The Hindu : Kerala News : On a comeback trail

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Wednesday, Jul 04, 2007
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Kerala

Kerala

On a comeback trail

Chitra Shenoy

Chitra Shenoy has acted in over 270 films and 3,500 episodes of television serials in Kannada. But she has acted in only two Malayalam films so far. She is currently shooting for her third Malayalam film in Kozhikode.

“I have always wanted to act in Malayalam films which offer plenty of scope for artistes to perform,” says Chitra on the set of ‘Ali Bhai.’

In the Kannada film industry, people tend to respect artistes more after they have acted in a Malayalam film, she says.

“Such is the reputation of actors in the Malayalam film industry. Quite a few Kannada actresses like Geetha, Lakshmi Gopalaswamy and Bharathi have done well here. Working with directors like Shaji Kailas, with whom I did ‘The Don’ earlier, has been a lot of fun.”

She finds it hard to believe that she is acting with Mohanlal (she plays his mother in ‘Ali Bhai’). “I don’t mind playing even his grandmother,” she adds with a smile. “What a fantastic actor he is! The best thing about his acting is that he doesn’t look like he is acting; he is so natural. I have seen some of his films such as ‘Kireedom’ and I thought he was outstanding in it.”

Chitra has high regard for Mammootty. She had played his mother in her debut Malayalam film, ‘Rajamanikyam.’

“He is a brilliant actor. He was superb in ‘Rajamanikyam.’ I am indebted to Sindhu Menon, the Bangalore-based Malayali actress, for my role in the film. When the director was on the look out for a woman who could play Mammootty’s mother, both young and aged, Sindhu suggested my name.”

Though Chitra made her foray into the film industry as a heroine in ‘Mouna Horata,’ while doing her pre-university course, she quit films after a couple of years.

Bad experience

“I didn’t feel very comfortable as an actress, especially doing dances,” she says. Choreographers gave her a tough time and would also make nasty comments in Tamil about her dance without realising that she was a Tamil Brahmin. “A few years later, I began acting in television serials. There was a time when I used to act in two or three serials daily. I returned to films as a character artiste. I have no hassles playing mother to heroes though I am only 35. I feel, as an artiste, one should be able to don any role”

P.K. AJITH KUMAR

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