Breakout star of Malaysian film Sangeeta Krishnasamy spreads her wings with producer role

Actress Sangeeta Krishnasamy’s name has long been familiar to Malaysian Indians thanks to her many roles in Tamil-language films, but since her appearance in mainstream Malaysian movie Adiwiraku, the 33-year-old has been making waves outside her traditional audience. Malaysians from all backgrounds have taken notice of her talent and multiracial appeal.

The 2017 Malay-language film is based on the real-life experience of a rural schoolteacher, Cheryl Ann Fernando. Despite being a newcomer to Malay-language film, Sangeeta won best actress award at the Malaysia Film Festival in 2017, where Adiwiraku was crowned best film.

She won two other awards for her role in the film, an Anugerah Skrin Award and The Kuala Lumpur Film Critics Award, making her the first actress to win all three. Despite the overwhelming success of her debut in mainstream cinema, Sangeeta hasn’t let fame get to her head. She wants to learn more about filmmaking.

“I will be enrolling in an acting course at the New York Film Academy in August to enhance my acting skills and to prepare myself in case international acting opportunities come my way,” Sangeeta says in an interview with the Post. “I am also planning to enrol in scriptwriting and film production courses in the future.”

A graduate in law from the University of London, the Malaysian Indian began her film career in 2009. She stumbled into acting accidentally and fell in love with it. “I’ve always been very passionate about movies, but never thought I’d take it up as a profession,” she says.

“Initially my interest was in theatre acting, but I was never brave enough to go for auditions. I used to watch many plays at the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre. One day, I saw a notice: ‘10 weeks acting course’. I signed up for it and it changed the way I looked at myself. It helped enhance my self-esteem and I could finally speak in public without fear.”

Sangeeta saw her first film role as challenging. “It was about the struggle of a woman in a strained relationship who tries to make it in the corporate world. That taught me a lot, not only as an actor but as a woman,” she says.

She is meticulous in her choice of which film roles to accept among the many offers she receives. “I like challenging roles and movies that have strong messages. Perhaps that is why I couldn’t resist when the opportunity to act in Adiwiraku came my way.”

Sangeeta is working on a few films, including another Malay-language film – a political genre movie – which sees her working with a debutant Malaysian director. “The film industry in Malaysia is refreshing and exciting because of a new change that comes with the new government. It is going to be interesting. I’ll be playing a political figure in the movie,” she says.

The actress is in talks with the producers of a sequel to a Malaysian blockbuster, which will start shooting in October. She has also sounded out a Sri Lankan Hollywood producer-turned-director on a possible collaboration on another film based on a true story.

Perhaps the most exciting project for Sangeeta this year is Adiwiraku 2, which just started shooting. However, she won’t be seen on screen this time. “I’m the executive producer of the movie and it’s my first time working behind the scenes. It has been an exciting experience so far,” she says.

Like the first film, Adiwiraku 2 is another heart-warming true story about the journey of a determined teacher and a group of young children from a rural area – village cricketers who make made history at the 2017 Southeast Asian Games by winning Malaysia’s first gold medal in cricket.

“Adiwiraku [got people talking about] the importance of English in education,” Sangeeta says. “We are hoping Adiwiraku 2 will encourage kids to be more involved in sports.”

One consequence of her higher profile is that she has had to hand over to a friend the running of a vegan cafe she opened near her home.

A vegan herself, Sangeeta says: “I love cooking and thoroughly enjoy doing it for my family and friends. So I thought I’d try my hand at running a cafe.

“However, after the first Adiwiraku I started getting more movie offers and got so much busier. That’s why I had to hand the cafe over to a friend, who runs it now.”

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