SEEKING GREENER PASTURES

Seeking greener pastures

Malayalam actresses are slowly shifting their interests to Tamil
and Telugu films, writes KK Moidu



Malaylam film industry is facing an identity crisis. Directors are becoming keen to experiment with actresses from other languages with top heroines from the industry having moved to the more lucrative and financially rewarding Tamil and Telugu films.
The recent spate of box office hits with “other language” heroines has only spurred this trend. These “other language” heroines, who have recently made their debut in Malayalam include actress Katrina Kaif, Sneha, Padmapriya, Nikhita, Shreya Reddy, Aditi Rao, Sandhya, Meera Vasudevan and Laila.
Model-turned-actress Katrina Kaif made her foray into Malayalam film industry with veteran director IV Sasi’s movie Balram v Tharadas. The actress plays the romantic interest of superstar Mammooty, who plays an underworld don, Tharadas. The movie is a sequel to the director’s earlier hits Athirathram, Aavanazhi and Inspector Balram.
Gulf-returnee Sneha had made her debut opposite actor Kunjacko Boban in the movie Ingane Oru Nilapakshi. The movie bombed at the box office. But the actress managed to catch the attention of many directors. She soon became the flavour of both Tamil and Telugu industry. Being a dedicated actress, she was ready to do offbeat roles. Thus after a gap of six years, the actress has come back to the Malayalam film industry with Johny Antony’s movie Thuruppugulan, where she was paired against Mammooty. Though the movie was a big hit at the box office, her song sequence in Thuruppugulan received a lukewarm response. But the audience has acknowledged her contribution to the movie’s success. Sneha’s hit Tamil movies include Ennavale, Anandam, Virumbigiren, Pammal K. Sambandham, Parthale Paravesam and Punngai Desam.
Upcoming actress Padmapriya made her debut with director Blessy’s maiden venture Kazhcha, essaying the role of Mammoty’s wife. The movie was a resounding success and Padmapriya was soon flooded with offers. In the movie Amrutham, the actress played the romantic interest of actor Jayram. Director Anvar Rasheed’s smash hit Rajamanikam, cast the actress once again opposite her debut hero, Mammoty. The actress also played the heroine in Vadakkunnathan, alongside superstar Mohanlal. In her recent release Aswaroodan, she plays the romantic interest of superstar Suresh Gopi. This talented actress has been very lucky to be paired with superstars in such a short span of time. Though most characters played by her in Malayalam are family-oriented, the actress has also been getting offers for glamorous roles from other languages. The actress has also forayed into the Kannada film industry. She will soon be seen in a glamorous role in director Bala’s remake of the hit movie Pithamagan.
Hindi film actress Meera Vasudevan had made her debut in director Blessy’s second film Thanmathra. The actress had esssayed the role of Mohanlal’s wife. The movie saw Mohanlal play a brilliant government employee, Ramesan Nair, who becomes a victim of Alzheimer’s disease. However, his wife (Meera) fulfils his dream of making their son, an IAS officer, fighting against all odds. After her role in Thanmathra, the actress has signed another offer as Kalabhavan Mani’s heroine. Meera is keen on portraying glamorous characters even after marriage. The actress is totally against the Malayalee concept of giving up glamorous roles after marriage. In an industry which has a prejudice against married heroines, it is yet to be seen how the audience will respond to the actress’s decision.
Tamil actress Laila had made her debut in Malayalam in director Vinayan’s movie War and Love. She played the love interest of popular actor Dilip. In her next movie Mahasamudram, directed by Dr S. Janardhanan, the actress is paired opposite Mohanlal. This movie will be noticed for a couple of reasons. For the first time in his career, Mohanlal will portray the role of a fisherman. This movie will also be Laila’s last film. The actress plans to quit the industry to enjoy domestic bliss. Laila had also tried her luck in Telugu movies with Mrs and Mr Shailaja Krishnamurthy and Kannada movies with Ramakrishna.
Another “other language” heroine, who has made her debut in Malayalam is Adithi Rao. She will be seen in director Renjith’s movie Prajapathy, where she will play the romantic interest of Mammooty. The actress also made her debut in Tamil with the movie Sringaaram. The movie Prajapathy will also have upcoming actress Sandhya, to add some flavour.
There has always been a constant complaint about a dearth of stories and good heroines in the Malayalam film industry. There has been an improvement in the situation in recent years with the arrival of talented youngsters like Meera Jasmine, Bhavana and Kavya Madhavan. But the industry graph shows a gradual slide to the former scenario. Successful heroines in Malayalam are slowly shifting focus to Tamil and Telugu films. Some of the leading actresses, who have successfully entered other South Indian language movies include Nayanthara, Meera Jasmine, Navya Nair, Bhavana, Gopika and Mamta Mohandas.
These actresses who once played non-glamorous roles like village belles, servants and housewives in Malayalam, have completely changed in their attitude after stepping into Tamil and Telugu movies.
Though Mamta Mohandas had made her entry into Malayalam with her glamorous role in Lanka, the movie made only a slight impact at the box office. The actress justified her role saying that these scenes were integral for the building up of the movie’s pace and provided it a turning point. The movie’s failure made directors shy of experimenting with similar subjects. But this failure did not affect Mamta’s career graph. In fact, her role as Lanka Lakshmi only boosted her career. The actress will next be seen in the Tamil venture Sivappadhikaram, directed by Karu Palaniappan.
The only Malayalam actress, who has proven that glamour is not necessary to make a name in the Tamil and Telugu industry, is Bhavana. Without doing any glamourous roles, so far the actress has made a name for herself in Tamil movies. Maybe after a period of time, she too may join the bandwagon and do glamorous roles.
Whatever be the reason for the leading ladies of the industry to select other language films, the fact remains that these artistes are talented. The present day Malayalam movies are more hero-oriented, with heroines have little to do other than playing the romantic interest. The key components of the movie are a few song sequences, sentimental scenarios and a grand family reunion. This has made more Malayalam actresses rethink before accepting a project.
“Other language” heroines add to the glamour quotient and the movie’s much-needed publicity. The ageing superstars are paired with the twenty something actresses, to look younger and still retain their fan base.
For the Malayalam film industry, heroine-oriented roles are not a top priority. The directors still prefer to stick to the tried and tested “macho” hero-oriented films. Experimenting with “other language” heroines cannot be a permanent solution. Sooner or later most of these artistes will find it difficult to adjust to the highly disciplined and not so lucrative Malayalam industry.