‘She’s the queen’: Sri Lanka bids farewell to movie legend Malini Fonseka | Cinema

Colombo, Sri Lanka — As a lady, when Srimathi Mallika Kaluarachchi would go to the cinema along with her household, and a person on the display would hit the character performed by famous person Malini Fonseka, Kaluarachchi would cry.

Then she would flip to her father in desperation. “We used to scream on the display, telling our father to save lots of her,” Kaluarachchi, now 68, recalled. “That was how a lot we liked her.”

On Monday, Kaluarachchi joined 1000’s of followers in bidding a remaining goodbye to Fonseka, who died on Might 24 on the age of 78 whereas receiving therapy in hospital. Neither Fonseka’s household nor the hospital has publicly revealed the character of her sickness. One of many nation’s hottest actresses, Fonseka was broadly thought to be the queen of Sri Lankan cinema.

She was cremated with full state honours, as followers dressed within the mourning color of white flocked to Colombo’s Independence Sq. to catch a glimpse of her coffin earlier than she was cremated. Songs from Fonseka’s movies have been performed whereas a projector drone flew above the gang, displaying a montage of scenes from throughout her profession.

Describing Fonseka as “a real icon of Sri Lankan cinema whose grace and expertise impressed generations”, Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake mentioned that “her legacy will endlessly shine in our hearts and on our screens”.

A trailblazer

Fonseka, who starred in additional than 140 movies, had a profession in Sinhala cinema spanning greater than 5 a long time.

“Every time we noticed her, we’d neglect all of the ache we had in our hearts,” mentioned Kaluarachchi, wiping away tears. “Now, we all know movies aren’t actual, however once we have been youngsters, we didn’t realise.”

Fonseka was particular, Kaluarachchi mentioned, due to the best way she represented how on a regular basis individuals skilled love and, typically, the violence that comes with it for ladies in patriarchal societies.

Fonseka began her profession as a stage actress earlier than making her movie debut with the 1968 movie Punchi Baba.

Her recognition peaked within the Nineteen Seventies and Nineteen Eighties, as she collaborated with famend administrators, together with Lester James Peries and Dharmasena Pathiraja.

A lot of her most well-known roles shared a typical theme: the struggles of women in a male-dominated society. She performed a spouse murdered by her husband within the movie Nidhanaya (1972), a university scholar in a sophisticated relationship in Thushara (1973), a village lady hounded by male consideration in Eya Dan Loku Lamayek (1975), and a lady from a rural fishing village enticed by the large metropolis life-style, in Bambaru Avith (1978).

This success continued into the Nineteen Eighties, when she additionally expanded into directorial ventures, together with within the movies Sasara Chethana (1984) and Ahimsa (1987).

‘A bridge’ throughout generations

She additionally starred within the first Indian-Sri Lankan co-production Pilot Premnath in 1978, reverse legendary Indian Tamil actor Sivaji Ganesan.

“She by no means restricted herself to at least one class. She was in industrial cinema and arthouse cinema,” mentioned 27-year-old instructor Prabuddhika Kannagara. “She performed a village lady, a younger lady, a married girl, a mom, and even a grandmother. She represented ladies throughout all generations.”

Kannagara was one of many final mourners on the funeral, sitting and watching as sparks emanated from the white fabric tower within the sq., specifically erected for Fonseka’s cremation, in line with Buddhist rituals.

She advised Al Jazeera that Fonseka had acted as a “bridge” throughout numerous eras of cinema, from black-and-white to digital, and had remained a star not just for her mom’s era, but additionally for her personal.

Fonseka was a five-time Finest Actress winner at Sri Lanka’s Presidential Movie Awards. Her most up-to-date win was in 2006 for her function in Ammawarune, a movie she additionally directed. She additionally received worldwide accolades on the Moscow Worldwide Movie Competition and the New Delhi Movie Competition.

She turned Sri Lanka’s first feminine tv drama director within the Nineteen Eighties, a time when ladies’s participation behind the digital camera was uncommon. Fonseka additionally had a short-lived foray into politics, serving as a member of Sri Lanka’s parliament from 2010 to 2015 underneath former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Movie critic and journalist Anuradha Kodagoda advised Al Jazeera that Fonseka was “uncommon and distinctive in Sri Lankan cinema” for the vary of characters she performed.

Petite and honest, with an oval face and comfortable options, Fonseka was a “pioneer” in representing working-class ladies onscreen, and “represented the sweetness idol for Sri Lankan ladies”, mentioned Kodagoda.

“She portrayed her characters very organically and authentically. That’s the magic of it, I believe,” Kodagoda mentioned.

‘There shall be no different queens’

Many mourners, a few of whom travelled lengthy distances to attend the funeral, recalled moments once they had met or spoken with Fonseka.

“She was a job mannequin for us. We noticed her for example once we went to the cinema,” mentioned 56-year-old jam manufacturing facility employee Pushpa Hemalatha. “She wasn’t conceited. We liked her once we have been younger.”

Fonseka’s remaining performing efficiency was within the 2024 music video Eya Wasanathaya Nowe, taking part in an aged girl remembering her deceased husband.

Ivanka Peiris, an actress and musician who acted along with her within the TV drama Hithuwakkara, advised Al Jazeera that Fonseka was “very empowering” as a job mannequin for ladies, and “all the pieces” for youthful actresses within the trade.

And, she mentioned, Fonseka would by no means get replaced.

“She’s the queen. That’s it,” Peiris mentioned. “There shall be no different queens in Sri Lanka. She would be the first and the final.”