Warnakulasuriya Maha Lekumge John Baptist Fernando (born 9 June 1933 – died 1 February 2017 as
බැප්ටිස්ට් ප්රනාන්දු)
inhala, known popularly as Baptist Fernando, was an
actor
An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek term is (), li ...
and producer in
Sri Lankan cinema. One of the earliest pillars in Sri Lankan film history, he is best known for playing villains during his more than four decade long career.
Personal life
Fernando was born on 9 June 1933 in Collin Jadiya,
Wennappuwa
Wennappuwa is a town in Puttalam District, North Western Province, Sri Lanka, North Western Province, Sri Lanka. It is north of Negombo.
The village of Wennappuwa is mentioned in the Culavamsa as a small farming hamlet.
History
A church mad ...
as the eldest of the family. His father's name was Eugene Fernando and mother's name was Winifreda Fernando. He had three younger sisters and two younger brothers. He completed education from
Joseph Vaz College
The Joseph Vaz College of Wennappuwa is a public school in Wennappuwa, Sri Lanka. It was established in 1934 and consecrated in honour of St. Joseph Vaz. It opened with 28 children with Bro. Lewis as its first director. It is a National School, m ...
, Wennappuwa.
He was very good at sports, particularly wrestling, where he practiced wrestling with the then heavyweight champion, Basil Rodrigo. His grandson, Chris Wijewardana, is also an actor who appeared in the television serials ''Pani Kurullo'', ''Amaliya'' and the film ''
Apata Sadunu Ape Lokaya
''Apata Sadunu Ape Lokaya'' ( si, අපට සැදුණ අපේ ලෝකය) is a 2021 Sri Lankan Sinhala children's adventure thriller film. It was directed by Lal Priyadeva and produced by Sunil T. Fernando for Sunil T. Films. It stars ...
''.
In 1960 he married Thiris Fernando. The couple had two daughters - Shamila Priyadarshani, Dulari Fernando and on son - Shammi Fernando. His son Shammi was also an actor. In the film ''Angulimala,'' which was directed by his father, Shammi played the main role as "Ahinsaka". Then he acted in few films such as ''Raja Kello'', ''Cheriyo Darling'', ''Alu Yata Gini'' and ''Ane Master''. Daughter Shamila acted in the teledrama ''Mangala Seenu''. His wife Thiris died in 1986.
He died at the age of 83 on 1 February 2017 while receiving treatments at Ragama hospital. His funeral took place on 3 February 2017 at
Borella Cemetery.
Career
One of his schoolmates, S.A. Fernando, took some photographs of Baptist during a church feast. He posted these photos to popular filmmaker
B. A. W. Jayamanne
Bernard Aloysius Wanniarachchi Jayamanne who was better known as B.A.W. Jayamanne (20 May 1908 – 16 February 1965: as බී.ඒ.ඩබ්ලිව්. ජයමාන්න) was a Sri Lankan playwright, director, producer and actor. He playe ...
.
Jayamanne invited Baptist for a screen test at Jayamanne's house "Jaya Ruk Sevana". He was selected for the main antagonist in the 1955 film ''Perakadoru Bena'' directed by A.B. Raja.
He had to finish senior level class in College to fly India for the shooting. He played two roles in the film - a police officer and villain's henchman.
In 1959, Baptist acted in the film ''Purusha Rathnaya'' along with
Prem Jayanth
Hettiarachchige Emanuel Aloysius Rodrigo (1933–17 March 1997), better known as Prem Jayanth, was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema as well as a producer and art director. Considered as the first male superstar in Sinhala cinema, Jayanth rose to ...
. They sang the popular song ''Aiyata Me Raja Ge Malli Hadala''. He continued to receive many villain roles in the following years, including ''Sithaka Mahima'', ''Ohoma Hondada'', ''Satha Panaha'', ''Sahanaya'' and ''Kawuda Raja''. In many films, Baptist acted as the villain opposite to
Gamini Fonseka
Kala Keerthi Sembuge Gamini Shelton Fonseka () (21 March 1936 - 30 September 2004 as ගාමිණී ෆොන්සේකා), was a Sri Lankan film actor, film director and politician. Often considered as the Greatest Actor in the Sinhal ...
who played the protagonist role.
He studied cinema in India and met the cinematographer S. Anandan. After he returned to Sri Lanka, Baptist was involved in acting in films along with Anandan. It was only after this that he became a character actor.
In 1972, he co-produced the film ''Sahanaya'' with Prem Jayanth under the banner "Seven Arts". Then he produced the film ''Duppathage Hithawatha'' and played as the protagonist for the first time.
After the film became a blockbuster of that year, Baptist continued to produce many films such as ''Tikira'', ''Eka diga Kathawak'', ''Namal Renu'' and ''Sudu Ayya''. The film ''Eka diga Kathawak'' was dubbed in Tamil as ''Oru Thalei Kadal'' and screened in Jaffna as well. He was known not to sign any agreements with film crew as he was always fluent with paying money on time. In the film ''Tikira,'' he introduced back and forth somersault actions to Sinhala cinema. The film was a blockbuster hit as well. It was also Baptist's best-loved film role.
In 1998, he produced and directed the film ''Angulimala''. Then in 1991, he produced the film ''Raja Kello'' with Sithara Priyadharshani. Overall he produced 7 films - ''Sahanaya'', ''Duppathage Hithawatha'', ''Tikira'', ''Eka diga Kathawak'', ''Sudu Ayya'', ''Namal Renu'' and ''Angulimala''.
Apart from cinema, Baptist also worked as the treasurer of "Nalu Nili Sangamaya".
Filmography
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fernando, Baptist
1933 births
2017 deaths
Sri Lankan Roman Catholics
Sri Lankan male film actors
Sri Lankan expatriates in India