June 12, 2011 Y. Sunitha Chowdhary
She is now, a city girl in Chennai in Porali (a survivor) directed by Samuthirakani. There is a small role in Kandireega as well but what made news is the actress crooning for 100% Love. Earlier she sang for KSD Appalaraju, Ram Gopal Varma asked her if she was interested in singing and she went ahead and recorded for it. Devisri Prasad saw the movie and felt her voice was fresh, young and suited for the youth-based love story.
Swati reminisces singing for school choir, she enjoys singing as much but acting is her first love. The grad in bio-tech says she did her first few films like Danger, Aadavari Maatalaku Ardhale Verule and Ashta Chamma during college holidays and it is only now she is seriously pursuing a career in movies.
She describes her work in KSD Appalaraju as a roller coaster ride and was aware of the hype associated with it. She is not the kind of person who will test the IQ of a director after the film has been signed. Her song went unnoticed as many didn't know she crooned, only the CDs carried her name on the cover.
On her long-sleeved blouses and saree with a hairdo that just didn't gel with her personality she explains, "The image of filmi teachers is very strong. They usually sport a bespectacled look, Sushmita Sen preferred a glamorous wear and I sported a far simpler and casual saree. People are entitled to their opinions."
She was 17 when she did her first television show Colours and now she's a heroine, but the sad part is that filmmakers in Hyderabad or the viewers still have the little girl image of hers firmly imprinted on their minds. The half saree act as Trisha's sibling in Aadavari Maatalaku Ardhale Verule or child-woman role in Ashta Chamma did not fetch her the full-fledged commercial heroine's role.
A writer opines that she has a face that is traditional, naïve and vulnerable which at the most can be transformed to a gregarious character but directors are not willing to concede that she can transform into a woman who can ooze that sex appeal even if she exposes. Swathi has no qualms accepting her limitations but she says, "Everyone has their USP and I too prefer working on my strengths."
She agrees her PR is weak and she has no clue how to bag films on the home turf while she is being recognized in Kannada, Malayalam and Tamil industries. The Telugu girl hopes to find her big moment some day here, she's not in a hurry though and quips, "I don't want to sign some film and panic, jeopardize my career, I'm not providing for my family, I can take it easy."
|
