Сваралакшми Деви | Swaralakshmi Devi

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Сваралакшми Деви | Swaralakshmi Devi
Сваралакшми Деви | Swaralakshmi Devi

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Swaralakshmi Devi (4th October 1938 - 24th December 1965) was born in Puri, Eastern India. At the age of seven, she and her family attended the annual Ratha Yatra procession at the Jagannatha Temple. As was usual, thousands of people crowded around the juggernauts and her father was among nine people who were accidentally crushed under the chariot wheels that year. Swara was traumatised by this event and friends claimed it was the main cause of her later depression.

Encouraged by her mother, Swara enjoyed learning to dance and sing and was spotted by a film executive at a local event. From the age of twelve Swara began appearing in Indian musical films usually playing non-speaking background roles.

In 1956 Swara received her first onscreen credit, named as one of the featured dancers in “Home Sweet Home” (“घर प्यारा घर”). Supporting roles followed in many films over the next few years and by 1961 she was playing romantic leads in “Curry and Caviar” (“चावल और कैवियार”) and “Mr. Dancewala” (aka “Foolish Feet”).

In 1962 Swara became romantically involved with older, married producer Tariq Hussein. Hussein was making European co-productions and, according to Swara, they planned to emigrate to France. However, when the scandal broke Hussein left Swara, eventually reconciling with his wife and children. Her reputation tarnished and now unable to find work, Swara departed for Paris with Akash Rahman, one of Hussein’s business partners. Over the next year her screen roles amounted only to “native girl” in at least three minor European films.

During the Spring of 1963 Swara was introduced to French music producer Raymond Orlay. Orlay attempted to shape her into an exotic ‘ye-ye’ girl. However Swara’s choice of songs was unremittingly dark in tone and failed to win over critics or fans.

In 1964 Swara met Yves Hollande at a party and shortly after moved into the film producer’s apartment. Hollande cast Swara in the title role of ‘La Fille Russe’ where she played an undercover Russian seductress.

During November 1965 Swara suffered a miscarriage and on Christmas Day her body was recovered from the River Seine. Friends assumed that she had taken her own life. She was 27 years old.

Grief-stricken, Hollande cancelled the premiere of ‘La Fille Russe’ and other than a short trailer, the film is believed to be lost.

Very few artefacts still exist about this tragic, obscure actress, but diligent research has uncovered some vintage photographs and artwork from her brief career.

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Taken on: August 3, 2020
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