Nita rewarded for her campaign against AIDS
Veteran actress and film producer Nita Fernando who made ‘Sawara’(Seven Notes), a movie which discussed the HIV infected in Sri Lanka and their pathetic and traumatic journeys, was rewarded for her contribution to fight the deadly disease.
Nita with her award
The U.N. AIDS awarded Nita in appreciation of her outstanding contribution to the National HIV Response in the field of fine arts.
Nita was presented the award at an event held in the Galle Face Green Colombo. Among those who attended the event were the Country Manager of UN AIDS Sri-Lanka Dr. Dayanath Ranatunga.
“This is an award received not only by me bu t everybody in the ‘Swara’ team.
From tea boy to actors and actresses, those who worked behind the screen and everybody who supported us equally contributed to this film and this award is for all them,” Nita said speaking about the award.
Starring Sachini Ayendra Mahipala, Anusha Rajapakse, Damitha Abeyrathne, W.Jayasiri, Diluni Mallawaarchi, Danu Innasitamby and Nita herself in the main cast, ‘Swara’ deals with the sorry plight of Sri Lankan migrant workers (particularly women), ignorance of HIV/AIDS and STD, child abuse and adverse impact of globalisation particularly on vulnerable sections of the population such as women and children.
Story screen play written by Yolanda Weerasinghe, the direction of ‘Swara’ is by Sanjaya Nirmal and the film is co-produced by Manohan Nanayakkara, chairman of Asia Digital Entertainment and Nita herself.
Prabath Roshan-director of photography with Lal Dissanayake and Nanda Jayakody as editors, Manjula Ayagama art director, Channa Wijewardana doing the choreography and Dayasiri Jayasekara, Pradeepa Dharmadasa, Nirosha Virajini, Ranjan Saliya and Natalie Gooneratne have rendered their voices in the playback singing.
With its global appeal, the film was selected to represent Sri Lanka at a special section of the Jaipur International Film Festival in 2013 and it was nominated for the Green Rose Award for a film with a Global message at the 5th Jaipur International Film Festival.
Scenes from ‘Swara’