Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Raga of confidence
|
I'd like to continue my singing lessons - Kavya Madhavan
|
Kavya Madhavan is fresh from the success of her movie, Perumazhakalathu. Her restrained acting in the Kamal-directed movie is already making waves. Vijay Jesudas' latest song is composed by Ilayaraja in Ponmudipuzhayorathu, about to be released. He and Kavya took time off for a Take 2 chat for
The Hindu Metro Plus, at
Hotel Gokulam Park Inn last weekend. They vibed well and the subjects just flowed on, one after the other, while they sipped orange juice. That Vijay plays cricket with Kavya's brother, Midhun, helped veer the conversation to just about everything that the two felt strongly about. And Vijay chose the occasion to announce a very important decision in his life (see box). While PREMA MANMADHAN
and K. PRADEEP enjoyed their banter, H. VIBHU went about clicking their moods.
Kavya's stunning, black outfit was a perfect foil to Vijay's casuals.
Here they go... .
Vijay: I heard that you have studied music. Is that true?
Kavya: Yes, for eight years. I was sorry I had to stop my singing lessons. Dance, singing, studying and acting ... it is difficult to keep all going together. (She is doing B. A. Literature privately).
Vijay: You learnt classical dance and there's no age limit for that, isn't it?
Kavya: Yes, but even when you are 90 you can sing on stage, but not dance.
I'd like to continue my singing lessons...
Vijay: Who knows, you may sing for films and maybe we could sing a duet.
Kavya: Sure. If YOU are lucky! Viju, you have also learnt dance, haven't you? I always wonder about that when you dance while singing.
Vijay: No, never. I danced for a programme in Dubai with Kala Master's help. In college, I did bhangra, dandiya and the like. You know, way back in school, I did a bit of bharathanatyam too. (guffaws)
Kavya: Really! Viju, when I dance on stage, I get tired sometimes, but I have seen you sing and dance for a long time. How do you manage that?
Vijay: Yeah. People wonder if I am only lip-syncing, but I'm not. There's a knack to do it. I choose songs that are easy to sing and dance and get some breathing space too. If it is a melody, it becomes difficult to render it with the sangatis. The focus is always on singing, not dancing.
Kavya: Do you remember the time we had the Arjunan Master show in Thiruvananthapuram? You had that thing in your ear and I thought it was a hearing aid. I asked Chackochan (Kunchacko Boban) and ... ...
Vijay: Ah... yes. She came near me and pulled at the wire. Chackochan pretended she had hurt me and told her I needed that thing badly. She was embarrassed and I said it was okay... Only at the end of the show did we tell her that we were pulling her leg.
Kavya: I know. Now tell me, who acts better...
Vijay: Okay, okay..Kavya, have you sung on stage?
Kavya: Yes, once, a song from Thilakkam...
Vijay: It must be `Saare saare sambare..' or something...
Kavya (pouting): No, no. `Ente ellam elam alle... ' with Vidhuettan (Vidhu Pratap). I am scared to sing on stage.
Vijay: No, it's a matter of practice.
Kavya: Your father (K. J. Jesudas) has acted in a few movies, mostly singing. Have you any acting plans?
Vijay: I got a few offers in Tamil and Malayalam... but I want to concentrate on my singing now. It's a competitive field and I don't want to fritter away my chances.
Kavya: Is there a lot of rivalry in your field?
Vijay: No, it's a friendly competition really, just as in your field.
Kavya: I believe that if a role is destined for me, I will get it.
By the way, in how many languages have you sung?
Vijay: Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Hindi and Telugu.
Kavya: What about the pronunciation?
Vijay: They say my pronunciation is okay. Kannada is a bit tough. Telugu is okay.
Kavya: What's your latest song?
Vijay: Two Ilayaraja songs in the new film and among those released it is `Be Happy... ' with Jyotsna from the film `Sathyam'. What about your latest movies? Of late, you have chosen very serious roles with depth.
Kavya: I am lucky to have got such solid roles. In the beginning, I got the lover girl kind of roles. But now, the kind of characters I play are mature with acting potential....Oomapennine.., Sadanante samayam, Mizhirandilum, Perumazhakkalam.
Vijay: What about your dancing? Can't you have a parallel career as a classical dancer?
Kavya: No I am not cut out for that. I cannot do it like Shobhanachechi.
Vijay: In the industry today, you find a trend: After a few years, heroines are suddenly sidelined as seniors.
Kavya: Heroines have a certain period, say three to four years. Everyone today give a lot of importance to family life. When we feel we have had enough, we leave. As for me, today, I see cinema as a profession. I take it very seriously now.
Vijay: Which is your next film?
Kavya: Athu Mandarappoo Alla, with script by M.T. Priyanandan is directing it. What's your next project?
Vijay: My first solo Ayyappa devotional album has just come out. I would like to do something very different... .
Kavya: Like video albums?
Vijay: Yes, but we don't have channels exclusively for that like MTV... Well let's get back to basics. What is your favourite food?
Kavya: Chicken, fried rice and chocolates! And I simply love cooking and experimenting with dishes. But I always eat food I know, I don't go in for any dish that I am not familiar with. What about you? Can you cook?
Vijay: Well, omelette and breakfast with readymade material.
With thoughts of food in their minds, we bid goodbye to Kavya and Vijay.
Romance in the air
VIJAY JESUDAS sits still and looks blankly into thin air these days. Looks like his mind is going somewhere..to the Gulf countries? To US? Yes, somewhere, there, where his love lies. "Iam `booked', you know, and she is studying," he says, going a beet-root red. But THE event is far far away, maybe two years later. How did they meet? Backstage, after a show in Dubai and then the relationship grew beyond friendship, blossomed into something more and stabilised into love. "My family knows of course and they have not objected to it," and he begins dialling on his mobile, walking away, with a smile.
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
|
