owing to internal conflicts the campus had been closed for a year during which time her first film was released. Though she confessed to mother that she would quit the silver screen after entering the university many new directors like Sunil Ariyaratne,Parakrama Silva etc wanted to direct films with novice actresses. Nadeeka had affirmed that when she portrayed roles in her first ten films she had beefortunate to act along with all popular actors and actresses.Though there was no serious ragging there had been minor incidents like taking her to the canteen and asking her to pay the bills. She added that many male students had rendered her more assistance by giving her the tutorials of missed lectures when she was at film locations. It was revealed in year 1981 when she portrayed a main role of “Hinni HamI” in the film Baddegama Dr Lestor Pieirs had come to her in the rest hose room had said if one can understand what needs to be done it is real acting as acting cannot be taught it should come from within. After a toil in the burning sun, in a jungle in the Hambantota area had studied while in her room sometimes with the ‘Deer’ in the Hambantota rest house. Some other days with her skin peeling she had studied in the night to answer the question papers next day, for her GAQ a herculean task with an additional subject of French too. This experience she had quipped no other actress had ever experienced. The cameraman was Willie Blake whom she had not known from Adam had come to her and said you will get an award for her portrayal in the film. Nadeeka also commented how when she was young travelling to his father’s ancestral home beyond Matale when she had to pass the Peradeniya campus where he too is a graduate, had added that is the place one had to go after finishing school studies which Nadeeka has had etched in her mind Nadeeka had got married in the early decade of 2000 to Suren Hettiarachchi a resident of Chilaw who is involved in a family spare parts business had come to know via another family friend Lakshaman Hulugalla.The duo had been telephoning for around eight months but had not met then .According to Nadeeka one day the telephone conversation had lasted for a marathon eight hours.The duo had met only on a Valentine’s day.Both set of parents had not given blessing but had got married three years later..Nadeeka had even received a telephone call from Suren;s father pleading to stop the affair had even offered money. But they had carried on and got married. Once they had a child they had patched up with the parents .Nadeeka has had a knack for designing and sewing perhaps an inborn talent which later while she was living in the Thalakotuwa gardens area had been a popular designer for many actresses too., but sans using blocks only taking measurements. Even to date she designs her own clothes as well as of her daughter.She possesses a sewing room equipped with sewing, embroidery machines earning also via her expertise. Presently she is designated as the deputy general manager Sri Lanka film corporation, not a political appointment after successfully facing stiff interviews .Her daughter Thanuki Sehansa had once asked her Amma who are you as many in school talk about you.She had shown songs in “Chanchala Rekha’ viz.’Keena dam podak”.’mee amba watte” but she had not been interested though when about three years old she had sung too.She attends the British International school.Nadeeka had quipped that her daughter us taken to all places she goes unlike many of her school mates.When she was attached to the film corporation had attended to many cocktail parties in Embassies for which too she was taken as they were living in Pelawatta.Nadeeka had believed that by leaving her daughter Thenuki with the domestic she was not convinced thatshe would be safe.This quality she believes she has exceeded the limit of a mother.As little by little the daughter too had realised that she could manage to be safe , now declines to attend to their functions as she is a matured teenager.
To Nadeeka film contracts had been coming to her one after the other. Those in year 1982 were “Yahalu Yeheli”. “Ridee Nimnaya”,( Of Dr DB Nihalsinghe) “Chanchala Rekha” ( as Dan Chutie), “Viragaya” .”Yasoma”,”Biththi Hathara” she reminisced portraying roles with stalwarts like Swarna Mallawarachchi,Ramya Wanigasekera, Devika Mihirani with Dilhani Ekanayake and Sanath Gunatilleke who were new then. During this era Nadeeka had been the topic among many critics too. The “Yahalu Yeheli” film had been screened internationally too vied for an award too to which she had participated at the request of Sumithra Peiris.In the film ‘Ridee Nimnaya’ she had to portray a role of a young girl ‘Kusala”which director Dr DB Nihalsinghe had reminded her to talk, walk like a young girl as per the script but as “Kusala” grew she had to portray as per her age which were efficiently directed. In this aspect she had commented on the ability of the directors in that era to complete films exploiting the innate talents of her and others. Also, the angles of the cameramen had to be studied precisely to make the film a success. She further added on the efficiency of the cameraman saying until the tear developed, and it fell the cameraman had his shot captured, on expressing the efficiency of the crew the other day the crew took time unlike today they are in a mighty hurry. Nadeeka had also portrayed roles in commercial films with many songs where she recollects films in which the director was Lenin Moraes.She confessed that she a difficulty to portray in duets though she could manage well with solo acts.She had claimed that she fell a bit uncomfortable in acting in the film ‘Ugayen Ugayata’ ( which had seven songs ) of cameraman /director Lenin Moraes in year 1987.In portraying with Vijaya Kumaratunga Nadeeka had somehow navigated to triumph in the song scene. She also commented on the director Sena Samarasinghe and her co actors Tony Ranasinghe ,Joe Abeywickrema,Rodney Jonklass,D.R Nanayakkara then all had rendered for her complete sustenance to who she expresses her deep gratitude even today.
