Like mother, like daughter
P.K. AJITH KUMAR
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Manasa, who makes her debut in Malayalam cinema with `Big B,' is yesteryear actor Kanakadurga's daughter.
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My roles in `Uthrada Rathri'... and `Etho Oru Swapnam' were challenging. Kanakadurga
Photo: S. Ramesh Kurup
CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK: Manasa, left, with her mother, Kanakadurga.
Manasa, whose first Malayalam film, `Big B,' opens in cinemas tomorrow, is yesteryear actor Kanakadurga's daughter.
Manasa admits that her mother was dead against her joining films. "I had to fight hard for getting her permission. While I was in school, I was very much into cultural activities, especially dance; I have learnt Bharatanatyam as well as `film dancing.' I wanted to get a portfolio done so that I could try for advertisements, but Mom wouldn't let me."
The mother and the daughter then signed a peace treaty. A portfolio was made, but Kanakadurga gave it to Manasa only after she completed her examinations. Even before either of them could take a look at her portfolio, Manasa's photo appeared on the cover of Anandavikatan, a popular magazine in Tamil. Two more magazines featured her pictures on the cover.
"The photographer had given those pictures to the magazines without telling us," says Kanakadurga. "Then I thought maybe Manasa was destined to join the entertainment industry, though I didn't want to see her struggle the way I had to; acting is a lot of hard work, it's not just about glamour," she adds with a smile.
Memorable roles
Despite the spectacles and the wrinkles on her face, one gets glimpses of the dusky beauty who acted in films such as `Nellu', `Mohiniyattom', `Uthrada Rathri' and `Etho Oru Swapanam.'
Manasa did many advertisements, mainly for saris and jewellery, before joining Telugu films. "Films were a natural progression. I have done four films in Telugu, but only in one of them did I have a role that had something more than chiffon saris, garish make-up and dances in sub-zero temperatures wearing miniskirts. `Nandanvanam 120 km' was a movie I enjoyed doing, but it didn't do well at the box office in Andhra Pradesh"
She feels Malayalam cinema suits her temperament and her kind of acting. "I think I am lucky that even before my first film is released I could sign `Khaki,' in which I am paired opposite Prithviraj. Here films are closer to life; you don't need to overact , so I feel very comfortable. I would like to work more in Malayalam films."
Kanakadurga nods in agreement.
"Even when I saw her on the sets of Telugu films, I used to tell her that she would be accepted by the audience in Kerala. I am happy that she is doing Malayalam films. I started enjoying acting when I began getting good roles in Malayalam films. One day, director K. Viswanath came to our home in Chennai on a location hunt," she recalls.
"I was studying in school at that time and was not at all interested in studies. So I told him that I wanted to act in movies, thinking that I would not have to study if I joined films. He cast me in his film. That film led to another one and before I knew it, I had become an actor."
Big break
She points out that the role of Kurumatti in `Nellu,' was a big break for her. "The song I danced to in `Nellu' - `Kalyana prayathil... ' - became a huge hit," she adds.
Another favourite role of Kanakadurga is her character in `Mohiniyattom.'
"It was a fine film by Sreekumaran Thampi and I was happy to be part of a movie that told the story from a female perspective; it was a new concept at that time. My roles in `Uthrada Rathri,' which was Balachandra Menon's first film as a director, and `Etho Oru Swapnam' were also challenging," she reminisces.
However, Manasa hasn't seen even a single film of her mother. "I keep telling her that I won't believe that she was an actress until I have proof," she declares.
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