Swarna Mallawarachchi
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Swarna Mallawarachchi entered the Sri Lankan cinema whilst still a school girl in Dr. Siri Gunasinghe's 'Sath Samudura' in 1966. Although her advent into cinema was never premeditated she has become and remains one of the most leading, talented actresses to grace the Sri Lankan cinema screens. Her consistent superior performances in serious, art films and refusal to act in commercial films in a cinema widely influenced by Bollywood is highly commendable. She has been heralded by Dr. Lester James Pieris as the Meryl Streep of Sri Lankan cinema.
Swarna's talent has been felicitated in many countries such as India, Bangladesh, Nepal through the organisation of film festivals showcasing her movies. In one of these festivals, Dr. Pieris writing about Swarna has stated "Swarna Mallawarachchi is without question the finest dramatic actress in the Sinhala cinema. There are actresses who switch from commercial films to more serious ones but Swarna has been very particular about the roles she chooses…".
"She is sharp, incisive and succeeds in creating very strong characters. The pity is that in our Sinhala films there are so few female characters who are strong, rather than weak and passive. In the formula films, half their characterization is confined to smashing up herbaceous, polluting the scenery. Swarna has no such amorous dalliance with trees and flowers and public parks but subtly, stroke by stroke etched on celluloid some of the most powerful 'women' characters in Sinhala cinema-one had only to refer back to 'Dadayama' or 'Sagara Jalaya', 'Maya' or 'Suddilage Kathawa', not to mention the new films that will reveal a wider range" Dr. Peries further stated.
Swarna left the Sri Lankan cinema for a brief period in the 70's to live abroad and when she returned after a four year absence there was an influx of new actresses. Swarna accepted supporting roles from directors during this period however obtained the Best Actress awards for these roles during these years. A hint at the excellence of her talent. Swarna Mallawarachchi is the highest number of 'Best Actress' awards holding actress in Sri Lanka.
In her off-screen life, Swarna is an example of the roles she potrays on-screen. A strong, independent woman who has achieved the best in life for herself and her family. She was appointed the UNHCR ambassador for women's rights in Sri Lanka since 2004.
[edit] Filmography
- Sath Samudura (1966)
- Hanthane Kathawa (1967)
- Maldeniya Simiyon
- Anjana
- Sinhabahu
- Hansa Vilak
- Ridi Nimnaya(1982)
- Yahalu Yeheli (1982)
- Biththi Hathara (1982)
- Dadayama (1984)
- Maya (1984)
- Suddilage Kathawa (1985)
- Kadapathaka Chaya
- Sagara Jalaya (1988)
- Ayoma
- Madara Parasathu
- Mee Haraka
- Bawa Duka (1997)
- Bawa Karma (1998)
- Channa Kinnari(1998)
- Anantha Rathriya (2001)
[edit] Awards
- 1981 Presidential Awards - Best Actress - Hansa Vilak
- 1982 OCIC Awards - Best Actress - Ridi Nimnaya/Biththi Hathara/Yahalu Yeheli
- 1983 Sarasaviya Awards - Best Actress - Dadayama
- 1983 OCIC Awards - Best Actress - Dadayama
- 1984 OCIC Awards - Best Actress - Maya
- 1985 OCIC Awards - Best Actress - Suddilage Kathawa
- 1985 Sarasaviya Awards - Best Actress - Suddilage Kathawa
- 1986 Presidential Awards - Best Actress
- 1988 Swarna Sanka Awards - Best Actress - Sagara Jalaya
- 1988 Sarasaviya Awards - Best Actress - Sagara Jalaya
- 1988 OCIC Awards - Best Actress - Sagara Jalaya
- 1998 OCIC Awards - Best Actress - Channa Kinnari
- 1989 Swarna Sanka Awards - Best Actress - Kadapathaka Chaya
- 1989 OCIC Awards - Best Actress - Kadapathaka Chaya
- 1997 OCIC Awards - Best Actress - Bawa Duka
- 1997 Sarasaviya Awards - Best Actress - Bawa Duka
- 1997 Presidential Awards - Best Actress - Bawa Duka
- 1998 Presidential Awards - Best Actress - Channa Kinnari
- 1998 Sarasaviya Awards - Best Actress - Channa Kinnari
- 2001 OCIC Awards - Best Actress - Anantha Rathriya
- Lifetime Achievement Awards - Ranathisara
- Bangladesh Film Development Board Award
- Zonta Woman of the Year Award
- Sanpac Felicitation Award