After her appearances in commercial films she is given to portray role in Sumithra Pieris’ ‘Yahalu Yeheliyo” which was a huge production. Then again to commercial film ‘Butti”, the “Pem Rajadahanaya”,”Okkoma Rajawaru”,”Hodin Ho Narakin” some been the Sinhala versions of the Tamil films.Nadeeka it is learnt had received accolades from India having portrayed the role of actress “Luckshmi” better than hers particularly the frame where she carries a fire candle to attack been hailed to tall heights.For this role she had got accolades from Director Sivadasan had for the first time received a Sarasaviya award for the most skilled actress. Never awarded before though had been nominated several times before. Nadeeka had received the award for the best supporting actress at Sarasaviya and President’s award ceremonies for her role in film ‘Chaya”.During her long journey midway with Malini Fonseka who is a close friend of us been a fan of hers while school days.,when she was newly married to Lucky had jointly produced a film ‘Ahinsa”,in year 1987 theme had been captured from a Hindi film having obtained a small loan from the Film corporation. The proposal had come from Malini herself.The character she portrayed was that of ‘Kalpana” for which she had received an award too though it was not a box office film. Next Nadeeka produced “Mama Obata Barai” the script was by her mother Thalatha Gunasekera which she had retained for a long length of time.This proposal was exclusively of her mother in which Vijaya Kumaratunga was selected to the lead role, he and Sanath Gunatilleke had not charged. The director was Sunil Soma Pieris…Sanath has had a distant relationship to Nadeeka’s family in Kandy.Thalatha had lined for HR Jothipala to sing but he was deceased then .Also before the film was completed Vijaya Kumaratunga too was brutally murdered hence they had to change the theme of the story already written.Thalatha the producer always wanted to highlight the four main characters Vijaya,Sanath,Nadeeka and Anoja also of Tony Ranasinghe who had thought this was a film of Sunil Soma Pieris.She had advised the director Sunil Soma Peiris to focus on them not from an angle of a commercial worth he was famous for. Another problem was confronted to Thalatha in remaking the story as according to her script Sanath too had expired then. Anyhow the film had been completed amidst many obstacles and screened/Mother had been able to pay the bank loan for which Nadeeka had praised her mother for her endurance cum perseverance. Nadeeka owing to her busyness in film contacts had not acted in many Teledramas .She recollects winning awards too for her portrayal in “Himi Ahimi” she reminisces..
Nadeeka when questioned on her love life.She has had not got any opportunity to move with boys as she had lived at her maternal ancestral home where she get into the school bus from opposite the dwelling and come back after school in the same manner. Was not allowed to go out at all.Once she reminisced that while living with father at his quarters a love letter inside her book had been detected by her father.She added that every person has some love story to relate, She jokingly affirmed that in the film “Obata Barai” Sanath had thought mother would say seriously to her. There had been many rumours then about an affair between Sanath and Nadeeka.Nadeeka had been very close to Manik Kurukulasuriya ,Dilhani Ekanayake, Sriyani Amarasena and Gothami Pathiraja via who even a partner had not been found.When she looks back on her career, she is extremely thankful to her mother for encouraging her to enter the cinematic journey to her first director M.A Sangadasa.When Nadeeka was born before the other siblings were born she has had a huge wish to make Nadeeka an actress.For fulfilling her wish Nadeeka is happy and thankful for guiding her. It is her mother who had advised her what to wear and had stitched all her film attires.Nadeeka is very thankful for all producers and directors and of course her fans for making her a star.Nadeeka is also grateful to husband Suren for allowing her to continue acting.He had added she is a very good housewife looking into all household chaos attending to Thenuki’s studies daily and to his issues too.All her fans would wonder why she is not acting now.Suren has never requested her not to act.But these days the producers and directors have a lot of bureaucracy from the authorities.If the situation gets better she will act if she gets invitations. Currently she has been appointed as an adjudicator in ‘Sirasa film star’ competition where she guides the novice contestants with her abundant of knowledge which she even was not conversant at the beginning of her career. This opportunity gives her immense pleasure in guiding the new female artistes with her expertise. All folowers and fans of Nadeeka Gunasekera good health, to remain in the film industry performing alternate roles.
Sunil Thenabadu
email sthenabadu@hotmail.com..
whatsApp 0061444533242
