 Despite a
successful start with Ellame En Rasathan, you couldn’t quite hit the
big time in Tamil films. What went wrong?
I started my career as a child artiste and played a lead role for
the first time in Ellame En Rasathan. I played a mature woman in that film
which was just the right launching pad for me, and gave me good scope to
prove my acting skills. After a good start like that, anyone would think
twice about wasting oneself in silly, run-of-the-mill roles. So I turned
down all the village belle roles that kept coming my way, where all I was
asked to do was dance around trees or shake a leg in the paddy fields. I
decided to be choosy about what films I sign. I may not quite have made it
to the big time, but I have several hits to my credit, like Poove Unakkage,
Kalam Maripochu, Vallal and Alexander. Personally, I don’t believe in
these numbers games, or in signing all the films that come my way. I believe
in quality, and you must admit I had very good roles in all the films I’ve
done so far.
There was a void in Tamil films for character artistes after Revathi, Radhika
and Bhanupriya left the scene. It is then that my film Poove Unakkage was
released. My role was ‘soft’ and strong at the same time, and people
agreed I had it in me to fill the breach left by Revathi.
So you
don’t think that the glamour dolls like Rambha and Simran put you out
of business?
Not at all. I’ve never been in contention for the kind of roles they
play, so their success has in no way affected me. Glamour isn’t my cup
of tea. So far, I have done 15 films in the last 3 years. If I had accepted
films with ‘revealing’ scenes I could have completed at least two
dozen films by now. But like I said, that’s not what I want to
do.
Do you
think your physique doesn’t suit glamour outfits?
Not really. There are ways just about anyone can be made to look sexy and
glamorous. I had lots of offers in Telugu films, where the only criterion
would have been that I wear revealing costumes. I want to act in films which
gives me scope to hone and exhibit my talent, to play the kind of roles Savithri
amma and Sujatha akka played.
Are you
about to marry Saravanan, the cameraman of Poove Unakkage, as rumours suggest?
Another story is that you are the cause of the rift in Parthipan’s
family?
These are just rumours, figments of somebody’s imagination. At one time,
I was linked with Parthipan Sir when we were working together in Pulakuttikaran.
The rumours went on for a year, though Parthipan Sir kept denying them hotly.
I didn’t bother to react to these rumours because I thought it was enough
that Parthipan Sir was denying them. Later, I was linked with Ramarajan,
especially after we’d worked together in Amman Kovil Vaasalile and Namma
Ooru Rasa. Now, it’s with cinematographer Saravanan. I hardly know him,
though we’ve worked together in that film. I really wonder how people
can cook up tales like these out of nothing.
Why have
most of your films taken so long to make?
After the success of Poove Unakkaga, I signed around eight films, all of
them with new directors. I made a mistake here, because I took them for their
word when they said the roles were heroine-oriented, which some of them
weren’t. Other films like Pirandanal, Puniyavathy and Edirum Puthirum
are stuck half-way through their making because of financial problems.
I’ve paid dearly for giving chances to new directors. I expected a lot
from Edirum Puthirum starring Mammootty and Napoleon, but the project has
not taken off at all. Poomaname Vaa with Ramarajan Sir has also been delayed
because he was busy with the elections. Now, hopefully, shoots will begin
in full swing.
You’ve
been quoted saying Malayalam films have much to offer to heroines. Did you
manage to fit in to the new trends in Malayalam cinema?
I have done only two Malayalam films, but you must admit I’ve been
reasonably successful. One is Mandrikumaran, with Mukesh, which is doing
quite well, and the other is Chintavishtayaya Shyamala, in which the entire
story revolves around me. It was quite a very challenging role, and now that
the film’s had a promising start, I’ve begun to get more offers
for Malayalam films. I’ve managed to please both the average cinegoer
and the critic in Kerala. I think I’m right in saying I’ve found
a foothold in Kerala films, although it has some of the best talents in the
country. |
|
