Swarna Mallawarachchi

Swarna Mallawarachchi (born 1 August 1948: Sinhala: ස්වර්ණා මල්ලවාරච්චි), is an actress in Sri Lankan cinema. Often known as the "Golden star of Sinhalese cinema", Swarna began her acting career whilst still a schoolgirl, starring in the 1966 blockbuster film Sath Samudura directed by Siri Gunasinghe.[1] During a career that spanning over 40 years, Swarna has won the 'Best Actress Award' 26 times, most by a Sri Lankan actress.[2]

Swarna Mallawarachchi
ස්වර්ණා මල්ලවාරච්චි
Swarna Mallawarachchi (left) in 2017
Born (1948-08-01) 1 August 1948
Colombo, Sri Lanka
NationalitySri Lankan
EducationVijayaba Maha Vidyalaya
OccupationActress
Years active1966–present
ChildrenNarendra
AwardsBest Actress

Personal life

She was born on 1 August 1948 [3] in Kosgas Junction, Grandpass, Colombo. She completed education at Vijayaba Maha Vidyalaya, Grandpass.[4]

In a Colombo municipal election, Swarna, along with other communist leaders such as Peter Kehnemann and K. P. de Silva, fielded Abeysena, a candidate from his party in the Northern Grandpass division.

Career

In school times, she collaborated her friend Kanthi Kalyani Atugoda for the Handwritten school magazine "Pipena Kumudu". Through the magazine, she showcased her abilities.

Swarna left Sri Lankan cinema for a brief period in the 1970s to live abroad. 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.[5]

In 1983, she played the main role 'Ranmali' in the thriller drama film Dadayama directed by Vasantha Obeysekera. After receiving positive reviews by the critics, she won the Best Actress award at Sarasaviya Awards for the role.

She was appointed the UNHCR ambassador for women's rights in Sri Lanka since 2004.

Swarna's truly unique role as an actress is evident in films such as Vasantha Obeysekera's Dadayama (The Hunt) and Kadapathaka Chayava (Reflections in the Mirror), Dharmasiri Bandaranayake's Suddhilage Kathawa (The Story of Suddhi) and Bava Duka / Bava Karma, Sumitra Peries' Sagara Jalaya (Letter Written in the Sand) and Prasanna Vithanage's Anantha Rathriya (Dark Night of the Soul).[6]

Filmography
  • No. denotes the Number of Sri Lankan film in the Sri Lankan cinema.[7]
YearNo.FilmRole
1967159Sath SamuduraSoma [8]
1969219Hanthane KathawaSubhadra [9]
1970232Thunman HandiyaYasawathi
1970233Nim Wallala
1971247Samanala Kumariyo Samaga Api Kawadath Surayo
1973269Mathara AchchiSumithra aka Sumi
1973274Gopalu Handa
1973276Hondama Welawa
1974282Ahas GauwaVijitha
1980457Muwan Palessa 2
1980459SankhapaliSugala
1980460Hewanali Eda Minissu
1980462Hansa VilakMiranda Ranaweera [10]
1980465SinhabahuSupra
1981494Anjana[11]
1981503Chanchala RekhaKamala
1982523Ridee NimnayaLeelawathi
1982526Kiri Suwanda
1982534Kala Mal
1982536Biththi HatharaSamara
1982542Yahalu YeheliGina
1983558DadayamaRathmali Kekunawela [12]
1983567Samanala Sihina
1983569Muwan Palessa 3
1984602MayaKumari's mother [13]
1985618Suddilage KathaawaSuddi [14]
1985622Doringe Sayanaya
1985630Karadiya Walalla
1986643Maldeniye SimionGunawathi [15]
1987653Yugayen Yugayata
1987663Kawuluwa
1988683Sagara Jalaya Madi Haduwa Oba SandaHeen Kella
1989687Kedapathaka ChayaNandawathi Bandara
1993791Madara ParasathuChithra
1994819Mee HarakaYamuna Nanayakkara
1995842AyomaAyoma
1997877Bawa DukaNona Hami
1997886Bawa KarmaNona Hami
1998899Chanda Kinnari
2001954Anantha RathriyaWeerasinghe Arachchige Piyumi
20041036Premawanthayo
20141213Thanha Rathi RangaManorani
20161251Age Asa Aga
TBDDada ImaRathmali Kekunawela[16]

Awards

Presidential Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
1981Hansa VilakBest ActressWon

1984 “ Dadayama” Best Actress

1986Suddilage KathawaBest ActressWon
1997Bawa DukaBest ActressWon
1998Channa KinnariBest ActressWon
2017Age Asa AgaBest ActressWon
2017Contribution to CinemaLifetime AchievementWon


OCIC Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
1982Ridi Nimnaya
Biththi Hathara
Yahalu Yeheli		Best ActressWon
1983DadayamaBest ActressWon
1984MayaBest ActressWon
1985Suddilage KathawaBest ActressWon
1988Sagara JalayaBest ActressWon
1989Kadapathaka ChayaBest ActressWon
1996Anantha RathriyaBest ActressWon
1997Bawa DukaBest ActressWon
1998Channa KinnariBest ActressWon
2017Age Asa AgaBest ActressWon

Sarasaviya Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
1983DadayamaBest ActressWon
1985Suddilage KathawaBest ActressWon
1988Sagara JalayaBest ActressWon
1997Bawa DukaBest ActressWon
1998Channa KinnariBest ActressWon
2014Contribution to CinemaLifetime AchievementWon

Swarna Sanka Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
1988Sagara JalayaBest ActressWon
1989Kadapathaka ChayaBest ActressWon

Hiru Golden Film Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2014Contribution to CinemaLifetime AchievementWon

Sumathi Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2017Contribution to CinemaLifetime AchievementWon

Derana Film Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2017Age Asa AgaBest ActressWon

Other Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
–Contribution to CinemaBangladesh Film Development Board AwardWon
–Contribution to CinemaZonta Woman of the Year [17]Won
–Contribution to CinemaSanpac FelicitationWon

References
  1. "She is "Swarna"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  2. "Swarna: The golden star of Sinhala cinema". TV Times (Sri Lanka). 15 January 2006. ISSN 1391-0531.
  3. ""Swarna Mallawarachchi"".
  4. "Swarna Mallawarachchi is the golden symbol of Sinhala cinema". Silumina. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  5. "Tomorrow will be better than today: Leading actress Swarna Mallawarachchi". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2020-12-04.
  6. Swarna Mallawarachchi
  7. "Sri Lankan Cinema History". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  8. "All about "Sath Samudura"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2020-12-02.
  9. "All about Hanthane Kathawa". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  10. "All about "Hansa Vilak"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  11. "All about the film "Anjana"". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  12. "Dadayama: The hunt that was a hunt". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  13. "Lester-Sumithra cinema on mini-screen". Sunday Times. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  14. "All about the film "Suddilage Kathawa"". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
  15. "'Maldeniye Simeon' back after 20 years". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  16. "'Dhada Ima' directed by Dr Naomal Perera". The Island. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  17. Tucker, Neely (14 January 2005). "Off-Screen Activist". Washington Post. Retrieved 24 May 2010.
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