Anarkhali:

Pretty, ambitious, opinionated

by Ranga Chandrarathne

Glamorous in appearance, with a dazzling smile, Anarkhali Arkarsha occupies a pride of place in the silver screen, sporting a slim figure, ever since she started acting at the gentle age of three.

Commencing her successful career with commercials, she goes on to become one of the sought-after actresses in Sri Lankan cinema. She has proved her mettle on many occasions by depicting complex characters in many Sinhala movies, as well as in the small screen.

During her childhood, she did not intend to become an actress, but appreciated Swarna Mallawarachchi, Wasanthi Chathurani, Irangani Serasinghe, Chandani Senevirathne, Maureen Charunee. Anarkalee intended to become a lawyer. She tasted acting in films from the cradle, as her mother Indrani Jayatilaka designed costume for Hollywood movies produced in Sri Lanka, while her father Jayantha Jayatilaka was very busy as the Director of a Company that provides film locations.

On the other hand, a little known fact about her life is, that her grandfather R.E Jayatilaka was a Minister and Member of Parliament for the Nawalapitiya Electorate, while her paternal father was a medical doctor.

At the age of three, Anarkhali posed for a commercial, to promote the toothpaste "Clogard", and thereafter for "Anchor" milk-powder. However, she made a breakthrough when she was chosen to portray a challenging character in "Itipahan", a teledrama based on Sumithra Rahubaddha's popular novel. While Anarkhali studied at the Colombo International School (CIS), CIS Principal Mr. David who also acted in "Iti pahan" spotted her for the role. Though it was a challenging role, Anarkhali loved it, as she was the child hero in "Iti Pahan".

Recalling her silver screen debut, Anarkhali loved to act as a wife next door, in a comedy. Anarkhali was 15 years old when she acted in the film and loved it, as it had old hits like "Jeevanaye Meevanaye" and "Atha Dilisena".

The movie became very popular. She rendered her talents to "Eka Malaka Pethi" by Mohan Niyas, "One shot" by Ranjan Ramayana, "Dana Rina" by Roy de Silva, "Hiripoda Wassa" by Udayakhantha Warnasuriya, Channa Perera's "Anjelika" , Nilambare" by Kalum Palitha Mahirathne and Roy de Silva's "Sonduru Wasanthe". Anarkhali has signed up for two movies for this year.

Her phenomenal success in the silver screen was preceded by her acting in a number of teledramas, including first, the English teledrama "Sapphire and silk" by Mohan Niyaz. In the teledrama, Anarkhali played the role of a girl called "Nadee" who was affected by her parents' divorce. The teledrama was about love, family and business issues. However, the teledrama was stopped.

She played a role in "Dehadaka Katawak" by Sujeeva Prasannarachchi, "Hemanthayede" by Birming Laily Fernando, and Anarkhali plays the character of "Jane Eyre" with Ravindra Randeniya in "Kulakumariya", a teledrama which is yet to be telecast.

The complex character of Jane Eyre was a challenging role that Anarkhali accepted with much pleasure, as it would give her a chance to venture into hitherto unknown areas in character acting. Anarkhali plays the role of Jane Eyre, while Ravindra Randeniya plays as Mr. Rochester. She is currently on shooting in a teledrama "Cinderella Kumariya".

She is a great lover of music, and listening to classical music is one of her spare-time interests. She conducts her own radio programme on Raja FM where she thoroughly enjoys the company of her fans. She is thrilled by her career as a performer, as she could be exposed to different personalities. What interests her is studying people, and she would ask million questions to acquire an insight into human beings. She is satisfied immensely in exploring into the recesses of characters.

Anarkali loves to tend to experiment, to take up challenges which others who criticise her think that she would not be capable of. She is contented with accomplishing those tasks successfully. She bravely played the role of a mother in a wheel-chair at the age of sixteen, when most of the critics were of the opinion that she would fail.

Another challenging role she performed was the portrayal of a character of a mentally retarded girl which demanded her to be really crazy. She became the youngest, most popular actress at the "Sarasaviya" awards festival, when she was seventeen. Once a teacher in the school magazine predicted that she would represent "Miss Sri Lanka" in 2005, the feat she achieved one year before. This prediction was made when she was three years old.

Commenting on the nasty criticisms by mushrooming film critics who lack basic knowledge of the cinema, she says that a critique should be constructive, and should stick to facts because facts are sacred, particularly, in journalism. When judging a film, he or she should focus attention on the proper breakdown of the criticism, for instance, you cannot criticise the actress when a make-up artist made a blunder on her.

"I firmly believe that not everyone can be a critic, you have to be extra careful when you are not qualified to take up the duty," she chuckles. The work of art or a character in a film, and Anarkhali are two parallels which never merge." She observed.

She is highly impressed by Arundhati Roy's writings, they are exceptional in many ways and she appreciates the construction, though she effectively explores the controversial issues. Anarkhali loves the tenderness in her writings. Among the Sri Lankan writers, she appreciates the late Nihal de Silva.

She is also fond of reading Russian and British writers' works in English. The greatest artistic ambition in her life is to portray the character of former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaranatunga. Anarkali is far more intelligent than her age demands, and talented as well. It is obvious that she will certainly be able to enrich Sri Lankan cinema with her enigmatic and charming style of action in the silver screen.

On July 19 Anarkhali will celebrate her nineteenth birthday and her website launch will be coordinated by Emphasis.