Green Rose Award for Swara
(Seven Notes)

Swara (“Seven Notes”) original title Journey of Hope, a film with a message, won Green Rose Award for a film with a Global message, at the 5th Jaipur International Film Festival -2013 which was held from January 30 to February 2, in Jaipur in India.

The film is woven around the character of Narmada, an internationally famed Sri Lankan professional music composer and a symphony conductor. Highly-sought after Narmada’s life is a success story from every conceivable perspective.

However, an accidental discovery of her being HIV positive has virtually re-configured her life for good, compelling her to embark on heroic journey against the social stigma associated with HIV and AIDS. To her utter disgust, she discovers that she has been cheated by her husband (Rohan). The journey leads Narmada to discover fellow travelers in a community of HIV positives who have overcome social stigma and who lead profitable lives.

Ultimately Narmada wins back her rights through a legal battle helped by her beautiful lawyer daughter, Nimanthi (Sachini Ayendra Mahipala) who defeats multimillionaire entrepreneur Justin Weerakoon.

Apart from spreading a vital message against social stigma associated with HIV/AIDS, the film Swara (Seven Notes) explores gray areas in contemporary Sri Lankan society through powerful characters such as super model Vihara (Anusha) who had a miserable childhood. Vihara bears a child (Anjali) out of an extra-marital relationship with Narmada’s husband Rohan. Anjali who is blind but has prodigious talents in music, symbolises innocent generation of victims of the circumstances.

Padma (Damitha), a migrant worker (Housemaid) deceived by her Employment Agent and was sexually exploited in the Middle East, returns home with HIV/AIDs , to confront effectively the social stigma by becoming a community leader.

She helps out HIV Positives to lead a meaningful life through her Foundation. She educates the young men and women on HIV/AIDS and STD.

Joe– Beach Boy - MSM and Transgender (Danu Innasitamby) reveals different aspects of city’s night life. The film effectively deals with myriad of socio-economic issues such as abject poverty, 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.

The cast includes Nita Fernando, Sachini Ayendra Mahipala, Anusha Rajapakse, Danu Innasitamby, Damitha Abeyrathn, Diluni Mallawaarchi, W.Jayasiri, Buddika Jayaratne and Sriyantha Mendis. Nita Fernando, Actress / Producer / Activist, Director Living With Hope Foundation and Manohan Nanayakkara, Co-Producer, Asia Digital Entertainment. Yolanda Weerasinghe wrote the Story and Screen-Play. He is also the Executive Producer and Costume Designer. Director Sanjaya Nirmal, Director of Photography Prabath Roshan,Music Director Ranga Dasanayake ,Editor Lal Dissanayake and Nanda Jayakody. It is a Fine Vision production, choreographed by Channa Wijewardena .