Padmapriya reveals her experience in malayalam films.

When the Blessy-directed Malayalam movie Kaazhcha was released, everyone appreciated the performance of the heroine Padmapriya, a non-Malayalee girl, who played with élan the role of a Malayalee housewife in rural Kuttanad. But nobody would then have thought that she would become one of the most sought after faces in Malayalam Cinema today.

Padmapriya's second film, the Sibi Malayil-directed Amritham, in which she appeared opposite Jayaram as a Muslim girl in love with a Hindu youth, didn't fare well at the box office.

Then came Raajamanickam, the big blockbuster with Mammootty in the lead. That set the ball rolling for Padmapriya, who then starred opposite Mohanlal in Vadakkumnathan, a film that endeared her more to the Malayalee audience.

She also acted opposite Suresh Gopi in the Jayaraj-directed Ashwaroodhan and is also the heroine of the recently released Mammootty-starrer, Bhargava Charitham Moonnaam Khandam.

In the meantime she also worked on Tamil films and impressed viewers with films like Thavamai Thavamirundhu, Pattiyal etc and also did a Telugu film Seenu Vasanthi Lakshmi.

Padmapriya is now doing a key role in the Kamal-directed Mammootty-starrer Karuththapakshikal, shooting of which is currently in progress. She is slated to play the lead role opposite Sreenivasan in Yes, Your Honour, directed by V.M. Vinu. Excerpts from a telephonic interview given to Unni Nair in the first week of August:

How did Kaazhcha happen?

I was working as a risk consultant with the Bangalore-based GE Capital and doing some modeling on the side when the chance to do the role in Kaazhcha came. Director Blessy had earlier introduced many new faces including Meera Jasmine to prominent directors like Lohitadas, with whom he was working as an associate director. I was chosen to play the heroine in his debut venture as an independent director and I had absolute trust in him. The film did well and my performance in it was widely appreciated.

Tell us about your experience doing the role of Meera in Vadakkumnathan?

Gireesh Puthencherry, who directed as well as scripted Vadakkumnathan, had a well etched-out role for everyone in it, including me. The excellent script and direction, the total packaging of the film and teaming up with Mohanlal and others worked out very well. This is reflected in the portrayal of each and every character in the film including mine.

You have worked with Mammootty in three films and at present you are doing yet another film with him. You have also worked with Mohanlal in Vadakkumnathan. How is it, working with these superstars?

It was sheer luck that gave me the opportunity to work with such immensely gifted actors. I am not competent enough to comment on them or their acting potential. All that I would like to say is that I really enjoyed working with them. It's perhaps on account of having worked with them that I was able to better myself as an actress.

You are not from Kerala, but you sync with the roles you do in Malayalam. How do you do that? And do you know Malayalam well?

That's not the case with Malayalam only. People say I sync well with my characters in Tamil too. And that is perhaps by good fortune. As far as knowing Malayalam is concerned, I understand the language well enough, but I am not fluent in it. I will pick up in course of time.

You had stated in some of your interviews that you could even do roles like the one that Sharon Stone did in Basic Instinct. What did you mean by such a comment?

I would like to clarify that again. I said that I am not against what is termed 'glamour roles'. But that doesn't mean that I am prepared for vulgarity of any kind. I am very choosy in my roles. I would do a sensually sensitive film if the role demanded it, but I would not tolerate vulgarity. If such sensually rich roles come my way, I would do them with the same sensitivity and dedication that I put in while doing Kaazhcha or Vadakkumnathan.

Tell us about your forthcoming films.

I am at present doing Karuththapakshikal, directed by Kamal Sir opposite Mammookka (Mammootty) once again. The name of the character is Poonkodi, a slum dweller who makes begging her profession. The difference is that she does it on a larger scale than ordinary beggars do. I am also doing the main role opposite Sreenivasan in Yes, Your Honour, directed by V.M. Vinu.

What's your dream role?

I have just begun my career, and it is too early to make statements about such things. Still I'd like to say that I'd love doing the lead role in a film that gives importance to dance and music, like for example Shankarabharanam. All that I can say is that as long as I am in cinema, I will remain totally dedicated to the medium, especially because I have a passion for films.

Any other dreams?

I want to try my hand at direction too. I think I have a passion for that too. I am planning something but it is under wraps for now. I'll let people know when the right time comes.

What are your hobbies?

I like to travel a lot. Traveling in a crowded bus through the interiors of rural India would be fun. I like reading too. I read as much as I can when I get the time.

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Karutha Pakshikal