Straddling has paid off
Premsai
"THE AWARD came as a surprise and naturally I was elated," says Premsai. The small screen actor recently received the Nandi Award for `Best Villain' from the Government of Andhra Pradesh. "Talambrallu" for which Premsai was honoured, has also won the Nandi for Best Production (Eenadu Television); Best Direction (Solai Raja) and Best Re-recording (Kiran). "It's a great feeling. After all though a Telugu mega it was completely made in Chennai," says Prem.
Premsai has a very soft face and slightly sad eyes — so it's rather intriguing that he has drawn attention for his `villainous' performance. " I have to thank Solai Raja for it," he elaborates. But alternating between playing the regular hero and a bad man began with "Archanai Pookal," directed by R. V. Ramesh Raj. "Avargal," directed by Ganesh and later Rajapandi, also gave Prem a lot of scope to perform.
Prem takes up just two projects at a time ... one in Telugu and another in Tamil. "I wish to be identified with the character I play at a given point of time ... " A sensible move, particularly since Prem's aspirations lie in filmdom too. "Even if it's just a few scenes, the cinema roles I seek should have some significance ... that's all," Prem clarifies.
"My first TV appearance was in a one-scene role in AVM's "Nimmadhi Ungal Choice." I played a 55-year old man ," Prem laughs. He is very grateful to AVM. Saravanan for it because director Venkat happened to see him there and after that there's been no looking back for Prem. "The chemistry has been excellent from the start," says Premsai, who is now working in Venkat's direction for Kavithalaya's "Nilavai Pidippom."
Prem is equally popular among Telugu audience for his roles in "Oka Stree Katha," "Telisundan Ra" and "Janaki," besides the award winner, "Talambrallu."
And how come he is so much at home both in Tamil and Telugu? "That's because my father tongue is Telugu and mother tongue is Tamil," quips this married man and a father of two.
MALATHI RANGARAJAN
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