In love with cinema

With two new releases in Malayalam and one in Tamil, Srinda is preparing for a long stint in films

October 05, 2014 06:22 pm | Updated April 11, 2016 08:36 pm IST

for mp

for mp

Srinda is nothing like the simpleton Susheela in 1983 or Fazila in Annayum Rasoolum or the middle-aged Valsamma in the recently released Tamar Padar . Turned out in a pair of jeans and shirt with her curly hair in a messy knot, the petite actor is the girl-next door.

With two releases on the same day—the Prithviraj-starrer Tamar Padar and Homely Meals , she doesn’t comprehend the hype. Cinema was a passion; and she is thankful that it is now her ‘job’. “For me films are a passion and I had faith that I would be able to make a career for myself in the industry.” Hailing from a Muslim family which had nothing to do with films didn’t make it more difficult, but a break wasn’t easier either.

“Once my family saw how I was doing and what I doing then I had them backing me, fully,” she says as she settles down, tucking her feet under her.

In the last couple of years she has been part of films such as Thattathin Marayathu , North 24 Kaatham , 101 Weddings , Artist and Annayum Rasoolum . But 2014 has been different.

This year Srinda’s work and she have been recognised. The year started with 1983 as Suseela followed by Manglish, Masala Republic and now the two simultaneous releases. She has come a long way from the ‘friend’ role she debuted with in Aashiq Abu’s 22 Female Kottayam . That she is in the industry at a time when the ‘character’ actor’s role changed has helped. “Audiences have become more open to the idea of a different kind of cinema. And the script has become the hero, which gives space for actors like me.”

She may not be the ‘lead’ heroine in the running-around-trees and singing-in-the-rain sense, but she had carved a niche for herself. Content for her is important, not the size of the role or where on the credit roll her name appears. “In 1983 my character had content; I was Nivin’s heroine. If we are going to talk about it then in Tamar Padar and Homely Meals – I am the lead heroine.” These are the terms on which she wants to ‘lead’ – an author-backed, content-driven role. Working for Tamar Padar was a riot, a role close to her heart. “The film is a political satire and is a reflection of society; how often does an actor get a chance to do a role like that? And Homely Meals helped me polish certain aspects about me. It also taught me restraint…a change from my in-your face characters that I have done of late.”

As a youngster acting was something she did in front of the mirror behind the closed doors of her room. It was the furthest thing on her horizon.

Extra curricular activities were her thing in school, she says. Any competition – drawing, painting, singing, dancing – she would be in. She was part of the school team which won the first position in the cinematic dance competition at the district level. She did her schooling at St. Mary’s Anglo Indian School (Fort Kochi) upto Class X before moving to a school in Palluruthy for her +2. She is an alumna of Sacred Heart College, Thevara.

She worked briefly and moonlighted as a television anchor, “but my heart wasn’t in it. I felt like something was missing which I found in films.” She modelled for products such as hair oils and jewellery brands before a corporate film led her to Aashiq Abu’s 22 Female Kottayam , which she says shaped her as an actor.

Of Susheela’s character (the wife of a cricket-loving Nivin Pauly, who hasn’t heard of Sachin Tendulkar) which grabbed eyeballs, she says, it was the director’s (Abrid Shine), clarity on how he wanted her to interpret the role. “I am a director’s actor. It depends on the director and the space he gives the actor.”

Come October 10 and her Tamil film, Vennila Veedu hits theatres. She is looking forward to its release but does she want to move to the Tamil film industry? “No, thank you. I am very content where I am.”

0 / 0
Sign in to unlock member-only benefits!
  • Access 10 free stories every month
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.