Some women capture because they’re beautiful – for a short time at least. They enthrall, until the next beautiful face comes along, or they simply become ‘stale.’ For those who bank purely on good looks, the future would inevitably be not too bright.

Swarna Mallawarachchi came along at a time when the Sri Lankan ideal of a beautiful woman was slightly rounded, chubby and feminine: the traditional narilatha. She was extremely thin, and while being attractive, was nevertheless far from that ideal. 

And yet, she managed to beguile audiences time and again. This in spite of the fact that her roles were nowhere near the typical, ‘damsel in distress,’ running around trees and being rescued by men type of thing.

Fallen woman

Swarna is one of the few actresses who managed to rise, playing the ‘fallen woman.’ From her first film, Prof. Cyril Gunasinghe’s Sathsamudura, she played the woman who was victimised, and yet, in most cases, failed to be the victim.

Born in a shanty-town, sold as an orphan, this woman, who in real life has risen to dizzying heights in the Sri Lankan cinema industry, is perhaps, to a great extent at least, our answer to the Oprahs and the Maya Angelous of the world.

Film career

In a career stretching over four decades, she has portrayed women who have been killed, raped, beaten, forced into prostitution and, in one of the most famous scenes in the national film history, run over repeatedly by a car. She has also punched, kicked, conspired and fought back in those films with a vengeance.

She had a child out of wed-lock, in a land where this is still so taboo some schools don’t even admit the ‘illegal’ (the more common word being unprintable) offspring. And, in a show of courage that must encourage all women to stand up for what they believe in, she’s proud of it.

She won the nation’s Best Actress Award 21 times. She has been voted the most-admired woman in the country, with President Chandrika Kumaratunga finishing second.

Think strong woman, think Swarna Mallawarachchi.

She doesn’t seem to think much of it herself though. "I’ve lived my life," she says. "When I entered the industry it was more calm, less businesslike and more fun than today." Going on a shoot, for her, felt like going on a trip. She never thought of becoming an actress, yet took to it like a fish to water. "I believe it must have been something I’ve done in births before, because I never had any training, yet it never felt alien to me," she said.

Speaking of directors

Speaking of her directors she said despite not fitting the stereotype, Sugathapala Senarath Yapa, Sathischandra Edirisinghe, Prof. Cyril Gunasinghe, Mahagamasekera and Dharmasiri Pathirajah had a lot of faith in her. Today, she has worked with the crème de la crème of veteran Sri Lankan directors, with the exception of Dr. Lester James Pieris, she said.

Asked about the younger directors, Swarna said she would like to work with them but word had reached her that they were ‘scared of her.’ "Don’t be scared of me," the veteran actress laughed. Indeed, though, a sharp tongue and habit of saying whatever’s on her mind is part of her character – one might even say part of her charm.

"I say what I have to say to the face, and most of the time people respect me for this. Afterwards, I never hold grudges or viciousness, it’s said and done with," she said.

Her greatest gift is her daughter, who she says is a wonderful child. "She has given me so much joy," the actress said. She was with her through her fight with cancer.

Speaking of this painful time, Swarna said it was her child and her faith in Sri Sathya Sai Baba that got her through. "I had a brain operation which was near the area responsible for speech, and the doctors said I may never be able to talk again. The day of my operation however I remember lying in bed just before, and seeing Swami (Sai Baba) standing at the foot of my bed, watching me.

Brain operation

"He was there for a few seconds and disappeared. The next thing I remember was the doctor asking me what my profession was. I said I was an actress and then drifted off." Usually, even those who are able to speak after Swarna’s type of operation only do so after many months of speech therapy. She was able to talk immediately after being taken out of the theatre. "I wasn’t even in ICU. I truly believe this was a miracle wrought by Swami," she said. To her, what is most inspiring about his teaching is that he advocates all faiths.

Timely message

"Dharma is eternal and unchanging, but every 2000-3000 years a prophet or teacher comes to renew our faith and show it to us in a new light. All Swami says is to follow what you believe in well; that all religions ultimately are one. I think that is a timely message," she said.

She starts her day with a morning prayer for happiness and meditation on loving kindness. "If someone hurts me I wish them well all the more: that’s the only way to be happy," she said.

This woman, from whom life had taken, and then given, so much, says her philosophy is to have no regrets. "If you start regretting, you start hating people, and there is nothing worse than that – both for your own general well-being and for others," she said. Asked who her role model is she said ‘myself,’ though she has a range of people she admires in the film industry for their contribution and commitment.

She spoke of young actresses Anarkali and Kanchana Mendis as probably the two faces of the up and coming generation of actors.

Today, Swarna is involved in humanitarian work at the Foundation for Coexistence (FCE) headed by Kumar Rupesinghe. She was offered the job while still struggling with her illness, when she was ‘penniless,’ and gave up another good job offer in the USA to take it up.

Personal life

"Whatever people say about Kumar Rupesinghe, he is a good man and a compassionate human being, who has his own agenda for helping with the peace process," she said. Swarna herself has done extensive work for the tsunami victims and refugees.

As the interview draws to a close, and I notice her getting slightly fidgety (she had earlier promised just half an hour) I hopefully ask if she could talk about her personal life a bit – the loves and losses. "No!" she said emphatically, stating she never talked about it to the media as a policy, but promised that she would soon reveal all in an autobiography that Dr. Lester James Pieris had promised to direct free of charge.

Now there’s something to look forward to!

The Morning Leader in TRAVEL PAGE – Wednesday, July 19, 2006